Sunday, October 18, 2026
55 ° Clear
55 ° Clear
The Eagles entered Sunday's game on a three-game losing streak and were underdogs at home to face the Carolina Panthers without their QB Jalen Hurts, who was placed on injured reserve with a blood clot.
His absence, and the plethora of other starters also missing, especially on the offensive side of the ball, put the spotlight on the Eagles’ ability to adjust offensively and keep their season on track without their starting quarterback.
Tanner McKee made his first non-Week 18 start, his third overall, and looked like an inexperienced QB for much of the game.
The offense lacked balance and looked overwhelmed all day as they fell to the Panthers for their fourth straight loss.
The Panthers won the toss and deferred, giving Philadelphia an early look at Tanner McKee, who started his first drive of 2026 at the Eagles' 26. He was sacked on his first snap for an 11-yard loss, and the Birds punted 3 plays later after getting behind the sticks. Carolina moved the ball to the Eagles' 29, where the Panthers scored the first points of the game to take a 3–0 lead off a 47-yard field goal.
After both offenses stalled and the teams traded punts, the Eagles finally got a first down and moved the ball on their third possession to the Panthers' 42, where the drive ended in another punt.
Both offenses struggled mightily in the first quarter. Philly picked up two third-down conversions, and Carolina didn’t have any.
What was a futile battle for both offenses over the first 22 minutes ended with a Panthers touchdown to give them a 10–0 lead with 8:08 left in the half.
Philadelphia showed signs of life on their ensuing drive, answering the Panthers' score on their next possession, led by an emotionally charged Devonta Smith after making a 16-yard reception. Following a pass interference penalty that took the Eagles down to the Carolina three. Dameon Pierce ran in a 2-yard touchdown on second down for the Birds' first points of the day to get within 3 points of Carolina. The score remained 10–7 at the half.
Carolina was one of six on third-down conversions in the first half, and they started the second half picking up two back-to-back. Their drive stalled at the Eagles' 34, and the Panthers increased their lead to 13–7 following a 52- yard field goal.
The Eagles’ first drive of the second half started off at their 20 and ended with Philly’s sixth punt of the game from their 22. Their inability to protect the passer hurt every drive through the first 45 minutes. The Eagles totaled 126 yards of offense through the first three quarters.
Carolina extended their lead to open the fourth quarter on a fourteen-play, 92-yard drive that ended with a Chuba Hubbard one-yard touchdown run. Following a failed two-point conversion, the Panthers took a 19–7 lead.
The Eagles clawed back into the contest with 10:42 left in the game following a ten-play, 69-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard TD pass from Tanner to DeVonta. 19–14.
The Eagles defense forced a three-and-out on Carolina’s next drive, and the Birds were back in business at their 48-yard line, but the Panthers defense forced their own three-and-out with 8:30 left in the game and scored their third touchdown of the game less than two minutes later to extend their lead to 25–14
Carolina took the ball down to the Eagles' two-yard line before kneeling two times to end the game.
In a sloppy, undisciplined game for both teams, with 24 penalties total (13 from Carolina, 11 by the Eagles), the Panthers controlled the game all day despite their mistakes.
The Philadelphia Eagles have a lot to improve on if there is any hope to turn their season around.
The Panthers were down their top two corners, both on IR, while the Eagles had their full complement of starting receivers, and it didn't matter. Tanner McKee was under pressure and looked like a quarterback who hadn't played in a while.
Despite the offensive line having the same starters return in back-to-back weeks, the OL still struggled to protect the quarterback.
The Eagles' defense kept them in the game as long as it could, but eventually they looked gassed and couldn't keep the Panthers contained.
Philadelphia had Nolan Smith leave after a strong first quarter, including a sack; he never returned after sustaining a concussion. Jordan Davis was ruled out with an ankle injury, and Carson Steele also left the contest and never returned after sustaining a shoulder injury.
A nightmare season of injuries for the Philadelphia Eagles continues.
The team still hasn't given up and still has a lot of fight. I don’t know that a business rooted in results saves a Head Coach who keeps inspiring effort, but it is a sign he hasn’t lost the team.
The Eagles stay home to face the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
The Birds will look to try to right the ship as they hope to receive more firepower back with the return of Saquon Barkley.
MORE: 5 reasons to still ride with the Eagles in 2026
