In the NFC Wild Card Round, Dallas Cowboys standout defender Micah Parsons selected the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to shock the Philadelphia Eagles.
Once upon a time, it was unimaginable for a star player to be the presenter of a podcast where he made NFL predictions the same week his team was scheduled to play in a postseason game.
However, things have changed, as All-Pro defender Micah Parsons predicted how the remaining playoff games, including Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will unfold even as the Dallas Cowboys get ready to visit the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon.
Though Parsons, a Penn State alumnus who supports the Philadelphia Phillies and Sacramento Kings, did not disparage the Eagles, he did conclude with a prediction that Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers will triumph on Monday night at Raymond James Stadium.
On his podcast “The Edge,” Parsons said, “I don’t know too much about the Eagles right now, especially with Jalen’s finger.” Baker Mayfield has been a solid ball player. They have been playing excellent defense. Bucs, we have to go. However, I believe the Eagles are more talented. They could overcome this difficulty. They could defeat the Bucs with ease.”
Parsons is right to point out that the Eagles are a more skilled club than the Bucs, but he is also confused by the situation of a squad that, despite starting the season 10-1, has lost five of its last six games.
However, we’re going to assume that he skipped over the last two games of Tampa Bay’s season. Even if their finish wasn’t as ignominious as the Eagles’, the Buccaneers faltered after going on a four-game winning streak that gave them possession of the humble NFC South. In Week 17, the Buccaneers lost 23-13 to the New Orleans Saints at home, laying an egg. In the end, they defeated the Carolina Panthers 9-0 in Week 18 to secure the division title, but their victory was arguably the least convincing of all.
With players like Hurts and their top receiving tandem of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, the Eagles are concerned about injuries. However, Mayfield was also hampered by a right ankle injury in the latter part of the regular season. With an extra day of rest and therapy due to the Monday Wild Card game, Mayfield might benefit, but it’s possible that he won’t be fully recovered until after Tampa Bay’s season is over.
Nevertheless, it’s difficult to disagree with Parsons’ assessment of the game, regardless of how ignorant he may be about the Buccaneers’ current situation. The Eagles finished the regular season with humiliating losses to the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants, posting a -59 point differential over their final six games. Now that the postseason has arrived, why is anyone under the impression that coach Nick Sirianni’s team will be able to turn things around?
