Jeff Kerr· Sep 7, 2026
Kerr says the 2026 Eagles are better than last year's team, should win a third straight NFC East title and make the playoffs, and are a Super Bowl contender though not the NFC's best. He also expects Saquon Barkley to improve behind a healthy line and Tariq Woolen to start opposite Quinyon Mitchell.
“The Eagles should win a third straight NFC East title and make the playoffs, but how far they get relies on this running game and defense”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
5 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls, 1 division winner and 1 playoff pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
5 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
Jalen Hurts to be 1st on the depth chart
“5. Jalen Hurts is the starting QB”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksPhiladelphia EaglesSep 7, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to make the playoffs
“The Eagles should win a third straight NFC East title and make the playoffs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cooper DeJean to be 1st on the depth chart
“enough where the Eagles could keep Cooper DeJena in the slot full time”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersPhiladelphia EaglesSep 7, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to win the division
“The Eagles should win a third straight NFC East title and make the playoffs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Riq Woolen to be 1st on the depth chart
“Tariq Woolen was a significant upgrade... He adds much-needed length opposite Quinyon Mitchell”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Tyler SullivanGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Sullivan takes the Jaguars to beat the Browns, doubting Deshaun Watson, and takes the Eagles over the Commanders at home.
- Gregg RosenthalGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Rosenthal picked the Texans to reach the Super Bowl, the Eagles to win the NFC East and to beat Washington in Week 1, and the Dolphins to end up with the No. 1 pick in the 2027 draft.
- Vani HanamirianScore Predictions · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 88The show's producer takes the optimistic side at 12-5 for the Eagles and predicts a low-scoring 17-10 week one win over Washington.
- Dave UramScore Predictions · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 98The station's Bulldog reporter leans to 10 wins rather than 12 for the Eagles, expects them to start 2-0 by beating Washington and Tennessee, and predicts a 21-20 Eagles win in the opener.
- Dan "Buzz" WilsonScore Predictions · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 88The host (called Dan by his guest) predicts the Eagles go 12-5, make the playoffs with a likely divisional-round exit, and beat Washington 24-17 in the week one opener; he also guesses Andy Dalton is the backup QB.
- Nick WrightGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Wright picked Tampa Bay to beat Cincinnati outright, Philadelphia to beat Washington, Dallas to beat the Giants, and said he was one of the few nationally to pick the Chiefs to win it all.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona.
- Ralph VacchianoDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy.
- Steven RuizDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier.
- Mike FlorioDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3.