The Odds Shark computer calls this one 23-21 in favor of the Eagles…maybe this week the computer will hit on it (unlike in Detroit)…
The Over/Under is set at 46.5 points.
The Washington Redskins were -1.5-point favorites at odds maker shops such as Bovada. But handicapping prediction models run by the computers at Odds Shark pick a 23-21 result in favor of the Eagles. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.
Offensively, the game matches up the Washington Redskins’ No. 16-ranked offense (23 PPG) against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that ranks No. 2 at 12.75 PPG. The Redskins passing attack has averaged 279.6 yards per game, more than the Eagles give up through the air (193.5 YPG on average) so far.
In comparing defenses, the Philadelphia Eagles own the league’s No. 5-rated front seven in terms of stopping the run, allowing 72 yards per game when on the road. Washington, on the other hand, rates No. 20 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
One possible advantage to the Eagles is Redskins tight end extraordinaire Jordan Reedis OUT.
The Redskins updated their injury report Saturday and will not have the services of tight end Jordan Reed and safety/linebacker Su’a Cravens against the Eagles. Both players are recovering from concussions. Reed did not practice all week, while Cravens participated on a limited basis.
Reed leads the Redskins with 33 catches for 316 yards and two touchdowns this season. He’s been targeted by quarterback Kirk Cousins at least seven times in each of the Redskins’ five games. He caught eight passes for what was a season-low 53 yards in last Sunday’s win over Baltimore.
Also, Redskins’ first-round pick wide receiver Josh Doctson is out for Sunday’s game with an Achilles injury.
Cravens, a rookie out of USC, has been an integral player in the Redskins’ subpackages as a linebacker near the line of scrimmage with the ability to man up in coverage against running backs and tight ends. But he gone—another plus for the Eagles on paper, anyway.
Where the Eagles might be most vulnerable due to injury? Starting cornerback Leodis McKelvin, who said that he is “about 80-85 percent” healthy with a hamstring injury, and will be a game-time decision for Sunday’s matchup.
“I’ll go out there on that grass and tear it up a little bit before the guys get there, get it worked out and see if I can make a push for it. We’ll see how things go Sunday morning and make a decision then,” McKelvin said following Friday’s practice, his first on-field action of the week.
McKelvin reinjured the hamstring last Sunday in Detroit. If McKelvin is unable to go,Ron Brooks has started at the left cornerback spot in the base package, but moves inside to the slot in nickel. Rookie Jalen Mills goes to the outside in the subpackages. That left cornerback spot will be important as wide receiver DeSean Jackson typically lines up to the right of the offensive formation. (Eeeeeek!!)
Tommy Lawlor’s take at Iggles Blitz: “The Eagles have lost three straight games to Washington. The Redskins built leads of 24-14, 23-13 and 13-0 in those games. That allowed them to do whatever they wanted on offense. You can bet that Schwartz wants to stuff the run and make them one-dimensional. That allows the defensive linemen to pin their ears back and really get after Cousins.”
That would be the ideal situation, I reckon. But somehow these games with the ‘Skins often come down to brawls both legal and illegal at the point of attack, and some kind of stripped ball or fumble recovery to make things interesting. My optimism rides on the absence of safety DeAngelo Hall (ACL) — that guy has been a pain in the Eagles’ beaks for a very long time. He’s out—you’d think that’s a good omen?
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