Eagles stay undefeated after 31-25 win as Brown post draws attention

PHILADELPHIA remained undefeated but not untroubled on Sunday as the Super Bowl champion Eagles held off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-25 at Raymond James Stadium, a game marked by a special-teams score, a creative short-yardage touchdown and a late defensive stand. The win kept Philadelphia at 4-0, but a cryptic social-media post by All-Pro receiver A.J. Brown and a sputtering second-half offense raised new questions about the team’s consistency.

Special teams supplied an early jolt when a blocked punt was scooped up and returned 35 yards for a touchdown by Sydney Brown, giving Philadelphia an early edge. Quarterback Jalen Hurts added two touchdown passes to tight end Dallas Goedert in the first half, and Saquon Barkley plunged into the end zone on a deceptive third-and-one play in the third quarter after the Eagles faked their usual short-yardage quarterback sneak. Tampa Bay answered with explosive plays, including a 65-yard field goal at the half and third-quarter touchdown passes of 77 and 72 yards, but could not complete the comeback.

Tampa Bay outgained Philadelphia 376 yards to 200, but an interception in the red zone and a late sack ended the Bucs’ best opportunities....