Eagles' Jalen Carter 'Game-Changer' in Win vs. Bucs: 'Hammerhead!'

Philadelphia Eagles rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter had another dominant performance in a 25-11 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

TAMPA, Fla. – This was a homecoming of sorts for Philadelphia Eagles rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

Playing in Tampa, against the Buccaneers on Monday night, will be the closest he gets this year to playing where he learned to play the game, at Apopka High School near Orlando. Another Apopka star defensive tackle was in attendance to watch, and that was former Bucs great and Hall of Famer Warren Sapp.

“I saw Warren Sapp on the Jumbotron,” Carter said. “I know him from Apopka, that’s my guy.”

As if that wasn’t enough, Carter looked into the stands at Raymond James Stadium late in the first half. His eyes caught a glimpse of the 40 or so family and friends that were in attendance.

Then he made a play that changed the game.

Carter, the Eagles’ splendid rookie defensive tackle, tracked down Bucs ball carrier Rachaad White and punched the ball out of his arms. Punched is probably not a strong enough word for it. He looked like a heavyweight boxer landing a knockout blow.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field / © Eric Hartline, USA TODAY

“That thing was niiice!” exclaimed Brandon Graham in the aftermath of the Eagles’ 25-11 win over Tampa. “It was a hammerhead, aint’ it? That boy came from out of nowhere I would’ve dropped that thing, too. Boom! Oh, oh! (laughs). It was good to see.”

The forced fumble came on the second play after a Jalen Hurts interception, and it gave the Eagles the ball back with 24 seconds to play in the first half after James Bradberry recovered it.

Leading 10-3, the Eagles took over at the Bucs’ 36 and were able to get a 38-yard field goal from Jake Elliott as time expired on the first half, sending the Eagles into the locker room with a 13-3 lead and getting the ball to start the third quarter.

“You gotta punch as hard as you can to get the ball out,” said Carter. “Running backs work on holding the ball, keeping it tight, but I feel like if you punch hard enough you can get it out.”

Oh, Carter punched plenty hard enough. It’s a defining moment in what could be a rookie-of-the-year season for him.

The Eagles carried that momentum to start the third quarter by getting the opening kickoff and marching 75 yards in 13 plays while using 5:48 of the game clock to jump ahead 20-3.

Carter was dominant once again, finishing with two forced fumbles, a half-sack, a quarterback hit, two tackles, and several QB pressures.

“We know what kind of player JC is, but just the person he is, too,” said Marlon Tuipulotu. “He’s cool, funny. It’s good having him around.

“That was a game-changer, a momentum-changer, getting the ball out. That’s what coach Rock (defensive line coach Tracy Rocker) preaches. He’s out there displaying it.”

Tuipulotu was the beneficiary of one of Carter’s lightning-quick pass rushes. As Carter bulled up the middle, probably being held by center Robert Hainsey along the way, he forced quarterback Baker Mayfield to step up in the pocket, where Tuipulotu was there to corral the QB for a sack, the second of his two-year career.

There’s something special brewing with this defense, and Carter is in the middle of it. Literally, along with Jordan Davis, who blew up a play at the 1-yard line to allow linebacker Nick Morrow to blast through an opening and notch a sack that gave the Eagles a 22-3 lead with six seconds left in the third quarter.

And how big of an impact has had Davis on this run defense? There’s really no quantifying except to say that nobody has been able to block him in that phase of the game in the season's first three weeks.

Just say trying to block him must feel like trying to move a mountain or wrestle a bear. Good luck either way.

The Bucs had 20 yards rushing at halftime. They had 99 yards of total offense through three quarters.

Last year, the Eagles were tied for 16th in the league in run defense. They entered this game ranked first in run defense.

They have forced eight turnovers in three games, six of which are forced fumbles, and they are the only team with multiple takeaways in every game this year.

“This defense is awesome,” said Carter. “I love this defense. Everybody trusts one another, plays their roles, and does what they have to do. When one goes down it’s the next man up and we don’t worry about who it is, we trust him as much as the guy who started the game. I love this defense.”