The Eagles’ offense is staring down a projected 16th overall ranking in the NFL for the upcoming 2026 season. That’s not just a number, it’s a stark reminder of how tough it’s going to be to climb back, especially after last year’s “miserable 11-win season” ended with a wild-card exit, a true gut punch for a team that still managed 11 wins. This isn’t some low-stakes prediction; last season, of the top ten offensive points per game teams, seven made the playoffs, and the Super Bowl contenders both sat in that elite group. If Philly wants to make a legitimate deep January run, they’ve absolutely got to do better than middle of the pack.
Last Year’s Pain, This Year’s Gamble
Man, last year’s offense completely bottomed out under former coordinator Kevin Patullo. Finishing 19th in EPA per drive and logging the fifth-highest three-and-out rate in the league is just brutal. We saw a combo of run blocking regression and a total lack of surprises in the passing game, and it all culminated in that disappointing wild-card exit. Now, everything’s supposed to look “entirely different” with new offensive coordinator and first-time play caller Sean Mannion, who used to coach under Matt LaFleur. They’re trying to replace A.J. Brown “in the aggregate” with Dontayvion Wicks and rookie Makai Lemon. That’s a massive hole to fill with a couple of guys, right?
Jalen Hurts Faces His Biggest Challenge Yet
The big question mark has to be Jalen Hurts. Mannion’s new scheme means more snaps under center and more throws over the middle, pushing Hurts to throw with anticipation more frequently. How well he adapts to these significant changes is gonna determine everything for this offense, period. If things break right, this could absolutely be a breakout year for DeVonta Smith, who proved he was “elite without Brown on the field.” But let’s be real: with a whole new offensive scheme to learn and sky-high expectations from the jump, the Eagles are probably looking at some serious “growing pains” early on. They just announced Jordan Davis is a first-time captain, which is awesome, especially after they locked him up with a long-term deal. He’s been an emerging leader, no doubt, but even rock-solid leadership can’t fix an offense that isn’t clicking. The fact they’re not even ranked in the top 10 offenses, while a rival like the Cowboys is sitting at a comfortable #5, should tell you everything.
So, as the season ramps up, all eyes will be on whether this “entirely different” offense can actually gel. The expectation is that progress “won’t be linear,” and we might see some real ups and downs, but the hope is they’ll be “hitting their stride on offense by later in the season.” Those wild-card woes from last year are a serious warning, and a 16th-place ranking isn’t going to cut it for a team with such high expectations. It’s on Mannion and, especially, Jalen Hurts to make sure those growing pains don’t cripple their whole season and keep them out of those deep playoff rounds. They’ve got to prove they’re better than middle of the pack, or it’s gonna be another long year for their fans.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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