Eagles
Nick Sirianni watches from the sideline during the Eagles’ 2026 preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens.Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Philadelphia Eagles opened their 2026 preseason with a 24-7 loss at M&T Bank Stadium.
With many established starters watching from the sideline, the night was primarily an opportunity to evaluate depth, individual progress and execution. The final score will have little influence once the regular season begins. The performance, however, provided an early list of areas Philadelphia can address during the rest of August.
For a team with championship expectations, the first preseason game offers a useful checkpoint.
Here is what the Eagles should start, stop and continue doing as they work toward the regular season.
đ˘START: Sustaining Offensive Drives
Philadelphia needs to start finding ways to keep its offense on the field.
The Eagles opened the game with four consecutive three-and-outs and did not record their first first down until the second quarter. By the end of the night, they had produced only six first downs and 159 total yards. They also finished 0-for-9 on third down.
The personnel will look very different once the regular season begins, but third-down execution remains worth watching. Converting even a few of those opportunities would have allowed Philadelphia to extend drives, create more offensive snaps and prevent the opponent from controlling the pace of the game.
Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee combined for only 55 passing yards, another sign of how difficult it was for Philadelphia to establish any rhythm through the air.
Andy Dalton looks to make a throw during the Eaglesâ 2026 preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens.Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
With several offensive starters resting, Andy Dalton stepped in to guide an offense composed largely of players fighting for depth positions and final roster consideration.
Preseason isnât about individual flashes; itâs about evaluating unit cohesion. The real focus needs to be on offensive timing, sharp communication, and sustained execution amid heavy roster rotation.
These reps provide the coaching staff with a realistic baseline for offensive stability before the games actually matter.
The larger concern was the lack of sustained rhythm. Short possessions repeatedly sent the defense back onto the field and gave Philadelphia little opportunity to test its offense over longer sequences. Finding ways to convert third downs and string productive plays together should be one of the priorities over the remaining preseason games.
đ´STOP: Allowing Consistent Gains Through the Air
The opposing offense found too much room to move the ball through the air throughout the night.
The opponent finished with 440 total yards, including 298 net passing yards, and collected 31 first downs. Quarterback Joe Fagnano completed 22 of 28 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown during his extended appearance.
Philadelphia generated pressure at different moments, finishing with three sacks and seven quarterback hits. That pressure, however, did not consistently disrupt the opposing passing game, which continued to find openings against the Eaglesâ coverage.
With the backup secondary fighting for roster spots, these snaps served as a brutal reality check for communication and coverage discipline. Baltimore consistently exposed soft zones, proving that generating pressure means nothing if the defensive backs canât close the windows and force incomplete passes.
Against stronger regular-season offenses, giving quarterbacks that much room to operate could become far more costly.
The Philadelphia Eagles 2026 preseason will provide more opportunities to tighten those coverage gaps before the regular season begins.
đ CONTINUE: Giving Young Playmakers Opportunities
Even in a difficult preseason opener, several young Birds made the most of their opportunities.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was one of the clearest examples. He finished with five tackles and recorded Philadelphiaâs first sack of the preseason, chasing down Joe Fagnano before the quarterback could escape the pocket. His activity around the line of scrimmage was another encouraging sign as he continues to compete for a larger role in the defense.
Kelee Ringo provided another example of the type of response Philadelphia should continue encouraging from its younger players. After being called for pass interference near the goal line, Ringo immediately answered on the next play.
He stayed with Xavier Guillory in the back of the end zone and came away with a fingertip interception, preventing another score just before halftime.
On the other side of the ball, rookie quarterback Cole Payton provided the single spark of the night late in the fourth quarter. Using his elite mobility to bail out a stagnant offense, Payton scrambled for 45 yards on three carriesâincluding a crucial 17-yard run on fourth-and-3. He capped the drive by escaping the pocket and firing a 6-yard touchdown strike to Erik Ezukanma, breaking up the shutout.
Payton converted a fourth-and-3 with a 17-yard run before escaping pressure later in the possession and finding Erik Ezukanma for a six-yard touchdown. It was Philadelphiaâs only touchdown of the game, but the drive gave Payton an opportunity to show what he could create when the play broke down.
Trotter, Ringo and Payton are competing for different roles, but their performances shared something important. Each took advantage of meaningful preseason snaps and gave the coaching staff something worth evaluating moving forward.
For young players trying to earn larger roles or secure a place on the roster, those opportunities are what make August valuable. Philadelphia Eagles 2026 preseason should continue giving them the chance to turn promising moments into consistent production.
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I am originally from CĂłrdoba, Argentina, and currently live in Montevideo, Uruguay.
I have been passionate about sports for … More about Fede Carballo
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