Eagles vs. Panthers predictions: Rounding up experts’ picks for the Week 6 matchup at Lincoln Financial Field
The Eagles' losing streak has reached three games, and now they'll be without Jalen Hurts, who's dealing with a superficial blood clot in his calf.
A three-game losing streak and a growing list of injuries have put the Eagles in a difficult spot entering Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. The Birds will look to get back on track at Lincoln Financial Field (1 p.m., CBS Philadelphia) but will have to do so without quarterback Jalen Hurts.
The Eagles announced Thursday that Hurts will miss the game because of a superficial blood clot in his calf, which leaves backup Tanner McKee to lead the charge.
The Panthers (2-2) enter following a bye week and with Wynnewood-born quarterback Bryce Young coming off a strong performance against the Detroit Lions. He threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns, had no interceptions, and completed a season-high 70.7% of his passes (29 of 41).
The Eagles have home-field advantage, but injuries and the team’s offensive struggles make this a difficult matchup. Let’s take a closer look at who the local and national media are picking.
Inquirer predictions
The Inquirer’s beat reporters have little confidence in the Birds this week, with Jeff Neiburg saying he wasn’t sure the Eagles could win, even if Hurts was playing.
Neiburg has the Panthers winning, 24-16, and said he needs to see an Eagles win before he’ll predict them to win again.
With McKee’s inconsistent preseason performance, Olivia Reiner writes that “it would take a heroic effort from McKee to prevent the Eagles from extending their losing streak to four games.” She has the Panthers winning, 24-13.
Read The Inquirer’s full predictions here.
National media predictions
NFL.com: All five experts picked the Panthers over the Eagles.
ESPN.com: Dan Graziano, Seth Wickersham, and Pamela Maldonado are the only ones on ESPN’s 11-person panel who picked the Eagles over the Panthers.
The Athletic: Before finding out that Hurts was out for Sunday, the picks were 5-3 in the Eagles’ favor. It’s now 6-2 Panthers. Chad Graff, one of the writers who kept their Eagles pick, wrote, “In Tanner McKee I trust. I’m not changing.”
CBS Sports: Senior writer Pete Prisco is the only expert on a panel of seven picking the Eagles to cover.
USA Today: Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz picked the Eagles to win, 19-14. He wrote, “... with the Panthers’ secondary hampered by cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson remaining on injured reserve, this is the opportunity for the unit to start finding its footing.”
Sports Illustrated: The eight analysts at Sports Illustrated are split down the middle; four are backing the Eagles and four have the Panthers.
Bleacher Report: Brad Gagnon and Ian Hanford are the only two experts out of seven going with the Eagles when it comes to the 1½-point spread. Wes O’Donnell wrote, “I’m done trying to figure out the Eagles. The Eagles clearly cannot figure out the Eagles. And while the Panthers’ defense is a great opportunity for any offense to get right, Carolina had a bye week and then some to prepare for Philly. This Panthers team has defied the odds and shown up in tough situations since last season.”
Pro Football Talk: Mike Florio has the Eagles winning, 24-20, and wrote that if the Eagles want a chance in 2026, this is a must-win game.
Sporting News: Bill Bender has the Panthers taking home a 22-20 win over the Eagles.
Local media predictions
Philly Voice: Every staff writer at Philly Voice is backing the Panthers to take home a win at the Linc on Sunday. Geoff Mosher wrote, “I’m delusional enough to think the defense can, and will, be good enough to keep the Eagles in this game from start to finish. I’m not delusional enough to think their piecemeal offense can score enough points to give the Eagles the edge.”
Bleeding Green Nation: Three experts at Bleeding Green Nation picked the Birds to win on Sunday, and the two others backed the Panthers.
Delaware Online: Out of the 11 reporters making picks, six chose the Eagles. Brandon Holveck wrote, “This pick is a vote of confidence for the Vic Fangio defense led by a resurgent Jalen Carter, Zack Baun, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Those are four of the best five or six players on the Eagles, and the organization will lean on them to get through this turbulent patch.”
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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