It’s possible for NFL teams to “win the bye week,” but was that the case in Week 5 for the Philadelphia Eagles?
On the injury front, the bye week came at the perfect time. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, the Eagles (2-2) should have key starters A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Lane Johnson back at practice and ready to roll for this week’s home game against the slumping Cleveland Browns (1-4).
But aside from one hilarious play at the expense of New York Giants fans on Sunday, the scoreboard didn’t exactly fall Philly’s way during its weekend off.
All three NFC East rivals — the Washington Commanders (4-1), Dallas Cowboys (3-2) and Giants (2-3) — all picked up victories on Sunday. There was one big upset — the Arizona Cardinals stunning the San Francisco 49ers, 24-23, to muddy the waters in the NFC West — but overall, the Eagles find themselves third in the division and 10th in the conference entering Week 6.
Are the Eagles still being considered among the league’s elite? NFL analysts pondered that question following Sunday’s slate of games. Here’s what the experts were saying as of Monday morning.
NFL Power Rankings Week 6: Philadelphia Eagles
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: No. 12 (no change)
Iyer: "The Eagles needed the early bye to heal up at key offensive positions around Jalen Hurts, which will hopefully prompt more efficient play from the QB going forward. The defense needed more time to jell under Vic Fangio, too.”
Taylor Wirth, NBC Sports: No. 7 (up 1 spot)
Wirth: "The defense might be as big of a liability as last season but the offense has the pieces to keep pace with anyone if healthy.”
Brian Blewis, Pro Football Network: No. 10 (down 1 spot)
Blewis: “The Eagles were on a much-needed bye, as they should now have A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Lane Johnson back in the lineup for Week 6. After an uneven 2-2 start to the season, the Eagles have an easy schedule ahead with games against the Browns, Giants, Bengals, and Jaguars. While the defense remains a major concern, this Eagles offense should bounce back with all of their starters back in the lineup for the first time since their Week 1 win over the Packers in Brazil. If Jalen Hurts can cut down on his turnovers, especially in the red zone, this offense has the potential to compensate for the defense’s shortcomings. But make no mistake about it, Washington is a legitimate threat in the division.”
Matt Johnson, Sportsnaut: No. 8 (up 3 spots)
Johnson: “What matters most for the Philadelphia Eagles coming out of the bye is getting back a healthy A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Lane Johnson. It’s evident that Jalen Hurts looks worse this year than he did in 2023, but it’s also critical to recognize the absence of essential parts of this Eagles’ offense. We expect a rebound from Philadelphia in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns. However, moving forward, there are concerns with the Eagles defense. For now, Philly is just a good team that can be very good but the Eagles are far from an elite ceiling.”
Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: No. 12 (no change)
Cluff: “The 2-2 Eagles are an enigma. They have been outscored this season 96-86 in four games. Yet, their recent history tells us that they are a contender in the NFC East. We just didn't expect them to be looking up at the Washington Commanders right now.”
Consensus: No. 10
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