The Eagles are 2-3, and the mess in Philadelphia goes well beyond the offense. Lane Johnson retired, Cam Jurgens was traded, and Jalen Hurts is dealing with a concerning blood clot issue.
But the defense has its own problem under Vic Fangio, and the numbers point to one glaring weakness: the Eagles are letting opponents grind out drives far too often.
ESPN Research highlighted the issue with a blunt stat. "The Eagles have given up 13 drives of 10-plus plays in 2026, which is tied for the most in the NFL," ESPN Research shared. "Only 31% of their opponent's plays have been for zero or negative yards (22nd in the NFL)."
That is the kind of profile that turns a defense from sturdy to shaky. Fangio’s group has shown flashes, and it still has enough talent to look like a good unit on paper. But compared with what the Eagles have been under Fangio since 2024, this season has been a clear step back.
The problem is not just that opponents are moving the ball. It’s that Philadelphia can’t reliably shut possessions down. Long drives keep piling up, and the Eagles aren’t making up for it with the kinds of impact plays that can flip momentum.
They are not forcing enough turnovers. They are not consistently tackling behind the line. And they are not getting off the field with the kind of regularity that has defined the better Fangio defenses.
The offense’s issues have added to the pressure, especially after halftime, but the defense’s inability to stop extended possessions is a major reason the Eagles look worse on that side of the ball this year.
In Other News...
Jalen Hurts Backlash Just Added Another Layer To Eagles Concern
Jalen Hurts absence already landed hard in Philadelphia because of the medical seriousness behind it, and now the discussion around his injury has spilled into another layer of noise. The Eagles quarterback is sidelined after doctors found a blood clot that had moved, a development serious enough to keep him out at least against the Panthers, and the team has had to absorb the uncertainty without one of its defining players.
Former Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson only made the backdrop noisier when he questioned the injury circumstances on NFL Network, drawing a sharp public response from Robert Griffin III. Griffin pushed back on Robinsons remarks while also praising Drake Mayes recent play for New England, but for the Eagles, the larger issue remains the one they cannot shortcut: Hurts health and the wait to see how long this situation will keep him off the field. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Just Sent A Complicated Signal On Jalen Hurts
Jalen Hurts being sidelined indefinitely has put the Eagles in an awkward spot, even as the team tries to keep its quarterback available for as long as possible. The injury, a superficial blood clot in his calf, is serious enough to pause his on-field work, but Philadelphia is not taking the next step that would lock him into a longer absence.
What makes the situation more complicated is the timing. The issue was already known by Week 4, and while medical experts believe Hurts could miss more than a month, the Eagles are leaving the door open rather than shutting it completely. For a team trying to navigate the next stretch without its starter, that means the focus shifts from a clean timeline to an uncertain wait that could stretch toward late October or early November. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Hurts Drew Serious Backlash Over How His Health Was Discussed
Jalen Hurts health became the center of an ugly and unnecessary debate this week after an NFL Network analyst floated the idea that the Eagles quarterback could be using a blood clot to dodge blame for the teams offensive struggles. Michael Robinson later acknowledged he is not a medical expert, but his remarks still minimized the seriousness of a condition that has kept Hurts status in the spotlight and added another layer of noise around a season already under a microscope.
The reaction was swift, with former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III publicly pushing back and stressing that this is not the kind of issue that should be handled casually. For Philadelphia, the episode was another reminder of how quickly concerns about Hurts can spill beyond the field, especially when the conversation turns from football to health and the line between criticism and irresponsibility starts to blur. [Read more 🡒]