Wild Philly Eagles Couldn't Keep Bucified Bert From Sunday's Game

TAMPA, FL —There are Bucs Fans and then there are BUCS FANS. Count Albert Owens among the latter.

Known to his fellow Superfans as Bucified Bert, Owens inherited his passion for the Bucs from his mom, Emma Lee, and attends all the home games, pep rallies and events in her honor, dressed in his best Bucs fan attire, which includes plenty of beads and a headdress in the shape of a pirate ship.

Owens was a Bucs fan long before quarterback Tom Brady arrived and will continue to be a fan if and when Brady ever retires (Brady has already surpassed the average age of most NFL quarterbacks at age 44).

Despite rain in the forecast Sunday, Owens predicts an easy win by the Bucs against the Philadelphia Eagles. The forecast is windy with rain likely (70 percent chance).

"The rain can’t help them Eagles," he said.

The Buccaneers set a team record with 13 wins, one of which was in Philadelphia in Week Six, tying for the best record in the league and setting a new franchise record for wins.

They won a division title, and secured the second seed in the NFC playoff standings, guaranteeing at least one home game, plus another one if they can beat the Philadelphia Eagles (9-4) on Sunday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium.

Bucs coach Bruce Arians has a very similar message for his team to the one he delivered last February before the Super Bowl.

"Those 13 wins have no bearing on what is coming next, besides setting the playoff seedings," Arians said. "This is a whole new season, and nothing matters except winning this week, and everybody is in tune to that. You can feel it in the building."

He's not taking winning for granted against the Eagles.

"Oh yeah, (the Eagles are) totally different — playing with a ton of confidence, won a bunch of ballgames since we played them," said Arians. "Once you get in the playoffs, anything can happen, so they're going to be fired up. They've got a ton of weapons and they look pretty healthy. So, yeah, it's a totally different football team than we played back there in October."

Bucs tight end Rob Gronkowski agreed.

"If we want to win and not go home, you have to amp it up a notch," said Gronkowski. "You have to make sure that you're on top of your game at all times. A majority of the time, you're on top of your game in the regular season, but now it's playoff time and you have to make sure you have the energy levels high and that you're ready to go every single play because every play is huge in the playoffs."

A win would also allow Tampa Bay to even up the all-time series with one of the most significant rivals in franchise history. The Eagles led that series, 8-7, or 10-9 if playoffs are included. Tampa Bay has played more games in the postseason against Philadelphia than any other team and has split those four games down the middle.

Key 2021 Roster Additions

Buccaneers:

• S Andrew Adams (FA)
• RB Kenjon Barner (FA)
• RB Le'Veon Bell (FA)
• LB K.J. Britt (fifth-round draft pick)
• WR Jaelon Darden(fourth-round draft pick)
• CB Pierre Desir (FA)
• CB Dee Delaney (FA)
• CB Rashard Robinson (FA)
• LB Grant Stuard (7th-round pick)
• WR Breshad Perriman (WR)
• OL Robert Hainsey (third-round draft pick)
• CB Richard Sherman(FA)
• QB Kyle Trask (second-round draft pick)
• OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (first-round draft pick)

Eagles:

• T Le'Raven Clark (FA)
• C Landon Dickerson (2nd-round draft pick)
• QB Joe Flacco (UFA)
• RB Kenneth Gainwell (5th-round draft pick)
• S Anthony Harris (UFA)
• DE Ryan Kerrigan (FA)
• CB Zech McPhearson (4th-round draft pick)
• QB Gardner Minshew (T-JAX)
• CB Steven Nelson (FA)
• CB Josiah Scott (T-JAX)
• P Arryn Siposs (FA)
• WR Devonta Smith (1st-round draft pick)
• DT Milton Williams (3rd-round draft pick)

Individual Stat Leaders

Buccaneers:

Points Scored: K Ryan Succop, 131
Touchdowns: WR Mike Evans, 14
Passing Yards: QB Tom Brady, 5,316
Passer Rating: QB Tom Brady, 102.1
Rushing Yards: RB Leonard Fournette, 812
Receptions: WR Chris Godwin, 98
Receiving Yards: WR Chris Godwin, 1,103
Interceptions: S Mike Edwards, 3
Sacks: OLB Shaquil Barrett, 10.0
Tackles: LB Devin White, 128

Eagles:

Points Scored: K Jake Elliott, 134
Touchdowns: QB Jalen Hurts, 10
Passing Yards: QB Jalen Hurts, 3,144
Passer Rating: QB Gardner Minshew, 104.8
Rushing Yards: QB Jalen Hurts, 784
Receptions: WR DeVonta Smith, 64
Receiving Yards: WR DeVonta Smith, 916
Interceptions: CB Darius Slay, 3
Sacks: DT Javon Hargrave/DE Josh Sweat, 7.5
Tackles: LB Alex Singleton, 130

Team Stat Rankings

Buccaneers:

Scoring Offense: 2nd (30.1 ppg)
Total Offense: 2nd (405.9 ypg)
Passing Offense: 1st (307.6 ypg)
Rushing Offense: 26th (98.4 ypg)
First Downs Per Game: 2nd (23.8)
Third-Down Pct.: 2nd (47.1%)
Sacks Per Pass Attempt Allowed: 1st (3.15%)
Red Zone TD Pct.: 2nd (66.2%)
Scoring Defense: 5th (20.8 ppg)
Total Defense: 13th (331.5 ypg)
Passing Defense: 21st (238.9 ypg)
Rushing Defense: 3rd (92.5 ypg)
First Downs Allowed Per Game: 17th (20.2)
Third-Down Pct. Allowed: 12th (38.5%)
Sacks Per Pass Attempt: 12th (6.91%)
Red Zone TD Pct. Allowed: 10th (52.5%)
Turnover Margin: 6th (+10)

Eagles:

Scoring Offense: 12th (26.1 ppg)
Total Offense: 14th (359.9 ypg)
Passing Offense: 25th (200.2 ypg)
Rushing Offense: 1st (159.7 ypg)
First Downs Per Game: 14th (20.7)
Third-Down Pct.: 4th (45.7%)
Sacks Per Pass Attempt Allowed: 14th (6.28%)
Red Zone TD Pct.: 8th (62.3%)
Scoring Defense: 18th (22.6 ppg)
Total Defense: 10th (328.8 ypg)
Passing Defense: 11th (220.9 ypg)
Rushing Defense: 9th (107.9 ypg)
First Downs Allowed Per Game: 23rd (21.1)
Third-Down Pct. Allowed: t-23rd (42.9%)
Sacks Per Pass Attempt: 31st (4.92%)
Red Zone TD Pct. Allowed: 29th (66.7%)
Turnover Margin: t-16th (0)

What To Watch For

• Leonard Fournette had the most prolific postseason by a running back in franchise history last January and February, including 300 yards on the ground and 448 total yards from scrimmage. That puts him in position to take over the team's career lead in those categories, as well. He needs 42 more rushing yards to pass Mike Alstott (341) in the former category and 55 more scrimmage yards to pass Alstott (502) in the latter category. In addition, nine more catches will give Fournette the all-time franchise postseason lead in that category, as well, as he has 18 and the record is 26 by Warrick Dunn.
• Fournette also scored four times in the Bucs' 2020 Super Bowl run, famously finding the end zone one team in each game. Alstott is also the Bucs' all-time leader in postseason touchdowns, so Fournette could tie him with a three-TD game on Sunday.
• The other Buc with a noteworthy streak in last year's playoffs was cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, who became the first player in team annals to intercept a pass in three straight postseason games. That was actually enough to tie the Bucs' career record for postseason picks at three, sharing the mark with Donnie Abraham, Dexter Jackson and Dwight Smith. One more not only gives Murphy-Bunting the Bucs' record but also ties him with Duron Harmon and current teammate Richard Sherman for the most postseason interceptions among active players.
• There is currently a four-way tie for the most postseason touchdown catches in Buccaneers history between Mike Evans, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown and Keenan McCardell. That means either Evans or Gronkowski, or both, could own the record by the end of Sunday's game.

Stats provided by Bucs chief writer Scott Smith