Eagles Shake Up Travel Plans After Brutal Tampa History

For the Philadelphia Eagles, Raymond James Stadium has been less of a destination and more of a Bermuda Triangle. Under head coach Nick Sirianni, the Eagles have traveled to Tampa Bay four times — and lost three of them.

The record isn’t just bad; it’s painful. From the wild-card playoff elimination in January 2022, to another early exit in January 2024, and most recently, a 33-16 Week 3 blowout that was essentially over by halftime, Tampa has been where Philly dreams die.

Sirianni knows the trend, and this time, he’s changing the playbook off the field. The Eagles are flying into Florida one day earlier than usual, giving players more time to adjust to the suffocating September heat.

“Everything we do is about making sure our process gives us the best chance to win,” Sirianni said. “We looked back at things in the offseason — including the heat — and decided getting in a day earlier might help. One less day off the plane, more time for the bodies to adjust.”

That’s not just lip service. Last season, the Eagles literally melted under the Tampa sun. Offensive lineman Cam Jurgens and rookie phenom Jalen Carter cramped so severely, they had to leave the game early. The Bucs used the Florida weather like a 12th man — and it worked.

This Sunday, it could be déjà vu. Forecast: 90 degrees, with a “feels-like” of 103. A swamp disguised as a football stadium.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio didn’t sugarcoat it: “You don’t prep for heat by practicing in it one day or taking a pill. It’s about mindset — that’s number one. Number two, we can’t let them get into long, sustained drives. We need to get off the field.”

Translation? Every missed tackle, every blown coverage, every third-down conversion gets magnified. Tampa thrives on dragging defenses into the mud.

Vegas still lists the Eagles as 3.5-point favorites. But when it comes to September in Tampa, point spreads tend to evaporate in the heat.

Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET. The Eagles have landed early. Soon we’ll know if the change of plans can change their fortune — or if Tampa Bay remains Philly’s house of horrors.