The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have allowed 12 sacks and have recorded none in their last two games.
Changing that script could be crucial to the outcome on Sunday, when the Philadelphia Eagles visit Tampa, Fla., for a battle of 2-1 teams.
Baker Mayfield was sacked seven times in last weekend’s stunning 26-7 home loss to the winless Denver Broncos. For the second week in a row, he threw for less than 200 yards and had one interception.
Tampa Bay enters Week 4 ranked 26th in the NFL in total offense and 27th in rushing, but Mayfield refused to blame the offensive line for his dirty uniform.
“There were some pressures really weighing on me this week,” Mayfield said. “There’s the mentality of trying to adjust the pads when you apply some of these pressures, and there’s also the mentality of getting the ball out and out of your hands.
“Not all of that is on the offensive line.”
The last time Philadelphia visited Raymond James Stadium, Mayfield threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns in a 32-9 wild-card playoff win on Jan. 15 of this year.
The Eagles sacked Mayfield four times in that loss, the same amount their pass rush has generated in three games this year.
Eagles second-year defensive tackle Jalen Carter is still looking for his first sack of the season, but he shined against the Saints with four tackles (two for loss), two pass deflections and a quarterback hit.
“Obviously, this last game was by far his best game,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “And I hope this sets the trend for the future. I don’t know what triggered it, except that he and we, as a defensive unit, didn’t play well in the previous game. So I’m sure it had something to do with it.”
Headlining this contest on offense include Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin.
Barkley leads the NFL in rushing yards (351 yards) and leads the league in touchdowns from scrimmage (five) in his first three games with Philadelphia. Godwin already has 21 receptions and has scored touchdowns in all three games.
Including the playoffs, Tampa Bay has won five of the last six meetings since 2015.
Both teams are keeping an eye on injuries and the weather as Tropical Storm Helene is expected to reach hurricane strength before hitting Florida’s Gulf Coast Thursday night.
Eagles star receiver AJ Brown (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday after missing the last two games. The No. 1 wide receiver. 2 DeVonta Smith and right tackle Lane Johnson are in the concussion protocol, while right guard Mekhi Becton (finger) and left guard Landon Dickerson (wrist) were listed as limited participants.
Defensive lineman Calijah Kancey (calf) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot) did not practice for the Buccaneers on Wednesday. Limited participants included defensive tackle Vita Vea (knee), left tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee), rookie running back Bucky Irving (hamstring) and wide receivers Godwin (neck) and Mike Evans (knee).
