Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Panthers in Week 6 and a game prediction
The Eagles are underdogs again. Can they keep their losing streak from expanding to four games?
The Eagles host the Carolina Panthers at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:
When the Eagles have the ball: It seemed that despite all the injuries on offense and the turnover on the line, the Eagles had another opportunity to turn their fortunes around against a Panthers defense that is also short-handed and struggling. And then came another blow: Jalen Hurts has a blood clot in his calf and won’t play Sunday.
It’s Tanner McKee time, but that doesn’t alter what should be No. 1 on Sean Mannion’s do-list: jump-starting a ground game that has been stagnant for most of the season. The Eagles simply aren’t going to be productive unless they can have success in the run game. It was tough sledding in London against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that is one of the best against the run. It didn’t help that three-fifths of the starting O-line was either making its first or second NFL start, or that the Eagles were down to their fourth-string running back by the second half.
But that’s the world they live in, at least until Saquon Barkley (hamstring), who was ruled out Friday, returns. Dameon Pierce isn’t exactly Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs, but Carolina has allowed a league-worst 5.4 yards a carry in its first four games. A whopping 3.68 yards have come after contact. This could be the week to get the outside zone going, although a similar thing has been said before.
Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero spent his formative years under two of the best ever: Monte Kiffin and Vic Fangio. He employs the same 1½ gap principles as the latter, and doesn’t want to devote extra bodies in the box to stop the run. But he may not have much of a choice. His personnel up front, with nose tackle Lee Hunter in the middle, has been susceptible to runs outside the tackles.
» READ MORE: Eagles vs. Panthers predictions: Our writers pick a winner for Week 6
Mannion doesn’t quite have the bodies to live in that wide-zone blocking world, but there has to be more success on stretch runs if he wants to utilize play-action. The Eagles have run the lowest rate of play-action in the NFL (17.9%), likely because they’re last in under-center success rate (21.7%). Hurts had a couple of downfield hookups on under-center, play-action throws last week. Those came on first down. The play-action issues have been on later downs when defenses are more apt to blitz. The Eagles’ condensed sets have sometimes invited extra rushers, but they need more pickup answers with the Panthers fourth in the league in blitz rate on dropbacks (42%).
Evero would likely prefer not to blitz as much, but outside of former Birds edge Jaelan Phillips, he hasn’t gotten consistent pressure from his D-line. Phillips (hamstring) is questionable, but if active, he will be a handful for right tackle Markel Bell.
The Eagles have questions of their own up front. Center Drew Kendall (knee) could be out for a second straight game and left guard Landon Dickerson (knee) may not be ready to return. Both Kendall and Dickerson are listed as questionable. Hurts’ protection was actually decent enough vs. a traditional four-man rush. He left some money on the table when receivers were schemed open over the middle. He may have just been gun-shy from all the pressure, but he also avoided interceptions for the most part. McKee, likewise, can’t afford turnovers.
» READ MORE: Jalen Hurts has a blood clot, and the Eagles now have major questions to answer
If McKee does have time in the pocket, there could be chances to exploit the Panthers on the outside. Starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson — maybe the strength of the Evero unit — are both on injured reserve. In their place are Akayleb Evans, who hasn’t been a regular starter in three years, and fourth-round rookie Will Lee III. DeVonta Smith (hamstring/toe) did not have an injury designation on Friday’s injury report, which is good news for the Birds. Dontayvion Wicks has been a solid No. 2, but he’s not an ace. Rookie Makai Lemon has shown progress. The Panthers mostly employ zone coverage (85%) and lean heavily on Cover 3 with late-rotating safeties.
When the Panthers have the ball: Bryce Young’s continued advancement as a quarterback has been one of the primary reasons the Panthers have won two of four games. He’s seeing the field better — despite his 5-foot-10 height — and executing coach Dave Canales’ scheme with poise. Canales handed over play-calling to Brad Idzik before the season and many credit the offensive coordinator with elevating Young’s game. Young isn’t what you’d call a two-way threat. He runs only when necessary, but he can extend plays with his legs, which he’s needed to do a lot behind a leaky O-line.
» READ MORE: Bryce Young lived in Havertown, and still has family in Mt. Airy. To the Panthers QB, Philly is a ‘second home’
Canales is another from the Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay offensive philosophy. He doesn’t have Young under center a significant amount (34%), but Young has made progress in that discipline in Year No. 4. He’s still a better passer from the shotgun and ranks third in expected points added per dropback. Young is in the pistol a fair amount, as well, which allows for some play-action from those sets. He has been pressured on 42.7% of his drops, however.
Young’s offensive line has two new faces at tackle, with Rasheed Walker on the left side and rookie Monroe Freeling on the right. Freeling is doubtful with a knee injury. Last year’s starter, Taylor Moton, has been out with a blood clot in his lung and is questionable. Stone Forsythe is the backup if neither can go. He would mostly see Eagles edge Nolan Smith Jr. Jalyx Hunt is sidelined on the other side with ankle/knee injuries. Now would be a good time for the oft-injured Jonathan Greenard (ankle), who did not have an injury designation on Friday’s report, to finally make an impact.
Jalen Carter had his best game in eons last week. He was virtually unstoppable in the first half. Not having to wear a bulky soft cast on his injured right wrist seemed to make a world of difference. It may not matter who has to block him when he’s playing at that level, but the Panthers have a liability in the middle of their O-line. Luke Fortner has allowed 15 pressures — more than any center in the league.
If Carolina is going to slide protection to Carter, Moro Ojomo and Jordan Davis need to win more one-on-ones. Young has a strong complement of receivers and tight ends to throw to, on a diverse set of route combinations. Receiver Tetairoa McMillan (26 catches for 385 yards) is the linchpin, but Jalen Coker is a solid sidekick, and Brycen Tremayne (19.2 yards per reception) can stretch secondaries.
» READ MORE: Eagles vs. Panthers: The Saquon Barkley and Jalen Coker effects, plus other numbers to know
Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Riq Woolen have been very good this season, but they’ll be tested on Sunday, as will the Eagles’ safeties. Andrew Mukuba’s overaggressiveness has been exposed at times and it’s unclear who will be his counterpart with Michael Carter II (abdomen) out for Sunday. Marcus Epps (groin) was a full participant in Friday’s practice and could return to the starting lineup.
Fangio’s defense has allowed a 23.9% explosive play rate on play-action passes this season. Look for Young to throw downfield off fakes. He also has a solid trio of tight ends over the middle with Darren Waller (13 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns) the primary option on pass downs. He’s not quite the guy he was pre-retirement, but he’ll be a tough assignment for the safeties and off-ball linebackers.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is expected to split time at linebacker with Jihaad Campbell opposite Zack Baun. Fangio said it might be by series, but Trotter is clearly the better run defender. The Panthers utilize two- and three-tight end sets more than most offenses with Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans adept in Canales’ preferred zone blocking schemes.
Defenses have stacked the box at the league’s highest rate vs. the Panthers (32.6%), but Chuba Hubbard has managed to average five yards a carry. He’s fourth in the NFL in rushing yards over expected a year after losing his starting job to Rico Dowdle. The Eagles’ run defense has mostly met expectations, but Fangio hasn’t gotten enough out of his pass rush and his coverage when quarterbacks aren’t pressured.
Extra point: For the fifth time since the NFL started having international games, the team returning from another country will face an opponent coming off a bye week. The latter team won in each of the first four meetings. The Eagles have greater problems to navigate. Injuries remain a significant obstacle, the most daunting now at quarterback. Twenty-five players were on the practice report by Friday, although four were guys coming off injured reserve who had their practice windows opened. Nevertheless, it’s added another layer to the struggles, particularly on offense.
» READ MORE: Nick Sirianni’s anemic Eagles offense is a bigger problem than his game management
Nick Sirianni has to also turn the page on late-moment game management that he said he regretted. It was the second time in three games he openly admitted to making a mistake. There’s nuance to those decisions, much of which many fans (understandably) don’t want to hear. But the coach is most concerned about his locker room. His Eagles have lost back-to-back games against playoff-caliber teams that they could have easily won. That says something about his support, but mounting losses will make it harder to keep the ship from sinking. Of course, the 2026 Eagles may just be doomed by an albatross they can’t unburden.
Prediction: Panthers, 24-16.
The Eagles are back from London, looking to leave the disappointment of a last-second defeat behind while choosing instead to focus on lessons they can learn from a third straight loss. And you know what? The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane actually thinks there were encouraging takeaways from the game, outcome aside. He and Mike Sielski discussed why the Eagles’ sky, despite being gray, isn’t falling just yet, and what the team can build on to if it hopes to reverse its fortunes during a key stretch of the schedule that begins Sunday. Listen here.
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