Eagles' Penalty Problem: False Starts and Frustration Mounting in Philly
As the Eagles head into the final stretch of the 2025 season, there’s no shortage of issues to address. But one stat keeps jumping off the page - and it's not the kind you want to lead the league in.
Through 12 games, the Eagles have racked up 91 penalties. That’s a big number, and the most glaring chunk of it?
Twenty false starts. That’s not just sloppy - it’s costly, especially for a team still trying to find rhythm down the stretch.
What's even more surprising is who’s leading the team in false starts. It’s not a rookie, not a backup, not even an offensive lineman.
It’s wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Yes, that A.J. Brown - the Pro Bowl-caliber playmaker who’s usually torching secondaries, not jumping the snap.
He’s been flagged for four false starts this season, more than anyone else on the team.
This isn’t just a blip. It’s a trend that started last December, when Brown was flagged twice for false starts in a three-game span - after going nearly three full seasons without a single one.
In fact, from 2021 through most of 2024, Brown had just three false starts total. Now he’s sitting at six in the past 12 months.
Something’s clearly off.
False starts are typically a sign of miscommunication - either a player isn’t locked into the cadence, or the unit isn’t in sync. So what’s going on here?
Is Brown not fully dialed in at the line? Is the offensive line tipping the snap count?
Could it be a cadence issue with Jalen Hurts? Whatever the root cause, it’s a problem that needs diagnosing - and fast.
When your star wideout is leading the team in pre-snap penalties, it raises questions about focus, preparation, and cohesion.
And it’s not just false starts for Brown. He’s been flagged seven times this season - including for unnecessary roughness, a low block, and a highly questionable offensive pass interference call.
That’s more than double his previous single-season high of three penalties, and it puts him among the top 20 most-penalized players in the entire league. For a player of his stature, that’s not a list you want to be on.
But let’s be fair - this isn’t just a Brown issue. The offensive line, particularly the left side, has been flagged frequently as well.
Jordan Mailata, one of the team’s vocal leaders, has six penalties to his name this season, including three false starts. Landon Dickerson has added three more false starts.
Between Brown, Mailata, and Dickerson, that’s 10 of the team’s 20 false starts - all coming from key starters.
That’s a troubling pattern, especially when you consider the trend over the past few seasons. The Eagles had 30 false starts in 2024 - second-most in the league behind Buffalo.
In 2023, they had 24. Right now, they’re on pace to match or even surpass last year’s total.
But here’s the kicker: unlike last season, the offense isn’t producing at a high enough level to offset those mistakes. These aren’t just empty flags - they’re drive killers.
False starts aren’t flashy. They don’t show up in highlight reels.
But they’re momentum-breakers, and for a team still fighting for playoff positioning, they can be the difference between a win and a loss. The Eagles have the talent to make a run, but if they can’t clean up these pre-snap issues - especially from their stars - they’re going to keep putting themselves behind the chains.
And in December football, that’s not a place you want to be.