The Philadelphia Eagles entered Week 3 undefeated, but something already felt incomplete. Narrow victories over the Washington Commanders and Whodini-like escapes vs. the Tennessee Titans kept the record spotless, yet questions lingered about the offense, defensive consistency, and overall execution.
Those concerns became significantly louder after Monday night's 27-7 loss to the Chicago Bears. The defeat wasn't merely a setback in the standings. It was the type of performance that forces national analysts to reevaluate their perception of a team.
Across the league's major power rankings, the Eagles are sliding after their most disappointing showing of the season. Here's what's being said about them as power rankings are released across major platforms.
CBS Sports
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports lowered Philadelphia from seventh to 11th following the loss. His reasoning was straightforward.
"That was an embarrassing loss to the Bears Monday night. Now they face a tough test against the Rams at home this week."
It's difficult to argue with that assessment. The Eagles committed 10 penalties, failed to force a turnover, and allowed 38-year-old Case Keenum to look far more comfortable than anyone expected. The upcoming matchup against Los Angeles suddenly feels much more important than it did a week ago.
USA TODAY
Perhaps no national analyst has been more skeptical of the Eagles than USA TODAY's Nate Davis. He continues to express concern. Philadelphia entered Week 3 ranked 16th in his power rankings despite a 2-0 record. After the loss to Chicago, the Eagles slipped another three spots and now sit 19th.
"19. Philadelphia Eagles (16): Monday night was a reminder that this offense is a major work in progress, a reality that was largely glossed over amid a 2-0 start. Sunday's visit from the Rams could provide an even harsher reality check."
The criticism mirrors what many Eagles fans have been discussing through three weeks. Sean Mannion's offense has shown flashes, but consistency has been difficult to find. Philadelphia scored just seven points against Chicago and managed only six points during the entire third quarter through its first three games combined.
FOX Sports
FOX Sports' Ralph Vacchiano dropped the Eagles out of the top ten, from ninth to 11th, following Monday night's defeat. He pointed to concerns that have existed since Week 1, arguing that the warning signs were present even while the Eagles were winning games.
"The Eagles didn't look right through their first two games — getting narrow wins over the Commanders and Titans — and that haunted them as they stepped up in competition in Chicago. Jalen Hurts didn’t do much through the air or on the ground. Saquon Barkley seemed to stop running after the first quarter. And the Eagles' defense just makes way too many mistakes."
Vacchiano also highlighted issues on both sides of the ball, noting Jalen Hurts' uneven performance, the disappearance of the rushing attack after halftime, and a defense that continues to make costly mistakes. One interesting note from FOX Sports involved a statistic that underscores how unusual Monday night's result was. According to Vacchiano, the loss was Philadelphia's first defeat in September since Sept. 29, 2024.
ESPN
ESPN's NFL Nation ranks the Eagles eighth. That's a two-spot drop from last week's ranking. Tim McManus offered the following.
"Wicks has the second-most receptions (nine) and receiving yards (179) on the team behind DeVonta Smith. He is currently the WR30 in fantasy. There was some thought heading into the summer that rookie Makai Lemon could ascend to the No. 2 role, but injuries left him on the sideline for most of camp. In the meantime, Wicks and QB Jalen Hurts have developed a comfort level with one another, particularly in high-leverage moments."
Three weeks into the season, Philadelphia remains 2-1 and firmly in the NFC playoff picture. The problem is that the conversation has shifted. Two weeks ago, analysts were debating how high the Eagles could climb. A week ago, concerns grew after seing chinks in the armor. Now, many are wondering whether the issues exposed in Chicago are temporary growing pains or signs of deeper problems.
The Los Angeles Rams visit Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, and few games this early in the season have felt more important. A victory would help stabilize the narrative. Another performance like Monday night's could send the Eagles sliding even further down the national rankings.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Power Rankings Roundup: Where do the Eagles stand heading into Week 4?
