Penalty Problems Persist for the Eagles - And It's Raising Eyebrows
The Philadelphia Eagles have built a reputation in recent years as one of the NFL’s most disciplined and well-coached teams. But this season, something’s been off - and it’s showing up in the penalty column.
Through 12 games, the Eagles have racked up 91 penalties, tied for fifth-most in the league. Even more concerning?
They’ve committed 35 pre-snap infractions, seventh-worst in the NFL. That’s not just noise - that’s a trend, and it’s one that’s becoming harder to ignore.
Former NFL general manager Mike Mayock certainly hasn’t. During a recent appearance on SportsRadio 94 WIP, Mayock didn’t hold back his frustration with the Eagles’ lack of discipline, especially this late in the season.
“There’s all these what I would call either miscommunications or disconnects happening in Week 13,” Mayock said. “And most of them should be ironed out ten weeks ago. And I think what plays into it - some of the pre-snap penalties, which again, as a coach’s son, drives me up a wall.”
He’s not wrong. By this point in the season, you expect the mental errors to be cleaned up, especially from a team with playoff aspirations. Instead, the Eagles are still shooting themselves in the foot - and it’s not just one position group.
Take A.J. Brown, for example.
The star wideout has been flagged for four false starts this season - the most on the team. That’s not something you typically associate with your No. 1 receiver, but it speaks to a broader issue with communication and timing across the offense.
The offensive line hasn’t been immune either. Injuries have played a role here - Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, and Lane Johnson have all missed time - and that kind of turnover can wreak havoc on a unit that thrives on cohesion.
Without consistent reps together, mistakes start to pile up. And when those mistakes come before the snap, they don’t just cost yards - they kill momentum.
To their credit, the players aren’t ducking accountability. Dickerson acknowledged that the communication needs to improve and emphasized that it’s a collective issue, not something that can be pinned on one player or position group. That’s the right mindset - but at this point in the season, mindset has to translate into execution.
Despite the miscues, the Eagles are still sitting at 8-4 and leading the NFC East. They currently hold the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoff picture, trailing only the red-hot Chicago Bears and the surging Los Angeles Rams.
So it’s not panic time in Philly - not yet. But with five weeks left in the regular season, the margin for error is shrinking.
Next up? A Week 14 showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers.
It’s a game the Eagles need - not just in the standings, but to re-establish their rhythm and discipline. Cleaning up the penalties won’t solve everything, but it’s a necessary first step if Philly wants to make a serious run in January.
Because come playoff time, those five-yard mistakes become drive-killers. And in a conference as competitive as the NFC, that could be the difference between a deep run and an early exit.