Vulnerable, criticized Eagles aim to spoil Baker Mayfield’s recipe for success

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles won their first game and were criticized up one side. They won their second and were badgered down the other.

That odd global reaction to standings perfection aside, Nick Sirianni’s players will show up for Game 3 at 7:15 Monday night in Tampa, take their chances and hold their ears.

“We understand everybody is going to have opinions,” Sirianni said during a week-plus scheduling lull since a 34-28 victory over Minnesota. “We just have to focus on ourselves. We have to focus on getting better every day. It’s really as boring and monotonous as that. Just put your head down, go to work, block out noise if you’re somebody that gets affected by that.

“Block it out. Don’t listen to it.”

There were some things to ignore about the 2-0 start, yet others to consider. The offense, which rushed for 259 yards against the Vikings, has scored nearly 30 points per game. But Minnesota had its way way with Sirianni’s defense and was doomed mostly by four lost fumbles.

Though the Eagles have flashed the top-ranked run defense in the NFL, their pass defense has ranked 30th. And that’s all it takes for the critics to question a club that has won 16 of its last 19 regular-season games.

“Starts with me,” said defensive coordinator Sean Desai. “I have to do a better job in terms of our preparation in our techniques and fundamentals . Then, collectively, I think there are some things that we know that we have to get cleaned up, There are techniques and fundamentals that we have to emphasize better and differently. Then we keep mixing things up with coverages and keep putting our guys in better positions on situational plays to make plays.”

Such are the rudiments of a reasonable game plan. Trouble for the Eagles is that the Bucs are also 2-0, are playing at home and have seen Baker Mayfield play quarterback at as high a level as he has in his sixth-year NFL career. On a one-year contract, Mayfield has completed a career-high 69.1 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and no interceptions. His ability to throw accurately while going left or right and in the pocket or on the run, has helped make Tampa Bay an early NFL surprise.

“He’s been good,” Eagles linebacker Nicholas Morrow said. “He’s throwing off of different platforms. He does a good job of finding those guys in space and doing a good job of keeping himself alive and extending plays.”

Though Mayfield has had success finding Mike Evans, Chris Goodwin and tight end Cade Otton open, the Bucs have not shown much of a running attack and don’t figure to start Monday,  That is a hefty reason why they are five-point home underdogs.

“We’ve only won two games,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. “There’s no complacency ever. We are still getting things ironed up on both sides of the ball, including special teams, and trying to get better.”

The Eagles expressed determination all week to do the same.

“I know everybody is focused on the ‘now’ – the ‘start,’ I guess,” Jason Kelce said. “But to me, it’s just an ongoing process. You want to be executing and kicking tail and being on all cylinders. And we all want to do that. It’s a great sign when teams are doing that. But it’s also a great sign when you are closing out competitive, tough games and are playing smart football down the stretch, because you are going to have to do that if you want to win the Super Bowl.

“You also don’t want to be really sloppy and win games by two or three points. But as long as you are showing improvement, that’s healthy. And there is a healthy desire here to do that right now.”

That will begin with Jalen Hurts, who is being challenged with newly disguised defenses. Known as one of the sharpest defensive minds in the sport, Bowles is expected to continue that trend Monday.

“I think if you look back at the first two games and the total yards of offense we had – we had 430 last week – that’s pretty much on par for what we do offensively,” Hurts said. “But all anybody wants to talk about is how it gets done. It’s not about me, it’s about us.

“I always say, ‘Keep the main thing the main thing.’ The main thing is winning games and we’ve done that.”

The Eagles are unbeaten. So are the Bucs. One team is going to be criticized by Tuesday morning. The other might, too.

“Our goal is to get better, “ Sirianni said. “And if we can do that gradually every single day with this team, I’ll put my chips where they lie, and we’ll see what happens.”