The Philadelphia Eagles finished the 2022 season with a 14-3 record and have earned a week off as the top seed in the NFC. They clinched the NFC East title in Week 18 with a 22-16 win over the New York Giants. Things did get tight down the stretch, as starting quarterback Jalen Hurts went down with a shoulder injury in a Week 15 win over Chicago. After that, backup Gardner Minshew led the Eagles to close losses to Dallas and New Orleans. Hurts returned for Week 18, admittedly at less than 100%, but the Eagles held off the Giants, who rested Daniel Jones and other starters since they were locked into the sixth seed in the playoffs either way. Can the Eagles get back to their dominant ways? Is Hurts going to be effective in the postseason? Read on to see some of our NFL Playoffs betting thoughts on the Eagles’ chances.
NFL News: Philadelphia Eagles Betting Analysis
→ The Eagles’ defense will keep driving the team’s success
Philadelphia led the NFL in quarterback sacks this season, falling just two short of the record that the Chicago Bears set back in their heyday in the mid-1980s. Darius Slay and James Bradberry are both shutdown cornerbacks, and running a Cover 2 shell allows the Eagles to clamp down on opponents’ rushing games. The 49ers and the Cowboys also have top-tier defenses, but the Eagles’ might be even better, especially if you look at how Philadelphia has kept opponents’ point totals low for much of the season. The Cowboys, 49ers and Vikings all bring potent offenses into the playoffs, but the Eagles’ defense has already beaten Minnesota and Dallas, and the 49ers are using a third-string quarterback in the playoffs.
→ If the Eagles pass too much, they will get in trouble
Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen has done a terrific job for the most part calling plays. However, he has a way of getting pass-happy, and that got the Eagles in a bit of trouble during both of Minshew’s starts. The Eagles have a top-shelf running back in Miles Sanders, and with Hurts at less than full strength, there’s no reason why the offense shouldn’t lean on him more. The offensive line can open holes for Sanders, and it’s a great way to chew up clock. If teams end up loading the box against the run, betting that Hurts can’t do as much damage down the field with his banged-up shoulder, then that is the time to get creative and use play-action to make opposing defenses pay.
→ Hurts needs to spend the next two weeks shaking off the rest of the rust
During the first two-thirds of the season, Jalen Hurts made a case for himself as the MVP, week in and week out. Making plays with his feet and throwing accurately down the field, Hurts made the Philadelphia offense a juggernaut. We also saw how valuable Hurts was in the two games that he missed. While Minshew did lead the Eagles to 34 points in Dallas, he only managed 10 against a New Orleans defense that is fairly one-dimensional. In Week 18, the limits that Hurts faced because of his shoulder also kept the offense from reaching its potential. The rehab and practice time that Hurts can spend before a divisional playoff game will be key, because this team will go as far as Hurts can take them – but if he can’t play at full strength, this is a run that could end just one round in.
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