Lions
vs.
Eagles
Week 14
NFL Pick
12/8/13
NFC North leading Detroit Lions (7-5, 3-3 away) will take their show on the road when they travel to face the NFC East leading Philadelphia Eagles (7-5, 2-4 home) on Sunday at 1 PM EST. The Lions are fresh off a 40-11 drubbing of rival Green Bay, while the Eagles handled the hot Cardinals 24-21 when last seen. This is an important Game for both teams as the Lions have only a 1 Game edge on the Bears and Eagles are tied with the Cowboys. The loser could see a blow dealt to their playoff hopes.
Online sportsbooks like 5Dimes and Betonline have the Eagles as a slim favorite by three points and they are receiving 53% of the action. Philadelphia is 8-14-1 ATS in its last 23 Games. Detroit is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 Games. Las Vegas is expecting a high ScoreGame as the TOTAL has been set at 54 points. The action is split almost evenly, with 51% of sports bettors favoring the UNDER. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Detroit’s last 6 Games on the road. The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia’s last 6 Games.
Injuries for the Lions iNClude CB Chris Houston and S Louis Delmas. Together, they have 3 INTs this year. RB Reggie Bush missed practice on Wednesday, but is expected to be on the field Thursday. Bettors should monitor his progress. The 8th year player out of USC is enjoying a strong year with 854 YDs and 3 TDs on the ground to go along with 45 catches for 448 YDs and 2 TDs. The Eagles do not have any significant injuries to report at this time.
It’s no secret that the Lions like to air the ball out. They rank 2nd in the NFL with 309.3 YPG through the sky. They are in for a treat this week as they will face the 32nd ranked Eagles secondary. QB Matthew Stafford will undoubtedly be eager to put up big stats after throwing 4 INTs in a loss against Tampa two weeks ago. He showed that last week against Green Bay. WR Calvin Johnson could put on a big show. The NFL’s best WR leads the country in YDs (1,299) and TDs (12). The Lions are great in the red zone and Score83.3% of the time in goal-to-go situations.
Eagles QB Nick Foles is playing like a man possessed. The second year player has passed for 1,791 YDs and 19 TDs without a single INT. He is fresh off a 237 YDs, 3 TD effort and doesn’t show any signs of slowing. Who can forget his 7 TD Game against Oakland? He is on pace to break the record shared by David GArrard and Bart Starr for fewest INTs in a season. Foles is in luck as the Lions have the NFL’s 26th ranked passing defense.
Foles is complimented by stud RB LeSean McCoy who has rushed for 1,088 YDs and 5 TDs this season. He won’t have his work made easy though; the Lions are 3rd against the run at 82.7 YPG.
Our Pick – Eagles -2.5