The Philadelphia Eagles are heading to London in hopes that they finally find their footing and maybe even their offensive identity. While the Eagles seem to always struggle early on each season under Nick Sirianni, this one feels very strange. After Lane Johnson's sudden retirement and the Cam Jurgens trade, things are feeling a little on edge in Philadelphia. Can they stop their three-game slide or will things continue to spiral out of control? Here are our Eagles' staff predictions for the early Sunday morning game.
After sneaking out a win in Tennessee, it seems like the Eagles’ true colors have popped out of the page. The Bears manhandled them, then the Rams took a dramatic win. If we’re being honest, this team has not looked like a well-coached team, nor have they looked prepared. Injuries are piling up but despite that, there should be zero excuses as to why this team is falling apart.
I don’t think the Eagles leave London with a win for various reasons. There definitely is some internal power struggle going on within the offense which means that defense is going to have to play that much more and there’s only so much that they can handle. It feels like the sky is falling right now with Lane Johnson’s retirement followed by the Cam Jurgens trade. I think that feeling bleeds onto the field and things continue to spiral out of control.
Final score: Jaguars 28 - Eagles 17
It’s gut check time for this group of Birds after flying across the Pond for an early morning matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. With an injury report as long as the incoming/outgoing departure board at Heathrow Airport entering the contest, the Eagles will need to dig deep to respond to last weekend’s heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
If the revamped offensive line can provide enough time, a hobbled Jalen Hurts will find room through the air to find success on Sunday morning. Jacksonville’s defense has conceded 280 passing yards per game this season, the second-worst per-game average on the early campaign. Darius Cooper, Dontayvion Wicks, and Makai Lemon have a massive opportunity to impress with DeVonta Smith and Hollywood Brown sidelined. However, it is going to be tough to find the painted area against Jacksonville. The Jags defense has allowed just 54 points against all season, by far the top mark in the AFC and the second-best in the league behind the Minnesota Vikings (51 points allowed).
If Quinyon Mitchell is unable to play, the Birds could have a tough time containing Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars' attack. While Jacksonville’s passing and run offense has been middle-of-the-pack over the first month, the Jaguars have averaged 26 points per contest, a full scoring drive more than the Birds at 18 points per game over the opening month. This leaves the Florida-based club with an impressive +51 scoring differential after four games, again the best in the AFC and the second best in the NFL (this time behind the San Francisco 49ers who bring a +58 scoring differential into Week 5).
The “next man up” mentality will be tested across multiple position groups on both sides of the football. The remnants of Hurricane Isaias will provide good cover as Eagles fans weep following a 31-21 loss in London. Philadelphia keeps things close through halftime, but the Jaguars find a key third-quarter takeaway that swings the game before Birds supporters suffer through another fourth-quarter finish before flipping over to NFL RedZone for the remainder of the afternoon.
Final Score: Jacksonville wins 31-21
Player of the Game: Dontayvion Wicks (...or if we are doing overall POTG - Bhayshul Tuten for JAX)
The Eagles were a betting underdog in just two games last season (vs. Buffalo and Green Bay) and won both games.
This week marks the second consecutive week the team is an underdog as they play a hot Jacksonville team.
Don’t look now, but the Jaguars have won 11 of their last 12 games dating back to last November putting up 31 points per game during that stretch while holding opponents to 14.
That’s a pretty good recipe for success.
Jacksonville’s offense has been a well-oiled machine since Liam Coen took over along with Doylestown native and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski.
The Eagles do get some reinforcements on defense with Zack Baun returning from a concussion which will be a big boost and will also have Quinyon Mitchell back after he missed most of last week’s game due to an injury.
If Philadelphia wants to win this game, they will need Jalen Hurts to rebound in a big way. He may have a chance to do so even without DeVonta Smith for a second straight week with tight end Dallas Goedert expected to play in this one.
The Jaguars’ secondary allowed Joe Burrow to throw for over 400 yards while losing Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins during the game and has allowed the second-most passing yards per game this season (280.3).
Despite a chance for Hurts to bounce back, in the end, the Jags will be too much to handle and serve the Eagles their third loss in a row, which would put the Birds below .500 for the first time since 2021.
Final Score: Jaguars 28, Eagles 20
Player of the Game: Trevor Lawrence
The Philadelphia Eagles are in London facing the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have been far more consistent through the first four weeks of the NFL season. The Eagles arrive as an injury-riddled, depleted team, missing 60% of its starting offensive line and both its WR1 and RB1. They have struggled mightily to start the year, and that does not seem to be getting better by playing 2nd- and 3rd-string players. I don’t have the confidence to trust the team to seal a victory until the offense proves it can protect Jalen Hurts and run some semblance of the offense it practiced this summer.
I do think Philadelphia keeps it close; I just don't have the confidence in them to overcome all of their issues. I hope they prove me wrong.
Final Score: Jaguars 24, the Eagles 20.
As bad as this looks, I think the Eagles do have an edge here. The disarray around the team is alarming and they are without countless key pieces, but let's not act like this defense doesn't have the upside of a premier unit, and the offense even with its setbacks has enough talent to keep opponents honest.
The difficulty the Eagles will have is embedding a trio of young offensive linemen, on the road, in another country, and without premirer pass-catchers. Trevor Lawrence is who we think is and is bound to give up opportunities if he comes under duress. If Jalen Hurts can protect the rock and get guys like Zach Ertz and Darius Cooper routinely involved, Philly has every chance of not just covering the spread, but picking up a win many would've thought impossible.
Final Score: Eagles 24 - 17 Jaguars
