Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2021 Wild Card Recap

Game story

In the Wild Card of the 2021 NFL season on 2022-01-16, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took care of business against the Philadelphia Eagles, pulling away with a 31–15 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 15 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) paced the passing game, with -7.04 total EPA, and -7.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.18 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+6.5% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Tampa Bay Buccaneers changed the game: (13:56) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 13-M.Evans to PHI 32 for 8 yards (57-T.Edwards).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 M. Evans · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +10.18 total EPA · 10 snaps · +1.02 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Brady · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Passing · +9.51 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Gainwell · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +5.44 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.09 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Goedert · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +5.00 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Scott · Philadelphia Eagles · Rushing · +3.39 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.39 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Brate · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +2.41 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Gronkowski · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +2.03 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Miller · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Rushing · +1.07 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.07 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — G. Bernard (Q1 55:05)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — K. Vaughn (Q1 45:28)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — R. Gronkowski (T. Brady pass) (Q3 22:42)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — M. Evans (T. Brady pass) (Q3 20:25)
• Philadelphia Eagles — B. Scott (Q4 12:15)
• Philadelphia Eagles — K. Gainwell (J. Hurts pass) (Q4 4:51)

Field goals

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — R. Succop (Q2 39:20)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 14–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the PHI 2 (Q1 55:05) — (10:05) 25-G.Bernard right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the PHI 15 (Q1 55:00) — 3-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-8-B.Pinion.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the PHI 1 (Q1 45:28); Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the PHI 15 (Q1 45:25) — 3-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-8-B.Pinion..

The second quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 3–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the PHI 16 (Q2 39:20) — (9:20) 3-R.Succop 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-8-B.Pinion..

The third quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 14–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the PHI 2 (Q3 22:42) — (7:42) 64-A.Stinnie reported in as eligible. 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 87-R.Gronkowski for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the PHI 15 (Q3 22:38) — 3-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-8-B.Pinion.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the PHI 36 (Q3 20:25) — (5:25) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 13-M.Evans for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the PHI 15 (Q3 20:18) — 3-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-8-B.Pinion..

The fourth quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 15–0. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the TB 34 (Q4 12:15) — (12:15) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 35-B.Scott left guard for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q4 12:08) — 4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-8-A.Siposs.; Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the TB 16 (Q4 4:51) — (4:51) (Shotgun) 1-J.Hurts pass short middle to 14-K.Gainwell for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles registered a safety from the TB 2 (Q4 4:45) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 1-J.Hurts pass to 6-D.Smith is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q1 58:56) — (13:56) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 13-M.Evans to PHI 32 for 8 yards (57-T.Edwards). [WPA +6.5% · EPA +1.90]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q2 31:43) — (1:43) (Shotgun) 1-J.Hurts pass deep left to 16-Q.Watkins to TB 27 for 35 yards (33-J.Whitehead) [90-J.Pierre-Paul]. [WPA +4.9% · EPA +2.93]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q1 47:32) — (2:32) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 13-M.Evans pushed ob at PHI 14 for 16 yards (29-A.Maddox; 57-T.Edwards). [WPA +4.9% · EPA +1.51]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q2 30:50) — (:50) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-J.Hurts pass deep left intended for 6-D.Smith INTERCEPTED by 32-M.Edwards [45-D.White] at TB 0. Touchback. [WPA -4.8% · EPA -4.23]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q1 53:40) — (8:40) (Shotgun) 1-J.Hurts left end to PHI 30 for -3 yards (33-J.Whitehead, 45-D.White). [WPA -4.0% · EPA -1.93]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q3 25:46) — (10:46) 8-B.Pinion punts 39 yards to PHI 47, Center-97-Z.Triner. 18-J.Reagor MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by TB-43-R.Cockrell at PHI 48. [WPA +3.9% · EPA +5.09]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q2 30:50) — (:50) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-J.Hurts pass deep left intended for 6-D.Smith INTERCEPTED by 32-M.Edwards [45-D.White] at TB 0. Touchback. [WPA -4.8% · EPA -4.23]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q3 20:39) — (5:39) (Shotgun) 1-J.Hurts pass short right intended for 6-D.Smith INTERCEPTED by 58-S.Barrett at TB 47. 58-S.Barrett to PHI 36 for 17 yards (68-J.Mailata). [WPA -0.4% · EPA -3.61]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q4 12:15) — (12:15) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 35-B.Scott left guard for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.0% · EPA +3.39]

Quarterback report card

J.Hurts led all passers in efficiency for Philadelphia Eagles, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) · 50 dropbacks · 46.0% completion · -7.5% CPOE · -0.14 EPA/play · -7.04 total EPA
• T.Brady (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) · 42 dropbacks · 69.0% completion · +8.2% CPOE · +0.23 EPA/play · +9.51 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.12 vs -0.11), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Philadelphia Eagles: 13 drives, -8.55 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 13 drives, +10.46 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• M. Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Hurts (PHI) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• T. Brady (TB) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q1 55:05 · PHI 2 · Score 0-6
   (10:05) 25-G.Bernard right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q1 55:00 · PHI 15 · Score 0-7
   3-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-8-B.Pinion.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q1 45:28 · PHI 1 · Score 0-13
   (:28) 64-A.Stinnie reported in as eligible. 21-K.Vaughn left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. TB-66-R.Jensen was injured during the play. His return is Questionable
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q1 45:25 · PHI 15 · Score 0-14
   3-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-8-B.Pinion.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q2 39:20 · PHI 16 · Score 0-17
   (9:20) 3-R.Succop 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-8-B.Pinion.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q3 22:42 · PHI 2 · Score 0-23
   (7:42) 64-A.Stinnie reported in as eligible. 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 87-R.Gronkowski for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q3 22:38 · PHI 15 · Score 0-24
   3-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-8-B.Pinion.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q3 20:25 · PHI 36 · Score 0-30
   (5:25) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 13-M.Evans for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q3 20:18 · PHI 15 · Score 0-31
   3-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-8-B.Pinion.
10. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q4 12:15 · TB 34 · Score 6-31
    (12:15) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 35-B.Scott left guard for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q4 12:08 · TB 15 · Score 7-31
    4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-8-A.Siposs.
12. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q4 4:51 · TB 16 · Score 13-31
    (4:51) (Shotgun) 1-J.Hurts pass short middle to 14-K.Gainwell for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Philadelphia Eagles Safety (+2) — Q4 4:45 · TB 2 · Score 15-31
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 1-J.Hurts pass to 6-D.Smith is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.