Eagles
vs.
Giants
NFL Pick
11/6/16
For the second consecutive week the Eagles will be on the road to play a division rival in the Giants in Week 9. A week ago Philadelphia went to Dallas, led for most of the Game and lost in overtime. New York has won two in a row and now enters a three-Game home stand after winning its last Game in London. Both teams hold the same 4-3 record as they sit tied for second place, two Games behind the NFC East-leading Cowboys. The loser of this Game will likely be in a big hole at .500 as Dallas heads to Cleveland this week in what should be a win. The Giants are a 2.5-point favorite for this Game, and the over/under is 43 according to the 5Dimes Sportsbook.
Philadelphia is coming off a hard-fought loss to the Cowboys in which it led for a large portion of the Game before losing in overtime. It really has been remarkable to see how successful this Eagles team has been — even with the recent losses — despite their inability to move the football.
Carson Wentz has displayed a high level of maturity for a rookie quarterback. But his Game has been marked by check-down passes that don’t typically go for big gains. That, mixed with his cast of receivers is a big reason the passing Game is pretty bland. Jordan Matthews, Darren Sproles, Nelson Agholor and Dorial Green-Beckham have shown minimal play-making ability in the passing Game. Sure, they’ve popped some big plays, but drops have largely negated any positives that can be talked about with big plays.
Philadelphia ranks 28th in total, 29th in passing and 17th in rushing yards per Game on the season. There simply isn’t anything inspiring about this group. Lots of hope for the future exists with Wentz, though. They will go against a Giants’ defense that ranks 17th in total, 22nd in passing and 10th in rushing yards allowed per Game.
The Eagles, despite the lack of offensive production, have shown the ability to Scorepoints. They have returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and rank near the top of the NFL in turnover margin in aiding a lackluster offensive unit.
The Giants enter Week 9 with a strong passing offense per Game — ranking 6th in the league — but they are 32nd in rushing yards per Game. Combined, they are 19th in the NFL in offensive yards per Game. Fittingly, New York is just averaging 19.0 points per Game, ranking 26th in the league.
They’ll go up against an Eagles’ defense that ranks top-eight in total yards allowed per Game, passing yards allowed per Game and points allowed per Game.
Our Pick – Eagles +2.5