The Philadelphia Eagles discover themselves in unfamiliar territory heading into Sunday’s sport on the Indianapolis Colts: For the primary time this season, they’re coming off a loss, a shocking 32-21 residence defeat to Washington that ended Philadelphia’s run at perfection.
On the flip aspect, Indianapolis went to Las Vegas final week and hit the jackpot, halting a three-game skid with a 25-20 upset of the Raiders in new coach Jeff Saturday’s debut.
These outcomes apart, the Eagles (8-4) nonetheless have delivered twice as many victories this season because the Colts (4-5-1). Therefore the rationale Philadelphia is a close to landing highway favourite Sunday — regardless that coach Nick Sirianni’s troops did not cowl large numbers every of the previous two weeks.
Which aspect is the fitting aspect on this cross-conference conflict between a Tremendous Bowl contender and a squad at present on the skin of the playoff image? Right here’s our Eagles vs. Colts prediction.
Word: Odds up to date as of 11:45 a.m. ET on Nov. 18.
You could recall that we sided with the Commanders as an 11-point underdog in opposition to Philadelphia on Monday evening. You additionally could recall we went 4-for-4 with our Commanders-Eagles props.
A kind of props included a short snippet in regards to the Eagles’ shaky run protection. Permit us to enter higher element, as a result of it’s an enormous purpose why we’re snagging the factors with Indy on this contest.
Per week after getting bulldozed for 168 dashing yards by the Houston Texans, Philadelphia’s entrance seven obtained trucked for 152 by Washington. And in three video games previous to going through these squads, the Eagles yielded dashing totals of 124 (Arizona), 134 (Dallas) and 144 (Pittsburgh).
We’ll do the mathematics for you: That’s a median of 144.4 dashing yards within the final 5 video games.
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Frankly, we’re shocked Philly’s unbeaten run lasted so long as it did. As a result of matador-like defenses in opposition to the run normally result in constant defeat.
Credit score the Eagles’ entrance workplace for addressing the difficulty with Thursday’s signing of veteran run-stuffer Ndamukong Suh. That got here a day after the group signed Linval Joseph, one other veteran defensive deal with.
However Suh and Joseph are 35 and 34, respectively. And neither has performed a down this season. So even when they each see taking part in time Sunday, how efficient are they actually going to be?
So what? The Colts can’t run the soccer this yr.
True — to some extent. Indy enters Week 11 with the NFL’s fifth-worst dashing offense. Nonetheless, the Colts busted free for a season-high 204 dashing yards every week in the past in Vegas.
So what? The Raiders stink at stopping the run.
Certainly. And Las Vegas’ dashing protection (twenty first) ranks precisely one spot beneath Philadelphia’s (twentieth).
So we count on finally-healthy Indy working again Jonathan Taylor — who has piled up 203 yards on 38 carries the final two weeks — to get the rock early and sometimes Sunday. And we count on Taylor to do what the Commanders did final week: churn out yards, transfer the chains and maintain the ball out of the Eagles’ arms.
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A number of extra causes we just like the Colts to not less than cowl as a house underdog:
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Philadelphia is touring on a brief week and taking part in simply its third highway sport since Sept. 24. The Eagles did not cowl within the final two.
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The Eagles, who had loved a run of fine luck within the well being division this season, have a number of key gamers within the infirmary this week. This contains huge receivers Davonta Smith and A.J. Brown (questionable); beginning heart Jason Kelce (questionable); defensive deal with Fletcher Cox (questionable); and high tight finish Dallas Goedert (out).
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Bigger favorites — that’s, groups laying 6.5 factors or extra — have been doing simply high quality this season on the scoreboard (29-16-1 SU). In opposition to the quantity? Totally different story, as underdogs of not less than 6.5 factors are 29-17 ATS (a 63% cowl fee).
Lastly, the Colts appeared like a rejuvenated bunch final week in Sin Metropolis. Sure, it was only one sport, and, sure, that sport was in opposition to the lowly Raiders. However we noticed extra of a spark from Indianapolis in 60 minutes than we now have all season.
All that mentioned, the X-factor on this matchup, after all, doubtless can be quarterback Matt Ryan. The Colts’ veteran signal-caller was environment friendly in opposition to Las Vegas (21-for-28, 222 yards) and good (no turnovers).
Ryan will should be each once more Sunday for Indy to hold on this one. As a result of Philadelphia defends the move (177.7 yards per sport, 2nd) significantly better than it does the run. And the protection’s 13 interceptions are tied for the league lead.
We perceive: Placing cash on Ryan in latest seasons normally induces heartburn (if not a full-blown coronary heart assault). Nonetheless, we predict this quantity is just too excessive and that the state of affairs units up nice for the house group.
So take the landing FanDuel is providing and search for the Colts to both maintain it shut all through or shut sufficient to permit for a late-game backdoor cowl.
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Level unfold: Eagles (-7, -106) @ Colts (+7, -114)
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Moneyline: Eagles (-300) @ Colts (+245)
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