- What to know
- The Eagles lost to the Chicago Bears 27-7 on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
- Eagles grades: The entire Birds is defense culpable in loss, while Nick Sirianni did little right.
- The Eagles are asking too much of Jalen Hurts, writes columnist Mike Sielski.
- Frustrations boil over, Jason Kelce’s affinity for the Birds remains, and more from the Eagles-Bears broadcast.
- Things don’t get easier in Week 4, with the Eagles hosting the Los Angeles Rams at the Linc at 1 p.m. Sunday.
// Timestamp 09/29/26 12:57pm
Tom Brady heading back to Philly to call Eagles-Rams
Tom Brady will be back in Philly Sunday to call the Eagles’ Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, which kicks off at 1 p.m. on Fox.
Joining Brady in the booth is play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt, while Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi will report from the sidelines.
Brady’s on something of a hot streak in the booth. On Sunday, the Hall of Famer joked about his dominance over the Buffalo Bills in their old stadium (“I had two losses in that stadium, which would leave a bitter taste in my mouth if I didn’t beat them 33 other times.”) and described an interception thrown by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert as a “meatball sub.”
In Week 3, Brady’s colorful reaction when Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow quickly went viral on social media. Later in the game, he used language so colorful to describe Dak Prescott’s missile of a pass to receiver CeeDee Lamb we couldn’t print it in our family newspaper.
CBS has the 4:25 p.m. national window in Week 4 with Chiefs-Raiders, and Tony Romo remains on leave. It’ll be Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt again on the call.
It’s unclear when or if Romo will be back, and so far CBS hasn’t publicly commented about the former Cowboys quarterback’s intention to return.
// Timestamp 09/29/26 12:55pm
Giants are releasing Odell Beckham Jr., reports say
// Timestamp 09/29/26 11:51am
Brian Baldinger breaks down ‘complete ineptitude’ of Eagles screen play
// Timestamp 09/29/26 11:25am
Eagles safeties under the microscope again
The Eagles defense on Monday allowed 375 total yards to a Bears offense led by third-string quarterback Case Keenum, who last started a game 1,009 days ago.
Some of the blame can be placed on the Eagles’ safeties.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had a curious game plan for safeties Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II in the team’s 27-7 loss. It appeared that Epps — who has struggled this season — was benched for Carter on the second drive of the game, but he returned just five plays later. This was the start of a rotation that even left Epps confused after the game.
“I don’t really know,” Epps said when asked about the rotation. “Yeah, I mean, we kind of just go back and forth in practice. However, the coaches want to call it, that’s how they call it. And [we’ll] do whatever the coaches of the team ask us to do.”
In fairness to Fangio, Epps should have seen a demotion coming. The 30-year-old veteran had three missed tackles in Week 2, which prompted questions about his starting status, and then missed two tackles on the opening drive vs. Chicago. Epps spoke about this unprompted on Monday.
“You just got to tackle better,” Epps said. “We got to work on it in practice. So we got to take it upon ourselves to get better and continue to grow in that aspect.”
It wasn’t just the tackles. The rotation clearly led to communication issues in the defensive backfield, with Keenum, 38, routinely attacking the safeties downfield. On Chicago’s second scoring drive, Keenum connected with Luther Burden III for a 25-yard gain (with safety Andrew Mukuba in coverage), then hit Rome Odunze for a 22-yard gain (with Epps in coverage) one play later.
Epps and Mukuba were also at the center of two Bears touchdowns. Burden dragged a gaggle of Eagles defenders, Epps included, on Chicago’s opening drive touchdown. Mukuba slipped while in coverage late in the third quarter, which led to Kalif Raymond’s 41-yard score.
// Timestamp 09/29/26 9:55am
Nick Foles praises Case Keenum’s performance vs. Eagles
Read the room, Nick.
On Monday, Nick Foles praised Bears third-string quarterback Case Keenum’s play. Keenum passed for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He also found the endzone on the ground.
“My friend Case Keenum is playing lights out tonight; he looks unreal,” Foles wrote on social media. “He is getting the ball out quickly and accurately, even when under pressure.”
“There are several QBs around the league who are struggling and should watch how Case Keenum is playing tonight,” he added. “He is on time, in rhythm, and throwing extremely catchable balls.”
Foles and Keenum spent the 2015 season together on the St. Louis Rams roster, and the two remain close friends. However, most Eagles fans associate the two for their matchup in the 2017 NFC Championship Game — when Foles and the Eagles defeated Keenum’s Minnesota Vikings 38-7.
On The SZN podcast after the game, Foles addressed Eagles fans in panic mode after Monday’s blowout loss.
“It’s only Week 3. So if you’re an Eagles fan and you’re listening, don’t freak out, it’s early,” Foles said.
// Timestamp 09/29/26 9:37am
Nick Sirianni has a lot of work to do, and not much time to do it
Nick Sirianni took it on the chin.
Down 13 points late in the third quarter, the Eagles faced fourth-and-1 on their own 49-yard line. Sirianni had his offense line up as if it would attempt the Tush Push with Jalen Hurts sneaking for the first down.
But it was a long yard and the Bears weren’t fooled into jumping offside. The Eagles took a delay-of-game penalty and punted.
“As I look back at that, I probably should have went for it there,” Sirianni said. “Didn’t like that decision.”
It was one of many that backfired on the coach and his team in a dreadful 27-7 loss to the Bears on Monday night. Sirianni’s regrets were isolated to the game — from his fourth down turtling to his sideline behavior — but it’s unclear how he felt about larger decisions that have affected this season’s Eagles.
It’s too early to make sweeping generalizations. But the first three games have suggested the following: the defense isn’t as good as many had expected, first-time offensive coordinator Sean Mannion isn’t yet the “mad genius” some had suggested, and general manager Howie Roseman’s roster has more holes than it has had in years.
And that may be why, in that moment, Sirianni didn’t roll the dice on fourth-and-1. He didn’t believe his offense could convert or his defense could hold if they didn’t. In 2025, it might have been the offense that held him back. In 2023, it was often the defense.
For the first time since maybe his first season, he may not have either side to lean on. And that’s a scary thought with the Rams coming to town Sunday and a trip to London to face the Jaguars the following week.
// Timestamp 09/29/26 8:48am
‘An absolute embarrassment’: Reaction to Eagles blowout loss
- The Inquirer’s Mike Sielski: “The Eagles are 2-1, sure, but so far they haven’t been the team anyone expected them to be. They are asking so much of Hurts, perhaps too much. Their defense hasn’t been close to the shutdown unit it was presumed to be. And the Los Angeles Rams, 1-2 and dangerous, are ahead on Sunday.”
- NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Michael Barkann: “That was an absolute embarrassment. That was a team that looked unprepared to play. That was a team that was sloppy. That was a team that had no passion, no juice… and got pushed around.”
- 94.1 WIP’s Jon Ritchie: “[The Bears] beat us soundly both times. That was a drubbing. We didn’t tackle. The defense sucked. The pass rush was non-existent… And we had Jonathan Greenard out there. Meant nothing, did nothing.”
- NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Barrett Brooks: “The offensive line stayed getting their asses kicked, especially the inner guys, the two guards… I don’t know if it’s because [former offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland] is gone, I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s just not a good offensive line. Period.”
- ESPN’s Jeff Saturday: “Way too cute… Saquon Barley – my goodness, I could have run through those holes. He wasn’t getting touched until [he was] four and five yards down the field. And for whatever reason, they decided they wanted to throw this thing around the yard. I think they had four called runs in the last 20 plays of the game in the second half.”
- NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Reuben Frank: “I’m most concerned about the absence of playmaking on defense…. They don’t have a takeaway in three games. First time in franchise history that’s happened… They’re the only team in the NFL hasn’t forced a turnover.”
- Ex-Eagles quarterback Nick Foles on The SZN podcast: “I always find a positive – there’s not one person to blame. You can just blame the whole team.”
// Timestamp 09/29/26 7:23am
Nick Sirianni regrets sideline outburst
Midway through the second quarter, Jalen Hurts was briefly knocked out of the game after being hit out of bounds by Chicago Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson.
After the play, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni had some choice words for Jackson that made it to Fox’s broadcast.
Sirianni getting emotional during a game isn’t new. Last season, he taunted Buffalo Bills fans after a narrow Eagles win at Highmark Stadium. In 2024 he jawed with Eagles fans and later apologized, while in 2023 he went after Kansas City Chiefs fans following a Birds victory.
After the game, Sirianni told reporters he regretted the outburst.
“You want to always fight for your players and protect your players,” Sirianni said. “I always come away when I have a moment like that with remorse, ‘Man, I shouldn’t have let my emotions get the best of me.’”
“I know nobody is trying to hurt anybody out there,” Sirianni added. “So the emotion of the game probably got the better of me today and I have to learn from that. In that particular moment I have to be more steady in that situation. Be able to move on and go to the next play. I didn’t like how I handled that.”
// Timestamp 09/29/26 7:20am
Quick turnaround as Eagles travel home to face the Rams
Things aren’t going to get much easier for the Eagles.
After being blown out by the Chicago Bears, the Birds will head home to host the Los Angeles Rams (1-2) Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Rams are coming off a last-second loss to the Denver Broncos, who overcame a 16-0 halftime deficit to win at Empower Field at Mile High Sunday.
The Eagles have won their last three games against the Rams, including a 33-26 victory at the Linc in Week 3 last year. In that game, the Eagles blocked two field goals, including a potential game-winner blocked and returned for a touchdown by Jordan Davis.
// Timestamp 09/29/26 7:18am
Eagles injury report: Jalen Hurts evaluated for concussion
The Eagles entered Week 3 a bit banged up, with tight end Dallas Goedert inactive with a knee injury and wide receiver Hollywood Brown ruled out with an ankle injury.
But the Eagles survived their Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears without suffering any other major injuries.
Jalen Hurts was forced to leave the game midway through the second quarter after being knocked down hard on a late hit out of bounds. He visited the medical tent briefly for a concussion evaluation but quickly returned to the field, but not before backup quarterback Andy Dalton threw an interception at the goal line.
When asked after the game if he felt like he had suffered any kind of head trauma on that hit, Hurts responded with a no. He said he watched Dalton’s pick from outside of the tent, but at that point, he was waiting to be cleared. He said he wished the concussion spotter could have “expedited things.”
“I think practically, emotionally, and competitively, I’m in the right place to go out there and compete,” Hurts said. “So it’s a situation that hopefully we can learn from.”
// Timestamp 09/29/26 7:15am
Eagles coaching staff had a rough night
Coach Nick Sirianni is ultimately responsible for the Eagles losing to a Bears team without its top two quarterbacks. He got a dismal effort from his team.
Should he have called a timeout to buy time while Hurts was getting looked at for a possible head injury? It’s easy to say in retrospect. But the whole ordeal proved costly for the Eagles.
He had a couple of head-scratching game management moments. The fake Tush Push on a long fourth-and-1 in the third quarter wasn’t fooling anyone. Whether Sirianni should have gone for it or not, his defense forced a punt on the ensuing possession. But Sirianni’s roll of the dice on fourth-and-5 a drive later was confounding in context and Hurts tossed an interception.
Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion called a questionable screen to Smith with 19 seconds left before the half, but Hurts bailed him out. Whatever the reason, the designs and execution on passes behind the line of scrimmage have mostly been disasters. Another bubble screen to Lemon resulted in a loss.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio got schooled by Ben Johnson. The Bears coach was one step ahead of his esteemed counterpart almost the entire game. A year ago, Chicago killed the Eagles on the ground. This time they did it through the air with no less than a third-string 38-year-old quarterback at the helm. Fangio might have had his worst game since coming to Philly. His defense can’t do the simple things like tackle.
// Timestamp 09/29/26 7:12am
Jason Kelce apologizes to Bears fans for Eagles homerism
Jason Kelce is in his third season as a studio analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown. Still, it has been difficult — at times — for the longtime Eagles center to shake his fandom while reporting. He made reference to this during a humorous exchange with Sirianni before Monday’s game.
“Jalen Hurts has been off to a really hot start,” Kelce said to Sirianni. “He’s playing awesome for us — for the Eagles. Should say that. Unbiased media member.”
At halftime, Kelce continued to refer to the Eagles as “we.” ESPN personality Pat McAfee took notice.
“We played really well offensively,” Kelce said. “We had opportunities. We shot ourselves in the foot, but we’ve moved the ball. We ran the ball well. Jalen Hurts is throwing the ball well. I think [with] them getting the ball coming out of half, I got a feeling they got a lot of momentum going in there.”
Added McAfee: “A lot of ‘we’ talk out of Jason for Philly. If we are the Chicago Bears, we are very pumped with how Case Keenum is operating this offense.”
“Sorry, Bears fans,” Kelce said.
// Timestamp 09/29/26 7:10am
NFC East standings
(function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})();
// Timestamp 09/29/26 7:09am
Photos from Eagles’ loss against the Bears
Eagles 2026 TV schedule
- Week 1: Eagles 24, Commanders 22
- Week 2: Eagles 24, Titans 20
- Week 3: Bears 27, Eagles 7
- Week 4: Rams at Eagles — Sunday, Oct. 4, 1 p.m. (Fox)
- Week 5: Eagles at Jaguars (London) — Sunday, Oct. 11, 9:30 a.m. (NFL Network)
- Week 6: Panthers at Eagles — Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m. (CBS)
- Week 7: Cowboys at Eagles — Monday, Oct. 26, 8:15 p.m. (ABC, ESPN)
- Week 8: Eagles at Commanders — Sunday, Nov. 1, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
- Week 9: Giants at Eagles — Sunday, Nov. 8, 1 p.m. (Fox)
- Week 10: Bye week
- Week 11: Steelers at Eagles — Sunday, Nov. 22, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
- Week 12: Eagles at Cowboys — Thursday, Nov. 26, 4:30 p.m. (Fox)
- Week 13: Eagles at Cardinals — Sunday, Dec. 6, 4:05 p.m. (Fox)
- Week 14: Colts at Eagles — Sunday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m. (Fox)
- Week 15: Seahawks at Eagles — Saturday, Dec. 19, 5 p.m. (Fox)
- Week 16: Texans at Eagles — Thursday, Dec. 24, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
- Week 17: Eagles at 49ers — Sunday, Jan. 3, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
- Week 18: Eagles at Giants — TBD (TBD)
// Timestamp 09/29/26 7:05am
Leave a Reply