The Philadelphia Eagles have struggled in the fourth quarter, being outscored 84‑56 this season—the fifth‑worst margin in the NFL. That minus‑28 point differential is the worst the team has posted through 12 games since 2013, when Chip Kelly was the head coach. In contrast, last year the Eagles posted a league‑best plus‑52 in the final quarter.
Fourth‑Quarter Performance
The Eagles’ fourth‑quarter record is 0‑4, and they have been outscored by at least a touchdown in every loss. When the margin was less than a touchdown, the team went 8‑0. In the four games lost, the Broncos beat them 18‑0, the Giants 7‑0, the Cowboys 10‑0, and the Bears 14‑6. Across all quarters, Philadelphia is plus‑26 in the first, plus‑18 in the second, and plus‑five in the third.
Offensive and Defensive Ratios
When the Eagles are not outscored in the fourth quarter, they rank 10th in scoring and 8th in scoring defense for the first three quarters. In the fourth, they drop to 30th in scoring and 20th in scoring defense. Saquon Barkley averages 4.4 yards per carry in the first three quarters but only 2.0 in the fourth. Likewise, kicker Jake Elliott is 11‑for‑12 in the first three quarters and 1‑for‑4 from the fourth.
Defensive Production
Philadelphia is on pace for 34 sacks and 11 interceptions. The only season since sacks became an official stat in 1982 that the team had 34 or fewer sacks and 11 or fewer interceptions was 2012, when they finished 4‑12 with 30 sacks and eight INTs. The Eagles are the only NFL team without an edge rusher who has recorded at least 2½ sacks. Their edge group, including Nolan Smith, Jaelan Phillips, Jalyx Hunt and Brandon Graham, combined for just 8½ sacks, with retired Za’Darius Smith contributing 1½ and former players Patrick Johnson and Josh Uche adding one each.
Off‑Season Depth Concerns
The offense’s lack of depth is evident in the wide‑receiver corps. Jahan Dotson has 21 targets and 11 catches, but the team has only DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown with at least 12 receptions each—one of only three teams (the 4‑8 Falcons and 3‑9 Jets share this distinction). Nick Sirianni has said the offense “goes through Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown and Dallas Goedert,” yet other NFL teams routinely feature three or four receivers with 20+ catches.
Rushing Highlights
Tank Bigsby, who logged 104 yards on nine carries against the Giants, has only eight carries in four games with a 6.1‑yard average. In the Bears game he saw a single snap and no carries. Bigsby’s 2024 season with the Jaguars included 766 rushing yards, a 4.6 average and seven touchdowns. Across 23 rushes this season, he averages 7.6 yards per carry.
Special‑Team Struggles
Jake Elliott’s performance from 50 yards and beyond has dipped sharply. He is 4‑for‑13 from that distance over the last two years, a 31% success rate compared with a league average of 70%. Among 30 kickers with at least five 50‑yard attempts, Elliott is the worst. Matt Gay of the Buccaneers is the next‑worst at 39%. Elliott’s overall accuracy this season is 76.9%, ranking 35th of 39 kickers with at least 20 attempts.
In contrast, former Eagles kicker Cameron Dicker is the most accurate in NFL history, 115‑for‑123 overall and 20‑for‑26 from 50+ yards (93.6% accuracy). Dicker is 5th‑most accurate from 50+ yards at 76.9%. He will return on Monday night for the Eagles’ game against the Chargers.
Playoff Outlook
According to NFL NextGen Stats, the Eagles have a 95% chance of reaching the playoffs. That probability rises to 98% with a win over the Chargers and falls to 89% with a loss. Only the Patriots (over 99%), Broncos (99%) and Rams (96%) have higher playoff chances. The team has a 9% chance of securing the No. 1 seed.
The Eagles hold the second‑most wins this year among teams that have beaten other winning teams. The Rams have six wins, while the Eagles have four. Philadelphia lost two victories over teams that finished with winning records—the Chiefs and Cowboys both finished .500.
Key Takeaways
- The Eagles have been outscored 84‑56 in the fourth quarter, the fifth‑worst margin in the NFL.
- Defensive production lags, with only 8½ sacks from the edge and a 34‑sack season on pace.
- The offense’s receiver depth is thin, featuring only two receivers with 12+ catches.
The season’s challenges—fourth‑quarter collapse, defensive shortcomings, offensive depth gaps and special‑team inconsistencies—underscore the work the Eagles must do to become playoff contenders.
