Philadelphia is a different kind of sports town when the birds are flying high. You can feel it in the air from South Philly up to the Northeast. Everyone is asking the same thing at the deli counter or over a coffee: Is the Eagles winning? Well, if you’ve looked at the standings lately, the answer isn’t just a simple "yes"—it’s a loud, aggressive statement to the rest of the NFL.
They’re winning. They’re winning ugly sometimes, and they’re winning pretty at others.
But honestly, the "how" matters way more than the "if" right now. This isn't the same team that collapsed in late 2023. You remember that, right? That miserable stretch where it felt like the sky was falling? This 2025-2026 iteration of the Philadelphia Eagles has found a defensive identity under Vic Fangio that actually holds water, and Saquon Barkley has turned into the workhorse everyone in New York feared he would become. It’s a weird time to be a Giants fan, but a great time to be in green.
The Reality of the Standings: Is the Eagles Winning Right Now?
To get the technical stuff out of the way, the Eagles are currently sitting near the top of the NFC East. They aren't just winning games; they are dominating the time of possession. When people check their phones to see is the Eagles winning, they usually see a scoreline that looks closer than the game actually was. That’s because Nick Sirianni’s squad has leaned heavily into a "bully ball" philosophy.
They run the ball. Then they run it again.
Jalen Hurts has settled into a rhythm that looks less like a guy trying to carry the world on his shoulders and more like a point guard. He’s distributing. He’s taking what the defense gives him. It’s not always the high-flying 400-yard passing clinic people want for their fantasy teams, but it wins football games in January.
Why the Defense is Different This Year
Last year, the secondary looked like a sieve. It was painful to watch. This year, the injection of young talent like Quinyon Mitchell has changed the math. The kid plays with a chip on his shoulder that fits this city perfectly. He’s sticky in coverage, he doesn't panic when the ball is in the air, and most importantly, he doesn’t give up the "soul-crusher" plays that defined the 2023 collapse.
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Vic Fangio's scheme is notoriously complex, but the guys seem to have finally "got it." They aren't blitzing into oblivion. They’re playing smart, positional football. It’s boring to some people, sure. But you know what isn't boring? Holding an opponent to three field goals while your offense drains the clock.
The Saquon Effect and the O-Line
We have to talk about Saquon Barkley. There was so much talk about whether paying a running back was "smart" in the modern NFL.
Whatever.
Barkley has proven that when you put an elite talent behind a Jeff Stoutland-coached offensive line, magic happens. He’s hitting holes that didn't exist in North Jersey. He’s making the first man miss almost every single time. It takes the pressure off Jalen. If the defense has to put eight men in the box to stop Barkley, AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith are going to eat you alive on the outside. It’s basic math, really.
The offensive line, even without Jason Kelce, hasn't skipped a beat. Cam Jurgens has stepped into that center role with a level of physicality that is frankly surprising. He’s not Jason—nobody is—but he’s a mauler. He pulls with bad intentions. Watching him and Landon Dickerson lead a screen pass is like watching two freight trains trying to win a drag race.
The Critical Role of Coaching Stability
Kellen Moore has brought a level of "pro-style" logic to the offense that was missing. Last year, the offense felt stagnant. It was a lot of "Jalen, go make a play." This year, the concepts are layered. You see more motion, more creative ways to get the ball into the hands of the playmakers in space. It turns out that when you don't make your quarterback do everything by himself, he’s actually pretty good at his job.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Streak
People love to talk about the "easy schedule." You hear it on the national talk shows every morning. "Oh, the Eagles haven't played anyone yet."
That’s nonsense.
In the NFL, a win is a win. You play who is in front of you. If you beat a "bad" team by 20 points, that means you’re a good team doing your job. The Eagles have been taking care of business against the teams they should beat, which is something they failed to do during the tail end of the previous season. That’s the sign of a disciplined roster.
The locker room culture also seems... lighter. There were so many rumors of friction last year. This year? You see the vibes. You see the Batman capes. You see the genuine celebration after a big play. Winning fixes everything, but the chemistry looks like it was built in the offseason, not just because they’re 10-3 or whatever the record happens to be when you’re reading this.
Key Stats That Prove the Dominance
- Third Down Efficiency: The Eagles are currently in the top 5 for converting third downs.
- Red Zone Scoring: They aren't settling for field goals as much as they used to.
- Turnover Margin: Jalen Hurts has significantly cut down on the "hero ball" interceptions.
Challenges Remaining on the Road to the Super Bowl
Is the Eagles winning? Yes. Are they perfect? No way.
The pass rush still feels a bit inconsistent at times. We need to see more from the edge rushers when it’s 3rd and long against a high-tier quarterback like Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson. It’s one thing to bully a rookie QB; it’s another to get home against a veteran who knows how to manipulate the pocket.
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Special teams have also had some "weird" moments. A muffed punt here, a missed assignment there. In the playoffs, those little mistakes are what send you home. Michael Clay has some work to do to make sure the "hidden yardage" doesn't start working against them when the stakes are highest.
The Health Factor
Football is a war of attrition. The Eagles have been relatively lucky on the injury front, but the depth at tackle is thin. If Lane Johnson or Jordan Mailata goes down for a significant stretch, the entire complexion of the offense changes. We saw it a few years ago—when Lane is out, the win percentage drops. That’s just the reality of having a Hall of Fame talent at right tackle.
The Verdict on the 2025-2026 Season
If you’re looking for a reason to be optimistic, just look at the trenches. Philadelphia wins because they dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. It’s the Howie Roseman philosophy. It’s been the blueprint for decades, and it’s working again.
So, is the Eagles winning? They are. And they’re doing it in a way that suggests this isn't a fluke. They have the run game to travel in January, the defense to keep games close, and the star power to pull away in the fourth quarter.
The road to the Super Bowl likely goes through Philly, and honestly, that’s exactly where this city wants it.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Monitor the Injury Report: Specifically look at the "Did Not Practice" (DNP) tags for the offensive line on Thursdays. This is the biggest indicator of their upcoming performance.
- Watch the Defensive Snap Counts: See if the young corners are getting more reps over the veterans as the season closes out. This tells you how much the coaching staff trusts them for the playoffs.
- Check the Vegas Lines: If the Eagles are favored by more than 7 points, look at the "Over" on Saquon Barkley’s rushing yards. The Birds love to grind out the clock when they have a lead.
- Secure Your Gear: If you haven't grabbed a Kelly Green jersey yet, do it now. The supply chain for the authentic ones always gets messy right before the playoffs.