For weeks now, each Philadelphia Eagles setback feels less like bad luck and more like a warning sign. Sunday brought another. Week five's 19-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguarsextended Philadelphia's losing streak to three games.
The latest debacle came after Jake Elliott's late field goal seemed to deliver a much-needed win. The Eagles had opportunities to control this game, but familiar problems kept resurfacing. Their offense struggled to sustain drives, the defense was asked to do too much, and a special teams breakdown helped erase the lead.
It took fewer than eight seconds, and as Cam Little's final field goal sailed through the uprights, another disappointment was tough to swallow. As we turn the page, the mind keeps wandering. Here are
three observations from a loss that raise difficult questions to answer
The defense cannot keep carrying this burden.
Philadelphia's defense produced memorable goal-line stands, while Jalen Carter recorded two strip-sacks. Quinyon Mitchell added his first regular-season interception, and Zack Baun delivered another productive performance at linebacker. Those contributions should have given the Eagles a legitimate chance to win. Instead, the defense spent much of the afternoon compensating for an offense that finished with just 232 total yards against Jacksonville's 408. The defense wasn't flawless, but it repeatedly created opportunities that its teammates couldn't fully exploit.
Philadelphia cannot expect Vic Fangio's unit to generate game-changing plays every week while receiving so little help from the offense. Eventually, that imbalance catches up with a team, and recently, it has done so in the fourth quarter.
The second-half offensive collapse is becoming a defining problem. The Eagles scored just three points after halftime against Jacksonville and punted on five of seven second-half possessions. Their inability to sustain drives has become particularly concerning because it persists regardless of the opponent or the game's circumstances.
The problem extends beyond play-calling. Philadelphia needs better execution, more manageable third downs, and a clearer offensive identity. Until those elements improve, even a strong first half may not provide enough separation to secure a victory.
The running game continues to offer no reliable foundation
Philadelphia rushed for only 22 yards on 18 attempts, averaging a staggering 1.2 yards per carry. Injuries to Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby, followed by Will Shipley's departure with a foot injury, left the Eagles scrambling for production from their remaining options.
The circumstances were difficult, but the lack of efficiency placed even more pressure on Jalen Hurts and the passing game. Dameon Pierce led the backfield, managing just 14 rushing yards on 11 attempts. The offense struggled to create consistent running lanes.
The Eagles must find a way to manufacture ground production, even when their preferred personnel is unavailable. Otherwise, opposing defenses can concentrate on pressuring Hurts and disrupting the passing game. Philadelphia's problems are connected, and fixing one area without addressing the others won't stop the slide.
Eagles achieve rare air by snatching defeat from the jaws of victory
The Eagles have now lost consecutive games after reaching positions from which victory seemed all but assured. In Week 4, against the Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia held a 20-10 fourth-quarter lead and faced a goal-to-go from the 2-yard line. They eventually lost 24-20. Against Jacksonville, the Eagles took a 17-16 lead with the aforementioned eight seconds remaining, only to again find themselves on the short end of the scoreboard.
These weren't identical collapses, but both are related. Twice in two weeks, Philadelphia has blown a seemingly assured victory while holding over a 97% win probability late in the fourth quarter.
The Philadelphia Eagles have blown a >97% win probability in back-to-back games pic.twitter.com/vVn8MtCFjp
— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) October 11, 2026
You can't make this stuff up. To his credit, Nick Sirianni accepted responsibility for the decision to kick short instead of sending the ball through the end zone. Sure, accountability matters; however, the Eagles need more than a coach's accountability to reverse a trend that is threatening to define their season.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles’ loss to Jaguars exposes three problems Philadelphia must fix
