While Eagles fans expect another playoff run, opponent beat writers from around the league see things very differently. A Bleeding Green Nation survey of 17 opposing-team writers produced a sobering prediction: Philadelphia will finish 8-9 in 2026 and miss the postseason.
The Prediction
The opponent writers project the Eagles to start hot (3-0 through the first three games) before the wheels come off in the middle of the season. Big Blue View predicted the Giants would sweep the Eagles for the first time since 2007. Other surveyed writers see Philadelphia struggling to find consistency through the gauntlet of post-London division games and an interior-line group adjusting to new leadership.
Three Concerns Driving the Pessimism
Three storylines came up repeatedly in the comments accompanying the predictions:
- Offensive coordinator instability. Sean Mannion becomes the Eagles' fourth offensive coordinator in four years, following Shane Steichen (departed for the Colts head-coaching job), Brian Johnson, and Kellen Moore (departed for the Saints head-coaching job). Each OC change brings install changes, scheme tweaks, and a learning curve. Continuity at coordinator is one of the strongest predictors of offensive efficiency, and Philadelphia has had none.
- The A.J. Brown trade. The widely expected post-June 1 trade of A.J. Brown to New England removes a top-five receiver from a passing game built around two-WR sets. The Eagles have layered in replacements (Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks, Elijah Moore, first-round rookie Makai Lemon), but losing a player of Brown's caliber compresses the room and increases the burden on DeVonta Smith.
- Jeff Stoutland's departure. The legendary Eagles offensive-line coach left for the Vikings. Stoutland built three of the best offensive lines of the past decade in Philadelphia, and his hands-on technical coaching was a major part of why Jordan Mailata went from rugby project to All-Pro left tackle. Chris Kuper takes over with a fresh approach. The transition could be smooth. It could also be bumpy.
The Counter-Case
For all the concerns, the Eagles return the foundation that won Super Bowl LIX and reached back-to-back NFC East titles. Jalen Hurts is in his prime at age 28. Saquon Barkley is signed through 2027. The All-Pro offensive line returns intact at every starting spot. The defense, after a top-three finish in 2025 by DVOA, brings back virtually every important contributor and adds depth pieces.
The roster is championship-caliber. The schedule is the league's 10th-easiest. The home crowd is the loudest in football. None of those facts change just because an OC and an OL coach turned over.
The Range of Predictions
What makes this season interesting is the spread:
- Community poll (PBG readers): 12-5
- Local media: 11-6
- Opponent writers: 8-9
- Vegas season win total: 10.5
The average of the four projections lands at roughly 10.3 wins, which is essentially the Vegas number. Someone is going to be very wrong by the end of the season. The question is which side.
The Bottom Line
Bold predictions from opposing fan bases are an offseason staple. They are also occasionally right. The opponent writers' 8-9 prediction is the kind of forecast that ages either into "told you so" gold or into "what were they thinking" hilarity. There is no middle ground.
The Eagles open Week 1 against the Commanders. The first three games are very winnable. If Philadelphia is going to prove the doubters wrong, the runway starts there.
