Eagles Predicted to Lose NFC East to Dallas Cowboys in 2026

Coming into the 2026 NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles have a lot of pressure on themselves to reclaim their spot atop the NFC.

Philadelphia saw massive inconsistency take place last season, seeing them fall in the wild-card round of the playoffs. But there seems to be a lot of energy and hype around this group entering this current season.

Sean Mannion comes in as the new offensive coordinator, hoping to bring back some stability to the offense. With star quarterback Jalen Hurts still under center, the Eagles are hopeful that this team can return to glory.

Hurts was at the center of the inconsistency last season, showing some signs of decline throughout the year. But with a new coordinator, the Eagles believe this could be another title year for them.

The first goal for Philadelphia will be to win the NFC East, getting themselves into the playoffs. However, there are many around the league who see the Eagles as a step behind another team in the division.

Heading into the year, the Around the NFL staff from NFL.com predicted the division winners and playoff teams from each conference. For the NFC East, the Eagles were predicted to come in second, behind the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas received 12 votes to take first place, while the Eagles received seven votes. But Philadelphia was chosen as a top wild-card team by the group.

The Cowboys being this highly rated after missing the playoffs last year is interesting. But it also shows that there are real concerns around the Eagles coming into the year.

Philadelphia traded away star wideout A.J. Brown this offseason, leaving a hole in the offensive attack. But the organization did draft Makai Lemon in the first round to try to make up for the loss of production.

Lemon was great at USC last season, catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Saquon Barkley remains in the backfield, and he will be trying to bounce back from a down 2025 season. If Barkley can get back to his 2024 form (2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns), the Eagles will again be a force to deal with.

Only time will tell how the division will play out, but the Eagles come into the year with a chip on their shoulders. And this could help propel them forward as the season goes on.

The Eagles will open the new 2026 season against the Washington Commanders at home.