Stop me if you've heard this before: Nick Sirianni's Philadelphia Eagles aren't playing up to their talent level.
It's been a criticism often launched at the mercurial head coach -- and one from which he's always recovered. Thus, a recent two-game losing streak feels almost quaint for a team that's typically managed to turn things around and generate a postseason of greased light poles around City Center.
2023 saw a 10-1 start end with a 1-6 finish and spiral out of the playoffs. Sirianni recovered and won a Super Bowl the next season. 2025 played host to a midseason three-game losing streak. Philadelphia recovered and won the NFC East easily (though, in fairness, it was a bleak year for the division). Last year's one-and-done playoff appearance
has given way to another skid -- one that looks familiar but at the same time concerningly sticky. Let's look at the problems that have cropped up.
What has gone wrong for the Eagles in 2026?
The Eagles had an uninventive offense in 2025, which led to coordinator Kevin Patullo's firing. Sirianni brought in Sean Mannion to replace him, hiring away the former journeyman quarterback after he helped guide Jordan Love as the Green Bay Packers' quarterbacks coach last fall. But that was only Mannion's second season of coaching experience, and he's looked fully outmatched for a Philly team that ranks 29th (!) in the NFL when it comes to expected points added (EPA) per snap.
The absence of Lane Johnson (retirement) and Landon Dickerson (injury) have contributed to a 43.5 percent pressure rate for Jalen Hurts -- third-highest in the NFL. Mannion's offense has done little to mitigate that static in the pocket. His 17.4 percent play-action rate is the lowest of Hurts' pro career.
Turnover in the receiving corps has been similarly damaging. A.J. Brown is a New England Patriot. First round pick Makai Lemon has struggled, second round pick Eli Stowers has yet to take a snap due to injury and trade addition Dontayvion Wicks has been a nice piece of the offense unable to make a consistent impact over four quarters. Factor in injuries to DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert and you can understand how this precipitous dropoff happened.
The defense has been similarly frustrating, allowing at least 20 points every week and nearly falling victim to a woeful Tennessee Titans team in Week 2. Only one team in the NFL has fewer sacks than Philly's four. Turnover and injuries have struck at the Eagle's safety depth, forcing a (very good) cornerbacks corps to work overtime. That's a ticking time bomb when you can't get to the quarterback, as the Los Angeles Rams proved whilst overcoming a 10-point deficit in the final four minutes of Week 4.
A difficult schedule awaits; a potential shootout with the Carolina Panthers in Week 5, a trip to play a thriving Jacksonville Jaguars team and Week 6 and a showdown with the ultra-efficient Dallas Cowboys offense in Week 7. Two losses would keep this team under .500 after a 2-0 start, making Sirianni one of the most talked-about coaches in the league (again).
Will Sirianni be fired even with a winning record in 2026?
Sirianni's phugoid cycles have kept his team in the postseason and been a gift to eastern Pennsylvania talk radio. But last year's rebound was staked by a defense capable of shutting down opponents. General manager Howie Roseman was proactive at the trade deadline that year, bringing in Jaelan Phillips to punch up the pass rush and bolstering the secondary with Michael Carter II and Jaire Alexander.
It looks like we can expect similar moves in 2026. If Sirianni can't make those work -- and if he cedes control of the NFC East to the Cowboys -- uncomfortable conversations will be had in Philadelphia. The team was able to scapegoat Patullo last offseason, but replacing him hasn't fixed anything. Mannion seems likely to take the fall, but Sirianni could reasonably join him, even if he rallies to the postseason (but then can't win a game).
Seat temperature: Not quite as hot as the takes on Philly sports radio, but still uncomfortable.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Would the Eagles actually fire Nick Sirianni 2 years after Super Bowl win?
