Eagles-Panthers final score: Philadelphia loses fourth straight game in very boring fashion

The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-4 after losing to the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday. Final score: 25 to 14.

Well, that game was very boring.

It felt like a 2025 redux. The offense, led by Tanner McKee instead of Jalen Hurts, pretty much sucked. The defense kept the Eagles in the game for most of the day … until the dam inevitably broke in the second half.

Watching this offense is just so painful. Yes, the Eagles are incredibly injured on that side of the ball. And they had to deal with even more injuries that were sustained during this game. But it’s hard to argue the coaching staff is doing their part to make the most of what they do have.

Something needs to change.

Next up for the Eagles: a home game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football in Week 7. Ugh. We have to stay up late to watch this dreck?

Read on for a recap and stay tuned for BGN’s postgame coverage. Also, check me out talking about this game on the PHLY Eagles postgame show.

FIRST QUARTER

• The Panthers won the coin toss and elected to defer to put the Eagles on offense first. The Eagles took over at their own 26-yard line. Tanner McKee immediately got sacked from unblocked pressure on what was supposed to be a play-action pass. Then McKee’s first throw was a little wide of Makai Lemon and the ball bounced off his hands and was nearly picked off. Facing 3rd-and-21, McKee checked down to Dameon Pierce to pick up some yards to set up a punt. 3 plays, zero yards, punt. Probably not a great thing that the offense looked out of sorts and confused what to do on the very first snap!
• The Panthers took over at their own 39-yard line. They quickly moved into field goal range. Facing 3rd-and-3 from the plus 30-yard line, the Panthers went with a run that resulted in no gain. Good job by the defense to hunker down. Carolina settled for a 47-yard field goal make that bounced off the right upright and in. EAGLES 0, PANTHERS 3.
• The Eagles took over at their own 22-yard line after Britain Covey muffed the kick return. Facing 3rd-and-13 after an incompeltion where McKee was pressured with Jake Majors losing his battle and a completion to Pierce for a loss, Lemon made a diving grab that was ruled incomplete by replay assist. Looked like it might’ve actually been a grab. But it was well short of the sticks anyway. 3 plays, -3 yards, punt.
• The Panthers began at their own 16-yard line. Andrew Mukuba gave up a first down completion to Tetairoa McMillan and also got called for illegal contact, which was declined. Nolan Smith picked up his third sack of the season with the tight end releasing him and Bryce Young holding onto the ball for too long. Facing 3rd-and-12, Young aired it out deep but underthrew Darren Waller and the ball bounced off Riq Woolen’s helmet for a stop. Now that’s what I call using your head!

• The Eagles took over at their own 11-yard line. Jordan Mailata immediately false started to knock the offense back. But then McKee aired out to DeVonta Smith, who couldn’t make an impressive one-handed grab while being held but drew the pass interference flag. Positive yardage and a first down! A miracle! McKee got the ball to Carson Steele, who made a nice catch and broke a tackle on his first touch of the season … and then got hurt going to the ground. Naturally. Facing 3rd-and-6, McKee rolled right and it looked like he had nothing to work with … but Dontayvion Wicks was able to make a toe-tapping sideline grab for a first down. Then Pierce took the Eagles’ first rushing attempt for nine yards. Then another Pierce carry for nine yards. Then Pierce broke a would-be TFL to run for no gain. Then Pierce dropped a pass in the flat after getting his head turned around a little late. Facing 3rd-and-10, McKee had his hand hit as he threw for an incompletion. Facing 4th-and-10 from plus 42-yard line, the Eagles lined up to punt and tried to draw the Panthers offside. To literally no one’s surprise, it didn’t work. The Panthers declined the delay of game penalty and Braden Mann punted 28 yards to the Panthers’ 14-yard line. Why not just go for it on fourth down? Or even try a field goal from 60-plus. What are those 28 yards really doing for this team?
• The Panthers took over at their own 14-yard line and instantly picked up 19 yards (only nine away from where the Eagles punted). Facing 3rd-and-6 after two runs, Young’s third down pass was knocked down by Jalen Carter. Another big defensive stop. The Eagles brought pressure on the punt and it looked like Keyshawn James-Newby got a piece of the ball but he was instead flagged for running into the kicker. The Panthers did NOT opt to go for it on 4th-and-1, instead punting for a touchback.
• The Eagles took over at their own 20-yard line. Facing 3rd-and-4 after a Pierce run was stopped for a three-yard loss, McKee hit Dallas Goedert at the marker for a first down to end the first quarter. 17 plays for 37 yards to start the game for the Eagles’ offense. Scintillating stuff.

SECOND QUARTER

• McKee hit Darius Cooper for a nice 19-yard completion! But it was wiped out by a Johnny Mundt holding penalty. A league-leading three holding penalties by a tight end. Dude stinks and the Eagles have been asking too much of him to be TE2. Facing 3rd-and-12, McKee stepped up against a blitz and well overthrew Wicks. Watching this offense is sooooo boring. Zzzzzzzzzzzz.
• The Panthers took over at their own 27-yard line. The Panthers needed just two plays to move into Eagles territory. The Panthers had a 23-yard gain negated by an ineligible man downfield penalty, fortunate break for the Eagles’ defense. Facing 3rd-and-10, Young’s throw short of the sticks to Waller was wide and incomplete. Another stop by Vic Fangio’s defense.
• The Eagles took over at their own 8-yard line. Goedert dropped a would-be first down reception. Then McKee way overthrew his target as Markel Bell got called for holding but the penalty was declined. 3 plays, four yards, punt. Braden Mann shanked the punt, which went for just 23 yards.
• The Panthers took over at the Eagles’ 35-yard line. Carter batted down another Young pass and Cooper DeJean flew in for a TFL. Facing 3rd-and-10, DeJean was called for a tacky illegal contact penalty. Unfortunate. The Eagles’ defense pressured Young into an incompletion that was clearly intentional grounding. The refs originally stated that Young was out of the pocket but clearly never left it. Upon discussing it further, they finally threw the flag (lol). But then Jordan Davis got called for roughing the passer by getting his hands on Young’s helmet to give the Panthers more yardage after a 17-yard completion. Hardly a late hit but the refs are gonna call that one. The Panthers entered the red zone and Young hit Tommy Tremble for a 12-yard touchdown. Feels like an insurmountable lead? EAGLES 0, PANTHERS 10.

• The Eagles took over at their own 22-yard line. McKee hit Goedert over the middle for a first down! Feels like a miracle. A Goedert false start knocked the offense back to 2nd-and-9. Facing 3rd-and-7 after Lemon got lit up on a short catch in the flat, McKee hit DeVonta Smith over the middle for a first down into plus territory! Is this allowed? McKee threw a pass to Darius Cooper that was actually incomplete but the offense was able to get a snap off fast before a challenge! And it was a run for a first down! Good job. Goedert drew a pass interference penalty with the Panthers’ defensive back pulling his pants down to pick up 22 yards to the 3-yard line. Two plays later, Pierce punched it in up the gut for a touchdown! A touchdown?!!? Points?! Wow. Nice 10-play, 78-yard drive for the score. Life! EAGLES 7, PANTHERS 10.

• The Panthers took over at their own 20-yard line. Jalen Carter drew a holding penalty to knock the Panthers’ offense back. Facing 3rd-and-15 after Coker dropped a pass, Young side-stepped pressure and delivered a strike to McMillan for a first down. Really good play by the Panthers QB. Facing 3rd-and-10 after Young put the ball in harm’s way (Cooper DeJean nearly had a leaping interception), Young hit Coker short of the marker. Facing 4th-and-1, the Panthers just let the second quarter expire. Sirianni didn’t call a timeout, either. A little weird that the Panthers wouldn’t try a Hail Mary there.

THIRD QUARTER

• The Panthers took over at their own 30-yard line. Facing 3rd-and-1, the Panthers ran a tight end sneak and picked up the first down. Facing 3rd-and-1 again, the Panthers went with a run that was stopped just short of the marker. Facing 4th-and-inches, Dave Canales threw his challenge flag on the spot. Looked to me like it was indeed a first down. Upon review, the ruling was overturned for a first down. Mukuba missed a tackle to allow a Chuba Hubbard first down run. Then Riq Woolen was flagged for defensive holding to produce another Panthers first down. Facing 3rd-and-10, Fangio brought a blitz and the pressure sped up Young into an incompletion. The Panthers brought in Ryan Fitzgerald for a 52-yard field goal make. EAGLES 7, PANTHERS 13.
• The Eagles took over at their own 20-yard line after Britain Covey got clotheslined from hell (JBL style) on his kick return and Smael Mondon Jr. got called for holding. Facing 3rd-and-8, McKee was pressured into an incompletion. Inspiring.

• The Panthers took over at their own 42-yard line. Facing 3rd-and-1 after two runs, the Panthers were stopped for no gain. The Panthers took a delay of game and punted. Fangio’s defense truly did come to play.
• The Eagles took over at their own 13-yard line. The Eagles picked up a first down with McKee stepping up against a blitz and hitting Goedert in open space over the middle. Facing 3rd-and-14 after McKee got sacked on play-action, McKee’s pass to DeVonta was high and off target. Hey, five-and-out > three-and-out!!!
• The Panthers took over at their own 8-yard line after Mann’s punt took a nice bounce out of bounds for 65 yards. Facing 3rd-and-8, the Eagles brought a blitz but Young got it out quick to Coker for a 32-yard catch-and-run. Coker on Baun was not really a great matchup for the Eagles’ defense. Young completed another pass over the middle to former Eagles receiver John Metchie III for a first down into plus territory. Facing 3rd-and-1, the Eagles brought another blitz and Baun pressured Young into a throwaway. Facing 4th-and-1, Canales kept his offense on the field … and Hubbard picked up 19 yards on the ground with Cooper DeJean missing a tackle. Really needed a stop there.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Facing 3rd-and-9, Young took off running just shy of the marker. Facing 4th-and-inches, Canales kept the offense on the field and the defense jumped on the hard count. How are they doing that with Sirianni obsessed with trying to have his offense get the defense to do that by repping it a good deal in practice? Bad discipline. Two plays later, Hubbard hit the end zone for a touchdown. 14-play, 92-yard TD drive that took 7:43 off the clock to effectively seal the game. The Panthers went for a two-point conversion but failed to convert it. EAGLES 7, PANTHERS 19.

• The Eagles took over at their own 31-yard line. Facing 3rd-and-5, McKee hit Wicks for a 17-yard gain. Wicks was injured after the play. The Eagles went hurry up and picked up another first down. McKee hit DeVonta at the marker for another first down. Or not, he tucked the ball and ran out of bounds before getting beyond the marker. Facing 3rd-and-1, Pierce picked up a first down on the ground. McKee then hit DeVonta for a 19-yard touchdown! Great ball, great catch against tight coverage. Still alive after a 10-play, 69-yard TD drive. EAGLES 13, PANTHERS 19.

• The Panthers took over at their own 11-yard line after misplaying the kickoff. Baun deflected a Young pass to prevent a completion over the middle for a first down and more. Facing 3rd-and-8, Ty Robinson pushed the pocket and the defense had great coverage to force Young into a throwaway. Big stop!
• The Eagles took over at their own 48-yard line. Jake Majors had an awful shotgun snap to McKee’s feet for a fumble and 12-yard loss. Facing 3rd-and-18, McKee’s pass to DeVonta was incomplete … but a flag was thrown for pass interference … but McKee’s pass was tipped which took DPI off the table. Unfortunately, the refs missed Tyler Steen taking illegal hands to the face from Derrick Brown. Mann’s punt was blocked (looked like Jeremiah Trotter Jr. missed his assignment) but the ball still went forward for nine yards.
• The Panthers took over at the Eagles’ 48-yard line. Facing 3rd-and-1, Hubbard gained a first down to the left side. DeJean also got called for unnecessary roughness simply for getting up while a Panthers player was on top of him. Really bad call by the refs. Not sure what DeJean was supposed to do instead. One play later, Young hit Tremble for a 19-yard touchdown. The Panthers’ kicker missed their PAT kick. EAGLES 14, PANTHERS 25.
• The Eagles took over at their own 13-yard line. The Eagles quickly moved near midfield, aided by a Panthers roughing the passer penalty. McKee hit Lemon for another first down into Panthers territory. But then McKee got sacked by former Eagles edge rusehr Jaelan Phillips to set the offense behind midfield. Facing 3rd-and-17, McKee and Darius Cooper weren’t on the same page with their timing. Facing 4th-and-17, DeVonta almost made a contested catch along the sideline but the Panthers’ backup cornerback knocked the ball out of the receiver’s control. Turnover on downs. Game.
• The Panthers took over at their own 49-yard line with 4:26 left. The Eagles burned their timeouts as the Panthers picked up a first down. The Panthers moved to 3rd-and-1 from the the 4-yard line and ran for a first down to finish the game by kneeling in goal-to-go.

EAGLES LINEUP NOTES

• Jake Majors, not Drew Kendall, got the start at center. With Kendall not yet fully healthy, the Eagles decided to keep him active as an emergency depth option.
• Kenny Moore, not Marcus Epps, got the start at safety next to Andrew Mukuba in nickel packages.
• Darius Cooper lined up as a kick returner with some of the Eagles’ normal options out.
• Jeremiah Trotter Jr., not Jihaad Campbell, was in at linebacker next to Zack Baun on the Panthers’ third drive.
• Keyshawn James-Newby took his first NFL snaps on defense with Nolan Smith getting hurt.

EAGLES INJURY NEWS

• DeVonta Smith wasn’t on the field for the Eagles’ second drive. And the start of the third drive. But then he came in. DeVonta got hurt after trying to make a catch in the fourth quarter. He quickly re-entered the game.
• Carson Steele (shoulder) got hurt on his first touch of the season. He headed to the locker room after being evaluated on the sideline. He was ruled questionable to return. Steele re-entered the game but then got banged up again. He was ultimately ruled out.
• Nolan Smith (concussion) got banged up in the second quarter. He was promptly ruled out.
• Jonathan Greenard appeared to be banged up and missed some snaps in the third quarter.
• Moro Ojomo got banged up in the third quarter.
• Britain Covey was evaluated after taking a big hit but stayed in the game.
• Makai Lemon visited the medical tent but remained on the sideline.
• Cooper DeJean got banged up in the third quarter.
• Dontayvion Wicks got hurt after a nice catch-and-run.
• Braden Mann looked banged up after a blocked punt.
• Jordan Davis (ankle) got banged up in the fourth quarter. He slowly walked to the locker room with a trainer. He was ruled out.