Philadelphia Favored to Break 0-4 Streak Against Bucs

NFL News - October 8th, 2009 - Written by John

Donovan McNabb is back this week as the Philadelphia Eagles aim to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the first time in their last five tries. McNabb has been out for two games, nursing a broken rib suffered in Week One against the Panthers.

He was spelled by back-up Kevin Kolb, who was more than effective in his first two career starts with over 300 yards in both games. But McNabb is the franchise quarterback and apparently has recovered enough to get back on the field.

“You’re talking about one of the all-time greats playing quarterback,” said coach Andy Reid, who can notch his 100th regular-season victory Sunday. “Somebody who has been here a long time and when it’s all said and done will be one of the all-time greatest to play that position. It’s always good to get that kind of a player back in there.”

The Eagles are favored by 14 1/2 Sunday, hoping to take advantage of a Tampa Bay team that has struggled to find it's identity. Head coach Raheem Morris recently benched Opening Day quarterback Byron Leftwich for Josh Johnson, whom he said earned the starting job. He looked good in the first half of his debut, putting the Bucs ahead 10-0 over the Washington Redskins. But he faultered late in the game, throwing a crucial interception that set up Washington's first scoring drive and Tampa fell to 0-4 on the season.

Oh, by the way, Philadelphia's pass defense is 2nd-best in the NFL with only 156 yards allowed per game, a match-up against New Orleans included.

What may be significant is the fact that the Eagles are coming off a bye. The over/under according to BetUS sportsbook for the game is 43 and Philadelphia has hit the under the last nine times coming off a bye week. They are also 7-1 ATS following a bye.

Meanwhile, the Bucs have hit the under in seven of their last eight games in October.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been platooning four running backs so far this season, but ProFootballTalk reported Thursday that offensive coordinator Greg Olson has decided to make Cadillac Williams his feature back. Williams has averaged five yards per carry this year and has been the team's most productive player thus far. With Derrick Ward hobbled by an injury, and Earnest Graham slowly turning into the team's fullback, Williams ran for 77 yards on 16 rushes last week and appears completely healthy after tearing both knees in consecutive seasons.

Meanwhile, the Eagles are back on the field after a bye week that allowed McNabb some extra time and gave Reid time to sync Michael Vick into the lineup. Ronde Barber has gotten the best of McNabb in recent matchups returning three interceptions for touchdowns and sacking him 1 1/2 times, and the Bucs are coming off a three-interception performance from Aqib Talib. But he is part of what is now the worst defense in the NFC, surrendering nearly 400 yards per game, and merely a competent McNabb should have an easy day.

“The bye week came at the right time and gave me an opportunity to get back out there this week,” McNabb said.

Vick will likely see a more prominent role this week after returning to the NFL in Week Three. After nearly three years out of the league, his return was an uneventful one, serving mostly as a decoy with only three touches. But ProFootballTalk suggests that Vick will see the ball more this week. It's probably a good thing. Vick knows all about the Bucs after playing in their division for nearly six years.

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