Eagles Receive Positive Playoff Prediction From ESPN

ESPN's Bill Barnwell believes the Philadelphia Eagles will make the playoffs again this season.

Barnwell also thinks the Eagles will win the NFC East again. 

Philadelphia went 11-6 last season. The Birds, who won Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs, failed to defend their title after losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the 2025 wild-card round. 

The Eagles' 2026 defense is led by Jalen Carter, Cooper DeJean, Riq Woolen, Quinyon Mitchell and newcomer Jonathan Greenard. Vic Fangio is one of the NFL's best DCs, so Philly's defense should be elite again.

Philadelphia parted ways with OC Kevin Patullo after just one season and hired Sean Mannion, a former NFL QB. 

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts finished the 2025 season with 3,224 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, 421 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He completed 64.8% of his passes.

The Eagles signed Hurts to a five-year, $255 million extension in April 2023. However, there is little guaranteed money left on Hurts' deal after the 2026 season.

Hurts enters this season with 17,891 passing yards, 110 passing touchdowns, 3,554 rushing yards and 63 rushing touchdowns in his career. He's made the Pro Bowl three times and won Super Bowl LIX MVP against the Chiefs.

If Hurts plays well in 2026, the Eagles will make the playoffs again and contend for a Super Bowl. However, if the QB struggles in Mannion's system, Philadelphia will crumble and Hurts may get traded next offseason. 

The Eagles open the 2026 season at home against the Washington Commanders. All eyes will be on Hurts and Mannion to see how they do in their first real game together. 

Hurts could become the third quarterback with at least 75 career rushing touchdowns this season, per ESPN. The QB has 63 rushing TDs. He would join Josh Allen (79) and Cam Newton (75) as the only signal-callers to reach 75.

Last season, Hurts had a career low since becoming the full-time starter in rushing attempts (105), yards (421) and touchdowns (eight). But he looked faster this summer when breaking from the pocket and executing designed runs.

Saquon Barkley had 1,140 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns in 2025. The three-time Pro Bowler put up 2,005 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns in his first season with the Eagles in 2024.

Since 2024, Barkley ranks second in 100-plus-yard rushing games (14) behind Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry (17). 

It will be fascinating to see how Philadelphia's offense performs under Mannion's play-calling. Barkley looked like the best player in the NFL during the 2024 season. He came back down to earth in 2025 in Patullo's system.