Eagles

The Eagles Totally Stink in the Third Quarter

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Oct 1st, 2026 · 10:37 AM EDT

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Saw this on the timeline and thought I’d dig in a little bit more:

Highest 3 & out rate in the 2nd half this season:

Eagles – 50.0%
Texans – 38.9%
Ravens – 33.3%
Raiders – 31.8%
Steelers – 31.3%

No other team is at 30%.

Eagles: 72.7% (8/11) of 3rd quarter drives have ended in 3 & out (highest by any team in any quarter).

— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) October 1, 2026

They’re terrible in the third quarter. You could make the argument that the Chicago game was lost when they blew up their first two drives of the second half with passes thrown behind the line of scrimmage that went for yardage losses. It was the 2nd and 3 swing pass to Saquon Barkley and the 2nd and 9 bubble screen for Makai Lemon. Those plays were horrendous.

Here are some third quarter bulletpoints:

• -11 point differential (tied for 27th)
• 38.3 yards per game (31st)
• 26.7 pass yards per game (28th)
• 0 touchdowns scored (tied for last)
• 3 first downs (32nd)
• 11.7 rush yards per game (32nd)
• 77.7 yards allowed (13th)

Our database says the Birds have an 18.5% 1st and 2nd down success rate in the third quarter, which is dead last. This is a measure of plays that go for a first down or a touchdown on 1st or 2nd down, and the Eagles have a grand total of one per game in the third quarter over three games.

What’s especially putrid is that their average yards to go on 3rd down is 8.54, so they are constantly behind the sticks and forced to chuck it. That’s what happens when you get yourself off schedule with unsuccessful 1st and 2nd down plays. Part of the reason for this is because four of their eight allowed sacks this year have taken place in the third quarter. Put it all together and they’re averaging 2.8 yards per play in the third quarter, compared to 5.3 in the first, 6.6 in the second, and 5.9 in the fourth.

Penalties aren’t great either. They have six in the third quarter and a -2 differential there.

So yeah, it’s mostly butt. The good news is that it can’t get much worse! Or can it? Maybe we’ll find out when the Rams come to town on Sunday.