2025 NFC East Preview: Philadelphia Eagles Football

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2025 season as defending Super Bowl champions, carrying momentum and expectations after dismantling the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22 in Super Bowl LIX on February 9 in New Orleans.

The win wasn’t just another championship. Philadelphia stormed out to 34 unanswered points before the Chiefs managed to score late in the third quarter, denying Kansas City an NFL-record three-peat and solidifying the Eagles as the league’s top contender.

Coaching Shake-up: Patullo Takes the Reins

The offseason brought change on the sidelines. Kevin Patullo was promoted to offensive coordinator after Kellen Moore departed to become head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Patullo, who served as Philadelphia’s passing game coordinator and associate head coach, now takes on full play-calling duties.

An internal hire signals continuity for quarterback Jalen Hurts and the passing attack. Patullo has worked closely with Hurts for the past two seasons, and his promotion ensures the offense doesn’t lose rhythm as the Eagles pursue another title.

Offensive Overview: Star Power and Continuity

The Eagles return with a loaded offense. Hurts, one of the league’s premier dual-threat quarterbacks, leads a unit that blends explosive playmaking with disciplined execution. He will again rely on All-Pro wideout A.J. Brown and standout receiver DeVonta Smith, one of the NFL’s best duos.

Behind them, running back Saquon Barkley is coming off a milestone season, surpassing 2,000 total yards. His ability to punish defenses on the ground and contribute as a pass-catcher gives Philadelphia a balanced attack few defenses can counter.

The offensive line, anchored by veterans Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, remains among the NFL’s best. With protection in place, Hurts has time to extend plays, while Barkley benefits from consistent gaps at the line of scrimmage. Analysts project the Eagles’ offense as one of the league’s top two units entering the season.

Defensive Overview: Youthful Firepower on Display

While the Eagles lost several cornerstone veterans—Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat, Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson—the defense remains formidable under coordinator Vic Fangio.

Third-year defensive tackle Jalen Carter anchors a young front. Linebacker Zack Baun, fresh off an All-Pro season and a new three-year deal, pairs with third-year edge Nolan Smith to supply speed and versatility. In the secondary, second-year corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are slated for major roles, giving Fangio a flexible group that several outlets still rank among the league’s best entering 2025.

Young players such as Carter, Mitchell and DeJean must take on more responsibility and continue performing at a high level against elite competition.

Season Schedule: High Stakes From the Jump

The 2025 slate offers little time to settle in. Philadelphia opens the season on Thursday, Sept. 4, at home against the Dallas Cowboys—a rivalry clash that doubles as a championship celebration at Lincoln Financial Field.

Week 2 brings a Super Bowl rematch on the road against the Chiefs, one of the most anticipated games of the year. From there, the Eagles face a string of challenges: back-to-back road games at the Giants and Vikings in Weeks 6 and 7, plus a late-season test with consecutive road trips at Washington and Buffalo in Weeks 16 and 17.

In all, 11 of Philadelphia’s 17 regular-season games come against opponents with strong Super Bowl odds. CBS Sports calls the Eagles’ schedule one of the toughest in the league, yet projections from NFL analysts still expect them to finish with double-digit wins. Some forecasts have them reaching 14-3 and securing the NFC’s top seed.

Path to Back-to-Back: What It Will Take

The Eagles are chasing history again, having ended the Chiefs’ bid for a three-peat after Kansas City became the NFL’s most recent back-to-back champion with titles in 2023 and 2024.

Before the Chiefs’ run, the last back-to-back champions were the New England Patriots in 2003–04. That underscores just how rare the feat is.

To do it, Philadelphia must lean on its formula: continuity, health and execution.

• Seamless transition on offense: Patullo must maintain balance while keeping Hurts, Barkley, Brown and Smith in rhythm.
• Defense stepping up: Young players such as Carter, Mitchell and DeJean must take on more responsibility and continue performing at a high level against elite competition.
• Navigating a brutal schedule: The early weeks will test the Eagles’ focus, and late-season road games could determine playoff seeding.
• Health: Injuries at offensive line or secondary positions could derail momentum.

Running back Saquon Barkley set the tone during training camp, telling reporters, “We know the recipe… yes, we did it… now we all got to go back down and work our way back up.”

Final Word

The Eagles enter 2025 with star power on both sides of the ball, a Super Bowl victory fresh in memory and a fan base hungry for more. They’ve been tested, rebuilt parts of their defense, and kept their offensive core intact.

If Hurts continues to play at an MVP level, Barkley maintains his dominance, and Patullo guides the offense smoothly, Philadelphia has every tool to pursue what few teams in NFL history have accomplished: a Super Bowl repeat.

For now, the road begins in front of their home fans in South Philly. The target is squarely on their back, but the Eagles appear ready to carry the weight of champions once again.