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TAMPA, Florida – With permission from DeSean Jackson, Ryan Fitzpatrick rocked a pair of sunglasses and a partially zipped warm jacket revealing two gold chains and a large pendant on his chest.
"It's nothing," said the Tampa Bay quarterback after throwing four touchdown passes and over 400 yards for the second week in a row, leading the Buccaneers to a 27-21 victory over the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles.
"I think we have to be humble," said Fitzpatrick, a smile across his face. "We have to make sure we know how to manage success and all those things. We can not change who we are.
Replacing suspended quarterback Jameis Winston, Fitzpatrick completed 27 of 33 passes for 402 yards and the Bucs suddenly exploded for a first start since 2010.
Jackson scored at a 75-yard reception in the first game of the game, giving him three touchdowns in two games after playing three games last season.
O.J. Howard also had a 75 yard rushing effort by team in the first half for Tampa Bay, who surprised New Orleans 48-40 on the road in their first game of the season.
"I think we developed a lot of confidence in the off-season and in the training camp with the way we worked, the way things went and the relationship with the guys," Fitzpatrick said. "I think confidence has continued in the season."
Nick Foles had 334 yards for the Eagles (1-1), who had a 20-point deficit in the third quarter.
The Super Bowl MVP 2-yard TD TD pass to fourth ranked Nelson Agholor reduced Tampa Bay's lead to 27-21 with 2:46 remaining. Fitzpatrick did not give the Eagles offense a chance to finish the return.
"We did not win every game last year. I think people forget about that, "said Foles, trying to put the loss in perspective. "We have a lot of expectations for us, but we can not put such pressure on us."
Fitzpatrick, a 14-year-old veteran and one of four players in NFL history to pitch TD assists for seven franchises, made some first runs on the last possession of Tampa Bay, but 19 seconds from the end .
"We had our shots. I have the impression that if we had recovered that ball one more time, we would have a chance to try to win it, "said Eagles spokesman Jason Peters. "But we had 20 seconds left and we did not have many options."
Chris Godwin and Mike Evans respectively received TD receptions of 8 and 4 yards for the Bucs. Jackson, who had two TD receptions before leaving the first game of the season with a concussion, finished with four catches for 129 yards.
The Eagles started the season with the Foles for only 117 yards in an 18-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
They pushed 78 yards in 13 games to shoot even with Tampa Bay in the second quarter, only to watch Howard turn a short pass into another long TD by evading two defenders and turning the left touchline. Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby was unable to continue his tight 6-foot-6 and 251-pound run.
The Foles finished 35 of 48 without interceptions. Corey Clement scored in a 15-yard run in the first half and Jay Ajayi's 2-yard run started the Philadelphia Rally with a 27-7 deficit.
FITZMAGIC
Fitzpatrick had a career record of 417 yards and four touchdowns in the opening game of the season. He also ran for a touchdown against the Saints, which means he has thrown 819 yards and has nine touchdowns in two weeks. He progressed to 4-1 as a starter in two seasons with the Bucs.
HARD DAY
The Philadelphia defense, which fired Matt Ryan four times and held a quarter of the Falcons at its lowest completion rate in seven years, was sentenced to 271 yards and three touchdowns in the first period.
Fletcher Cox and Nigel Bradham had bags on Sunday. The Eagles also forced two turnovers, including a second-half breakaway that helped them stay in the game.
INJURY
Eagles: The Eagles were already without receiver Alshon Jeffery and running back Darren Sproles, and the posts of the Foles got worse with the throw-in of Jay Ajayi (back), catcher Mike Wallace (ankle) and the tackle Jason Peters (quad). Ajayi came back at the start of the second half finishing with 23 yards on seven runs.
Buccaneers: Brent Grimes (groin) having missed his second straight game and injured Vernon Hargreaves III (shoulder) in New Orleans, the Bucs played without the two starting corners. Defensive tackle Beau Allen (foot) and safety Chris Conte (knee) left the game in the second half.
QUICK START
The Bucs, who have not participated in the playoffs since 2007, are 2-0 for the second time only in 13 years. They also won their first two games on the way to 10-6 face former coach Raheem Morris in 2010.
FOLLOWING
Eagles: Animate Indianapolis next Sunday.
Buccaneers: Pittsburgh at home Monday night next, Winston's final game of suspension.
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