NFL Power Rankings: Are Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles a Top 5 Team?

The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2026 NFL season with championship expectations, but their position in the latest preseason power rankings has sparked an important question about whether Jalen Hurts and his team truly belong among the league's five best clubs. Philadelphia remains firmly in the contender conversation, although its ranking reflects how little separates several of the NFL's strongest rosters.

The Eagles were placed just outside the top five, landing sixth in the preseason rankings. That position hardly represents a major setback, but it illustrates the level of competition Philadelphia faces among the league's elite as it attempts to return to the top of the NFC

Hurts remains the central figure in the Eagles' championship hopes. His ability to impact games as both a passer and runner gives Philadelphia an offensive dimension few teams can match, while his experience in high-pressure situations provides the roster with an established leader at the most important position.

Philadelphia's ranking also reflects the strength of its overall roster rather than a reliance on one player. The Eagles have continued to build around Hurts with playmakers on offense and talent throughout the defense, giving the coaching staff multiple ways to win when opponents attempt to take away their preferred approach.

Philadelphia Eagles Places 5th in Latest NFL Power Rankings

Philly made the top five in a power ranking ahead of the new season. This is explained more in an analysis by Tim McManus for ESPN.

Milestone to watch: Jalen Hurts becoming the third quarterback with at least 75 career rushing touchdowns. Hurts has 63 rushing TDs. He would join Allen (79) and Cam Newton (75) as the only signal-callers to reach 75. Last season, he had a career low since becoming the full-time starter in rushing attempts (105), yards (421) and touchdowns (eight). But he looked faster this summer when breaking from the pocket or executing designed runs.

Milestone to watch: Jalen Hurts becoming the third quarterback with at least 75 career rushing touchdowns.

Hurts has 63 rushing TDs. He would join Allen (79) and Cam Newton (75) as the only signal-callers to reach 75. Last season, he had a career low since becoming the full-time starter in rushing attempts (105), yards (421) and touchdowns (eight). But he looked faster this summer when breaking from the pocket or executing designed runs.

The biggest challenge will be navigating an NFC loaded with teams carrying legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. A difficult schedule and the pressure of maintaining consistency over 17 games could determine whether Philadelphia climbs into the top five or spends the season battling to remain among the conference's leading contenders.

A sixth-place preseason ranking should give the Eagles little reason for concern, especially with the season still ahead. If Hurts delivers another strong campaign and Philadelphia's supporting cast performs to its potential, the team has every opportunity to prove that its place among the NFL's top five should be decided on the field rather than in September projections.