Eagles begin 3-week stretch of playing injured starting quarterbacks

The Philadelphia Eagles have five games left to save their season, calm the city down, and hang another NFC East banner. They need to finish 3-2 to repeat as division champs, which would make them the first team to go back-to-back since the 2004 Eagles.

Twenty years without a repeat winner, and now the door is wide open. The Birds schedule is finally breaking their way too. Over the next three games, they will have three opponents dealing with injured quarterbacks, so if there was ever a moment for the defense to step up and get things back-on-track for the playoffs, it’s right now.

Week 14: Eagles at Chargers: Justin Herbert’s One-Handed Monday Night

Justin Herbert fractured his left hand, had surgery on Monday, and is still expected to play Monday night.

Admirable, sure, but he was visibly compromised last week. We didn’t see any snaps under center and there were a ton of awkward handoffs and constant protection of the injured hand. Herbert was a limited participant at practice all week and is listed as questionable but fully expected to start.

The Chargers’ QB2 is Trey Lance.

If the Eagles cannot take advantage of a quarterback who literally cannot use one of his hands, that’s on them. This is the kind of matchup you circle when you need to rack up wins down the stretch.

Eagles-Chargers Week 14 Preview: Must win game in Los Angeles

Week 15: Raiders at Eagles: Geno Smith Is Barely Holding On

Geno Smith injured his throwing shoulder, gashed his hand, and has played some of the worst football of any starting quarterback this season. He leads the NFL in interceptions with 14 and ranks near the bottom of the league in EPA, ahead of only Titans rookie Cam Ward.

He wants to play. Pete Carroll wants him to play but even Carroll said if Geno isn’t right, Kenny Pickett is ready. From the Eagles’ perspective, Geno starting is a gift. If he plays, he is more likely to throw the ball to green jerseys than his own receivers.

The Broncos–Raiders ending had one of the dirtiest Bad Beats you’ll ever see in sports

Weeks 16 and 18: Eagles vs. Commanders: The Jayden Daniels Disaster

Jayden Daniels’ second season has been defined by one thing: injuries.

In order:

• Wrist injury
• Knee sprain
• Hamstring issue
• Gruesome elbow injury
• Missed multiple weeks
• Returned Sunday and immediately re-injured the same elbow

Washington is already out of playoff contention, yet they inexplicably pushed their franchise quarterback back into action behind a leaky offensive line.

Shockingly, he got hurt again.

The Commanders should shut him down for the season, and honestly, it doesn’t matter if they do. Marcus Mariota has played better than Daniels this year anyway.

WATCH: Zach Ertz carted off after brutal low hit from Vikings DB Jay Ward

What This Means for the Eagles

The path is right in front of them. Finish 3-2 and the Eagles repeat as NFC East champions for the first time since 2004.

View this post on Instagram

To do that, the Eagles must capitalize on a stretch where:

• Herbert is playing one-handed
• Geno is barely functioning
• Washington is deciding between an injured Daniels or Marcus Mariota

There are no excuses. Not now. Not with the division on the line. Not when the next three quarterbacks you face are all injured or ineffective. If the Eagles want to prove they’re still the class of the NFC East, this is where it starts. Three wins in five games where there is a 20-year streak ready to be snapped.

The opportunity is there. The Eagles just have to take it.

Eagles vs. Chargers Betting Guide: Lines, Props, Picks and the Monday Night Sweat

Join The Chase