The Eagles have reached an uncomfortable place, and it’s not because of one glaring weakness. It’s because almost nothing is working.
Through three games, this team has looked like a group that can flash for stretches and then fall apart in every phase. Jalen Hurts has already had to rescue them twice with big plays after long stretches of being outplayed.
Against the Bears on Monday night in Chicago, that safety net vanished. The game didn’t just expose flaws.
It put them on display.
The list is ugly. The Eagles can’t block.
They can’t tackle. They can’t run the ball consistently.
They can’t stop the run. They can’t pressure the quarterback.
They can’t force turnovers. They can’t protect the quarterback.
They turn the ball over too much.
And that leaves one obvious question: What exactly are the 2026 Eagles good at?
They were sticky in the secondary in the first two weeks, then got carved up by a 38-year-old 3rd-stringer on Monday night. They can run it, but only until halftime.
Their defense has almost produced a takeaway once. Their defensive line, stocked with 1st-round picks and big contracts, still hasn’t made a real imprint.
Their offensive line, once regarded as one of the best in the league, has looked shaky no matter who’s out there. Even Saquon Barkley has been dragged down by the overall mess, averaging 2.8 yards per carry in the second half through no fault of his own.
That’s what makes this feel so dangerous. This isn’t a case of solving one problem and moving on. They have to clean up everything.
And there’s still plenty of talent here. The roster is basically the same one that won a Super Bowl two years ago.
The Eagles still have 14 starters from that championship team and 14 current players who’ve made a Pro Bowl. They’ve got a head coach with the 5th-best record of any coach in NFL history, a Hall of Fame-caliber defensive coordinator and an offensive coordinator who arrived with plenty of buzz.
But the talent isn’t translating into impact.
The Eagles’ seven Pro Bowl defensive players have combined for no takeaways, one sack and zero game-changing plays. The offensive line has fallen far short of expectations, and there’s still no clear timeline on when Landon Dickerson will return - or what it will look like when he does.
Meanwhile, a long list of players has either regressed or stalled out: Drew Mukuba, Moro Ojomo, Jalyx Hunt, Jihaad Campbell, Nolan Smith, Tyler Steen, Cam Jurgens, Marcus Epps. Jalen Carter is hurt, Jordan Davis is healthy, and neither Georgia interior lineman has changed the picture yet.
Maybe the talent was overstated. Maybe the team simply hasn’t turned all that promise into production. Either way, the results have been hard to ignore.
The Eagles are 2-1, and that’s not a disaster. But they still haven’t put together a full 60-minute game, and the schedule isn’t waiting for them to get comfortable.
The Rams are next Sunday. Then comes a rejuvenated Jaguars team in London.
After that, the Cowboys are waiting on a Monday night in Dallas, where Dak Prescott has won 20 straight home games against the NFC East.
Monday night in Chicago felt like more than a loss. It felt like an exposure.
The Bears didn’t just beat the Eagles; they exposed them. And if a 38-year-old journeyman quarterback making his first start in three years for his ninth NFL team can shred your defense, what exactly are you stopping when a Hall of Famer shows up at the Vet Sunday?
For most of Nick Sirianni’s time in charge, the Eagles have found answers when things started to wobble. The 2-5 start in 2021 turned into a playoff berth.
They made the postseason in 2023 after dropping three straight to close the year. They were 2-2 and coming off a 17-point loss in Tampa in 2024 before ending up with a parade a few months later.
And they snapped a three-game losing streak last year with three straight wins.
So yes, they’ve handled adversity before. A win over the Rams would change the conversation fast.
Philadelphia is used to winning enough that anything less feels jarring. Since that 2-5 start in 2021, the Eagles have lost only 19 meaningful games, which is remarkable.
But that history doesn’t buy them anything now. Not against Matt Stafford, Kyren Williams, Davante Adams and Aaron Donald.
Not in London against a much-improved Jaguars team. Not at AT&T Stadium against their biggest rival.
They need answers quickly, and there are a lot of them to find.
In Other News...
Eagles Passing Game Faces A Major Rams Test Without A Star Receiver
The Eagles head into their matchup with the Rams already short on one of Jalen Hurts most trusted targets, with DeVonta Smith not expected to play because of a hamstring injury. Smith has not practiced this week, and the timing is less than ideal for a passing game that has leaned on his route-running and ability to separate when the offense needs a stabilizing catch.
Philadelphia is planning to move forward with Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon and Darius Cooper at wide receiver, while Hollywood Brown remains out with an ankle injury. That leaves the Eagles trying to piece together a workable passing attack against a Rams defense that can force quarterbacks to be precise, and it puts even more pressure on the rest of the receiver room to create answers quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Injuries Could Finally Open The Door For Darius Cooper
The Eagles head into Week 4 dealing with a receiver situation that could force some reshuffling against the Los Angeles Rams. With DeVonta Smith and Hollywood Brown both banged up, Philadelphia may need to lean deeper into the roster, and that has put Darius Cooper in a more interesting spot than he has been in most weeks.
Cooper has already carved out a role on special teams, and he also came through with a game-winning touchdown earlier this season, giving the staff at least one reason to trust him if the offense needs another option. Even so, Makai Lemon is expected to start, so any larger opportunity for Cooper may hinge on how much the Eagles can ask of a receiver group that is suddenly thinner than planned. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Rookie Makai Lemon Faces A Huge Chance At The Perfect Time
Makai Lemons first month in Philadelphia has been more about steady growth than splash plays, which is not unusual for a rookie receiver trying to find his footing in the NFL. The Eagles 20th overall pick in the 2026 draft has gone three games without the kind of breakout performance that turns heads, but the opportunity in front of him suddenly looks much bigger with DeVonta Smith expected to miss the upcoming matchup against the Rams.
For an offense that has been easing Lemon along, the timing could not be better. Sean Mannion has already shown confidence in the rookies development and believes he can handle a larger role, and now the Eagles may need him to do exactly that when the workload opens up. It is the kind of chance young receivers wait for, especially on a roster that has a clear need in the passing game and a game on the calendar that could push Lemon into the spotlight sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]