On the final play for the exhausted defense, as a show of what it means to be a full team – every single player on the 53-man roster and the practice squad understood what it meant: Get a stop. Anyway. Anyhow.

Cornerback Parry Nickerson, signed from the practice squad to the active roster only days earlier to shore up an injury-depleted unit, was the one in coverage on Tampa Bay tight end Cade Otten. It was Nickerson, in the NFL since 2018 and with his sixth team, in his first regular-season game since 2023, who decked Otton after a 2-yard gain on a fourth-and-9 play from the Philadelphia 37-yard line, the Eagles holding an eight-point lead.

Threat over. Win preserved – OK, technically the offense had a three-and-out series and then punter Braden Mann ran out of the back of the end zone to eat the final six seconds off the clock to make it official, but the big stop was Nickerson's.

Everyone could breathe, just a little bit.

The Eagles rode a fantastic first half and two huge takeaways and that fourth-down stop in the second half to beat the Bucs, 31-25, to move to 4-0 in this wild and crazy and thrilling 2025 regular season.

Here are some observations from a huge road win at Raymond James Stadium, a venue that had not been so kind to the Eagles in the very recent past ...

1. Eagles open the game in spectacular fashion and special teams lead the way

It was a roller coaster all the way around on Sunday, special teams included. But the Eagles certainly set the tempo early, thanks to a picture-perfect punt block executed by Cameron Latu, who busted through the "A" gap and blocked Riley Dixon's punt that bounced into the hands of Sydney Brown, who raced 35 yards untouched for the touchdown. Jake Elliott, who had another perfect day, added the PAT, and the Eagles jumped out to a 7-0 lead. That's exactly what they needed, and remember this: The Eagles had scored just 10 points total in the previous five first quarters against Tampa Bay, while the Bucs scored 52. Tampa Bay, not coincidentally, won four of those games.

2. Despite some big plays allowed, the secondary held up

Tampa Bay scored on two big passing plays of 77 and 72 yards and that is something coordinator Vic Fangio will certainly emphasize during the week. But the big picture is that the defense did a nice job against quarterback Baker Mayfield and his short passing game for the most part. They gave up plays, yes. That happens in the NFL. The Eagles also tackled extremely well, they used every part of the roster with Kelee Ringo stepping up, with Nickerson chipping in, with both Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean making big plays in coverage.

3. More takeaways and timely pass rush help the defense

How many times do you need to hear the importance of the red zone? The Eagles' offense scored on its three trips to the red zone – more on that below – and the defense held Tampa Bay to three points in two trips with a key fourth-quarter end zone interception from rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell. The Eagles had another takeaway and for the fourth straight game finished in the plus department in the takeaway category.

The Eagles also limited Mayfield to 13 rushing yards and, as Head Coach Nick Sirianni said, "caged" him very well. The Eagles recorded two sacks, including a huge one from Moro Ojomo late in the game to put Tampa Bay behind the sticks on its final drive.

4. Quinyon Mitchell had himself a ballgame

Again, not perfect. But cornerback Quinyon Mitchell was all over the place in this game, shadowing rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, working on other receivers, helping against the run, really doing a terrific job. That the Eagles have a cornerback of Mitchell's stature – in his second season, remember – gives Fangio many options. Mitchell has been up to the challenge.

5. Offense's first possession pure brilliance

Boy, it looked like the offense was going to have a huge game. Turns out, the offense had a huge first half, starting with the opening possession. Did you see the formation on the underhanded touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts to tight end Dallas Goedert? It was a Diamond formation – four receivers lined up on the right side in the shape of a diamond, and it was creative and clever and successful. On the drive, Hurts was 5-of-6 for 34 yards throwing the football with completions to Saquon Barkley (twice), Goedert (twice), and DeVonta Smith. The offense had great answers to the Tampa Bay blitz – Hurts getting ball out of hands quickly, utilizing Barkley as a receiver. Hurts also added a huge 29-yard run down the sideline to set up the touchdown pass, and running back A.J. Dillon busted through the middle for an 11-yard run.

Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo came in with a great game plan to combat the Tampa Bay pressure and Hurts and the offense executed to perfection on the 8-play, 73-yard drive that gave the Eagles a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

6. Bottle up this drive and bring it back all year

The drive that gave the Eagles a 21-3 lead was so pretty: 6 plays, 67 yards, and a shovel pass from Hurts to Goedert for his second scoring grab of the day. Hurts opened the drive after a poor Tampa Bay punt with a 22-yard completion to Goedert over the middle, then went to Grant Calcaterra for 16 yards on the right side, stuck a 20-yard completion to Smith to convert a third-and-6 situation, and then shoveled to Goedert for a 5-yard touchdown.

7. Jalen Hurts: Nearly perfect in the first half

It went off the tracks in the second half as we know, but let's savor that first half for the offense and, particularly, for Hurts: He was 15-of-16 passing for 130 yards and two touchdowns and he ran 4 times for 42 yards. As we've been reminded the last two weeks, the game is two halves long and things turn around in a hurry.

8. Applaud the defense for a gutsy, physical, and winning effort

The first half was amazing: The defense held Tampa Bay to 1-of-7 on third downs, allowed 99 total net yards, 7 first downs, 3.1 yards per play. The Bucs were 0-for-1 in the red zone, and Mayfield had 65 gross passing yards. Playing with a lead made all the difference in the world in this game.

9. Jihaad Campbell: Is he still a rookie?

A shout out to Jihaad Campbell: He helped Jalyx Hunt force a fumble that Ringo recovered in Eagles territory in the third quarter and then had the end zone interception – an assist from Reed Blankenship, who had a tip of the Mayfield pass – in the fourth quarter. Big-time stuff from a rookie.

10. The Eagles' offense in the red zone: Perfection

There were two Hurts-to-Goedert shovel passes and then there was the variation: The Eagles lined up for the Tush Push (presented by DUDE Wipes) and with Goedert lined up behind him and to the left and with Barkley lined up behind him to his right, the Eagles appeared ready to run the Tush Push on a third-and-1 from the Tampa Bay 6-yard line leading 24-13 late in the third quarter. But – no Tush Push (presented by DUDE Wipes). Instead, Hurts pitched to Barkley running left. Goedert helped seal the edge and Barkley slow-trotted into the end zone from 6 yards out and, after Elliott's PAT, the Eagles led 31-13. It was the perfect call and the perfect execution and it certainly gives defenses something else to think about when the Eagles line up for what looks like the Tush Push.

11. What this means? You win as a team – T-E-A-M

Latu had a blocked punt. Nickerson made that last stop. Matt Pryor stepped in when right guard Tyler Steen went down. Fred Johnson played the fourth quarter in place of right tackle Lane Johnson (shoulder). Ringo was very, very solid stepping up with Adoree' Jackson out. Patrick Johnson and Za'Darius Smith and Co. produced with Nolan Smith on IR and Ogbo Okoronkwo (triceps) out of the game early. John Metchie III had a couple of early catches to keep the Eagles on schedule offensively. Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley did a nice job on kickoff returns. Jeremiah Trotter, Jr., Brown, and Kylen Granson made plays in punt coverage.

It requires a team to win and given all of the challenges – the travel, the intense heat which had the Eagles traveling a day earlier, a good and tough Bucs team that was 3-0 coming into the game – made this a very, very satisfying victory for the Eagles.