It is a weird feeling in Philadelphia right now. Usually, by mid-January, the city is buzzing with that specific kind of nervous energy that only playoff football provides. But if you’re waking up on this Sunday, January 18, 2026, and asking, do the eagles play today, the answer is going to sting a little.
They don't.
While the NFL Divisional Round is in full swing with the Texans taking on the Patriots and the Rams visiting the Bears, the Philadelphia Eagles are already deep into "next year" mode. It's frustrating. After an 11-6 regular season that saw them snatch the NFC East crown back from Dallas, the postseason run ended before it really began.
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The Wild Card Heartbreak
The reason we aren't watching Jalen Hurts today boils down to what happened exactly one week ago. On January 11, the Eagles hosted the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field. It was supposed to be the "revenge game" for the ages. The Linc was loud. The weather was crisp.
But the 49ers, led by a relentless defense, managed to stifle the Eagles' offensive rhythm when it mattered most. The final score was 23-19. It was one of those games where every mistake felt magnified by a thousand. A missed block here, a slightly overthrown pass there, and suddenly, the defending NFC East champs were shaking hands at midfield while the Niners celebrated a trip to Seattle.
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Who actually is playing today?
Since the Eagles are out, the NFL schedule for Sunday, January 18, 2026, focuses on the remaining heavyweights. If you're still looking for a football fix, here is the slate:
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: Kickoff at 3:00 PM ET on ABC/ESPN. This is the "old guard vs. new blood" matchup everyone is talking about.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: Kickoff at 6:30 PM ET on NBC. Soldier Field is going to be rocking, and frankly, it's the kind of atmosphere Eagles fans wish they were experiencing at the Linc right now.
It's a bitter pill. Honestly, seeing the Bears in a Divisional game while the Birds are at home feels a bit upside down given how the mid-season looked.
What went wrong for the Birds?
We can't talk about why the Eagles aren't playing today without looking at the late-season slide. It wasn't just the playoff loss. The team struggled down the stretch, culminating in a Week 18 loss to the Washington Commanders that raised some serious red flags.
The offense, despite having weapons like A.J. Brown and Saquon Barkley (who was a beast this year), seemed to lose its creative edge. It led to some massive changes already. Just a few days ago, the team officially moved on from their offensive coordinator. General Manager Howie Roseman and Head Coach Nick Sirianni held a press conference on January 15 to address the "disappointment" of the 2025 finish.
They aren't sitting still. They’ve already started signing players to "futures" contracts, basically grabbing guys they want to look at for the 2026 training camp. It’s the administrative equivalent of cleaning out the garage after a long winter.
Looking ahead to the 2026 Season
So, if you’re asking do the eagles play today, you’re likely looking for something to hope for. The silver lining is that the core of this team is still incredibly young and talented. Jalen Hurts is still the guy. Saquon Barkley showed he has plenty left in the tank.
The 2026 offseason is going to be about rebuilding the defensive secondary and finding a coaching scheme that doesn't get "solved" by January. We’ve seen this movie before in Philly; sometimes a disappointing exit is the kick in the pants the front office needs to make a bold move.
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Keep an eye on the Senior Bowl and the upcoming Combine. While the rest of the league plays for a ring, the Eagles are playing for the future.
If you're looking to stay productive while the playoffs continue without us, you can start tracking the Eagles' 2026 offseason roster moves and future contract signings. Most of these "futures" deals are being announced daily right now. It's also worth watching the coaching carousel, as the search for a new offensive coordinator will likely wrap up before the Super Bowl kicks off in February.