The Philadelphia Eagles have been one of the NFC’s premier teams over the last several seasons, but can they keep it going? On a recent episode of the Bleed Big Blue Podcast, we debated whether Philadelphia is finally due for some regression.
From Saquon Barkley’s workload to the possibility of losing A.J. Brown, there were plenty of reasons to believe the Eagles may not be the same team Giants fans have grown accustomed to seeing at the top of the division. While they’re still loaded with talent, every NFL contender eventually reaches a point where the cracks begin to show.
Is Saquon Barkley Due for Regression?
Saquon Barkley put together an outstanding season in Philadelphia, but history isn’t exactly kind to running backs coming off heavy workloads.
I’ve always been a big fan of Saquon. In fact, when he was with the Giants, I understood why the front office hesitated to give him a massive long-term contract. It wasn’t because of his talent. It was because of the injuries that followed him throughout much of his career.
Now that he’s entering another season after carrying the load, I think it’s fair to wonder if we’ll start to see some regression. Running backs rarely get better as they get older, especially after they’ve accumulated a lot of touches.
I’m not rooting against him just because he plays for Philadelphia. It’s simply the reality of the position. Eventually, every running back slows down.
Could Losing A.J. Brown Change Everything?
Editor’s Note: This podcast was recorded before A.J. Brown was traded. At the time, trade rumors were heating up, and we discussed what the Eagles would look like if they moved on from their star wide receiver. Shortly after the recording, Philadelphia traded Brown, confirming the speculation.
One of the biggest talking points during our discussion was how losing Brown could completely change the Eagles’ offense.
There’s no question that DeVonta Smith is an excellent receiver, but I don’t view him as the type of player who consistently commands double teams as a true No. 1 option. Brown forced defenses to account for him on every snap. Without that threat, opposing defenses can devote far more attention to stopping Saquon Barkley and make life much tougher on the passing game.
That creates a ripple effect throughout the offense. With Brown now gone, it’ll be interesting to see whether Jalen Hurts can elevate the players around him without one of the NFL’s premier wide receivers.
Can Jalen Hurts Carry the Offense?
Another question we discussed is whether Jalen Hurts can consistently elevate the offense if the supporting cast isn’t as dominant as it has been in recent years.
Philadelphia’s offensive line is still good, but I don’t think it’s quite the unstoppable unit it once was. If the running game becomes less effective and Brown is no longer there to stretch defenses, Hurts may be forced to win more games with his arm.
That’s something I’m still not convinced he can do over the course of an entire season.
Will the Salary Cap Finally Catch Up to Philadelphia?
For years, the Eagles have done an incredible job manipulating the salary cap.
Every offseason, it seems like they’re able to keep signing star players while everyone else wonders how they’re pulling it off. Credit to their front office because they’ve mastered restructuring contracts and pushing money into future seasons.
But eventually, those decisions have to catch up with you.
Maybe it isn’t this year. Maybe it’s two years from now. But at some point, constantly kicking the financial can down the road becomes much harder to sustain.
My Prediction: The Eagles Finish Third in the NFC East
I think the Eagles take a significant step backward this season. If everything we’ve discussed starts to unfold, Barkley slows down, the offense has to adjust without A.J. Brown, the passing game becomes easier to defend, and some of the pressure from their salary cap situation begins to mount, I could see Philadelphia finishing third in the NFC East.
That’s certainly a bold take, especially considering how talented their roster still is, but every year there’s a team that disappoints. I think the Eagles could be that team in 2026.
Will I end up being right? Time will tell.
One thing is certain: if the Eagles stumble early, the pressure in Philadelphia will build quickly, and things could unravel faster than many people expect.
Final Thoughts
The Eagles are still a talented football team, and nobody should expect them to simply roll over. But maintaining success in the NFL is incredibly difficult. Rosters change, players age, injuries happen, and sometimes a team that looked unstoppable one year takes a noticeable step back the next.
Whether it’s Saquon Barkley’s workload, replacing A.J. Brown, questions surrounding Jalen Hurts, or the long-term effects of pushing money into future seasons, I think there are enough warning signs to believe Philadelphia could regress in 2026.
We’ll find out soon enough if this prediction looks foolish or ends up being one of the bigger storylines of the season.
What do you think? Will the Eagles remain one of the NFC’s elite teams, or are they due for a step back? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
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