Eagles-Buccaneers scouting report

Recent history: The Bucs stunned the Eagles on Oct. 22, 2006, 23-21, on a 62-year field goal by Matt Bryant at the gun. The all-time series is tied, 7-7.

Buccaneers: 279.5 yards a game (27th)

Bucs: Coach Raheem Morris benched Byron Leftwich, skipped over first-round pick Josh Freeman and has turned, at least for the moment, to second-year man Josh Johnson. So far, Johnson, who has sub-4.5 speed, has done more damage with his legs (7.0 yards per carry) than his arm (4.44 yards per attempt).

PICK: EAGLES

Bucs: Cadillac Williams is coming off yet another serious knee injury, but is averaging 5.0 yards a carry. He had 77 yards on 16 carries last week vs. Redskins. Free agent Derrick Ward, who is supposed to be rotating with Williams, is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry and missed the Washington game (knee).

PICK: EAGLES

Bucs: Bucs QBs haven't stretched the field much. They're averaging just 5.26 yards per attempt. WRs Mark Clayton and Antonio Bryant have combined for just 14 catches. TE Kellen Winslow is Bucs' primary go-to guy, but he's got just five catches in the last two games.

PICK: EAGLES

Bucs: This was supposed to be one of the Bucs' strengths. But C Jeff Faine has been out since Week 1 with a triceps injury and LG Arron Sears is on the non-football injury list for personal issues. A line that supposedly was built to run the football has been ill-equipped for the amount of pass-blocking it has had to do.

PICK: EAGLES

Buccaneers: 393.5 yards a game (31st)

Bucs: The Bucs don't have a lineman who ever has had more than 6 1/2 sacks in a season. Head coach Raheem Morris thinks former first-round pick Gaines Adams has double-digit sack potential, but he has yet to show it. Bucs have given up 125 or more rushing yards in three of their first four games.

PICK: EAGLES

Bucs: The Bucs opted not to re-sign 12-time Pro Bowl WLB Derrick Brooks. They brought in free agent Angelo Crowell to replace him, but he suffered a season-ending bicep injury in August. Barrett Ruud is a solid, always-around-the-ball MLB. SLB Quincy Black is an effective edge rusher.

PICK: EAGLES

Bucs: New defensive coordinator Jim Bates ditched the Cover-2 the Bucs had long used and installed a new system that features more bump-and-run coverage. Aqib Talib is an excellent cover corner who had three interceptions last week vs. Washington. But the other CB, Ronde Barber, is 34, and there is little depth.

PICK: EAGLES

Bucs: The Bucs released PK Mike Nugent this week and signed Shane Andrus, who never has attempted an NFL regular-season field goal. Both of the Bucs' coverage units are ranked in the league's top 10. Clifton Smith is sixth in the league in kickoff returns with a 27.5 yard average.

PICK: EAGLES

Eagles: TE Brent Celek. Has 22 catches and two TDs in the first three games.

Bucs: CB Aqib Talib. Had three interceptions last week in Bucs' loss to Washington.

NOT:

Eagles: WR Kevin Curtis. Missed KC game with a knee injury and has just five catches.

Bucs: TE Kellen Winslow. Has just five receptions for 35 yards in the last two games.

2. Eagles MLBs Omar Gaither/Jeremiah Trotter vs. Bucs RBs Cadillac Williams/Derrick Ward: Williams is averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He rushed for 97 yards on 13 carries in Week 1 vs. Dallas. Advantage: Even

3. Eagles WR DeSean Jackson vs. Bucs CB Aqib Talib: Talib, who had three interceptions last week vs. Redskins, is one of the league's better young cover corners. Jackson is averaging 21.6 yards per catch and has two TDs. Advantage: Eagles

Eagles 34, Bucs 16 1. Eagles SS Quintin Mikell vs. Bucs TE Kellen Winslow: Mikell was one of the keys to the Eagles' second-half improvement vs. opposing TEs last season. Advantage: Eagles HOT: Eagles: Eagles are 11th in the league in punt coverage, but their KO coverage has been inconsistent. Six of their opponents' 14 KO returns have gone for 25 or more yards, though none was longer than 33. Both of their return men - DeSean Jackson and Ellis Hobbs - are legitimate home-run threats. Eagles: Josh Johnson's mobility could potentially put a little extra pressure on the corners as far as forcing them to hold their coverage longer. The 6-4 Michael Clayton only has seven catches, but his size (6-4, 215) could present some matchup problems. Eagles: After giving up 17 runs of 7 or more yards in the first three games, the Eagles are hoping MLB Jeremiah Trotter can give them a physical presence in the middle they didn't feel they were getting from 235-pound Omar Gaither. Only time will tell what, if anything, the 32-year-old Trotter has left. Eagles: The Eagles will have to maintain their rush lanes against QB Josh Johnson, who is a dangerous runner. The Eagles' four-DE nickel package has been very effective thus far. Seven of the defense's 10 sacks have come out of the nickel. Eagles: 262 yards a game (3rd) Eagles: Their patchwork offensive line has done pretty well, allowing just three sacks. Eagles are averaging 4.4 yards per carry, including 5.0 out of the Wildcat/spread. So far, the fears about RT Winston Justice have been unwarranted. Eagles: All the attention defenses are paying to DeSean Jackson on the outside has opened things up inside for TE Brent Celek and slot receiver Jason Avant. They've combined for 32 receptions in the first three games and have picked up 19 of the offense's 36 passing first downs. Eagles: LeSean McCoy has shown more than enough early progress to convince Andy Reid to rotate the rookie with Brian Westbrook, who missed the last game with an ankle injury. Eagles' plethora of quality pass-catchers seems to have diminished Westbrook's role in the passing game. He's averaging just 3.7 yards a catch. Eagles: After missing the last two games with a fractured rib, Donovan McNabb returns against a defense with a 101.1 opponent passer rating. This will be the first regular-season opportunity to see how Andy Reid plans to mix Michael Vick into the McNabb-led offense.

Eagles: 383.3 yards a game (7th)