Ricky Dimon
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Is it deja vu all over again for Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles? Last season, of course, Foles replaced an injured Carson Wentz late in the regular season and led Philadelphia all the way to a Super Bowl triumph. Fast forward to the tail end of the 2018 campaign and Wentz is once again out–meaning Foles is once again in. Just like in 2017, Foles hasn’t been spectacular 100 percent of the time; but as usual he has shown enough flashes of brilliance to keep his team in the hunt. Let’s dive more into the Odds & Prediction for Eagles-Redskins
The playoffs basically begin now for the Eagles, who need a victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday combined with a Minnesota home loss to Chicago in order to snag a wild-card spot in the NFC (Dallas has already clinched the NFC East). The latter result is certainly not beyond the realm of possibility, as the Bears are still in contention for a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed in the conference and therefore will be going all out at Minnesota even though they have already secured the NFC North. Chicago is a +4.5 underdog against the Vikings. As for the Eagles’ own prospects? Let’s take a look.
In the Nick of time
Foles has been outstanding for the most part in limited work this season. The former Arizona standout threw four touchdown passes while getting picked off just once during last week’s thrilling defeat of Houston. In actuality, then, Philadelphia’s postseason actually began last weekend. It needed a win, and it got it–by a 32-30 margin. Foles also led the Eagles to a Week 15 upset of the Rams in Los Angeles despite putting up relatively modest numbers (24-for-31, 270 yards, no touchdowns, one interception during a 30-23 victory).
While Philly needs help, it also knows that it must take care of its own business to even make Chicago-Minnesota worth paying attention to.
“The biggest thing is we have to take care of business,” defensive tackle Fletcher Cox assured. “We have a game to play and obviously somebody might say what’s happening, but at the end of the day we have to win. We have to win this game right here in order to get into the postseason and that’s what’s really most important to this locker room right now.”
Stick a fork in ’em
A 1-5 record in their last six contests has finished the Redskins, with the final nail in the coffin coming in the form of a 25-16 setback at Tennessee last Saturday night. As bad as the Skins’ have been on the field, there has been a whole host of the off-the-field issues, too. Most notably, safety D.J. Swearinger was recently released after bashing defense coordinator Greg Manusky. Basically the whole team also got into a scuffle with Tennessee during last week’s contest, specifically cornerback Josh Norman and Titans’ offensive tackle Taylor Lewan. Washington is also overhauling some of its front office, recently ousting president of business operations and chief operating officer Brian Lafemina after less than eight months on the job. A trio of Lefemina’s deputies also got the boot.
“Every week was a circus for the last six weeks,” cornerback Josh Norman admitted.
As for on-the-field woes, offense–specifically quarterback–has been the main issue of late for the Redskins. They have lost both Alex Smith and Colt McCoy to broken legs and Mark Sanchez predictably underwhelmed when he suddenly went from third-stringer to starter. Now the reigns have been handed to Josh Johnson, who could not keep Washington mathematically alive during Week 16 action in Tennessee. Johnson has three touchdowns and three interceptions through three appearances this year after tossing one TD and getting picked off twice by the Titans.
Trends
The Redskins are 1-4 ATS in their last five against the NFC, 3-9 ATS in their last 12 against the NFC East, and 2-6 ATS in their last eight at home games against opponents with winning road records. The Eagles are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 after gaining more than 350 yards in their previous outing. It is also worth noting that the favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last four head-to-head meetings between these two division rivals.
The over is 35-16 in the Eagles’ last 51 on the road, 27-12 in their last 39 against losing opponents, 14-6 in their last 20 against the NFC East, and 5-2 in their last seven following a win. It is also 5-1 in the Redskins’ last six against opponents with winning records and 6-1 in their last seven at home against opponents with winning road records.
