Eagles vs. Washington Football Team: NFL Week 17 betting odds, preview, and pick
Washington Football Team quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4). (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire)
December 28th, 2021
Two teams coming off polar opposite games are set to face each other in the NFC East when the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Washington Football Team in Week 17.
Let’s take a look at the game.
The visiting Eagles are sitting at 8-7 straight up and 8-6-1 against the spread. They are a four-point favorite coming off a blowout victory over the Giants in Week 16. Washington is 6-9 straight up and 5-8-1 against the spread, after a humiliating defeat on Sunday Night Football to its other division rival, the Dallas Cowboys.
In the last matchup between these teams, not even two weeks ago in Week 15, the Eagles pushed as 10-point favorites in a 27-17 victory that saw Washington play without starting quarterback Tyler Heinicke.
The total for the game is 46.
Warfare in the trenches
These teams feature some of the best lines in all of football. The Eagles defensive line is third in pass block win rate and sixth in run block win rate, according to ESPN. The Eagles' offensive line is fourth in pass block win rate and second in run block win rate. Only the Los Angeles Rams have been more consistently elite in all four facets.
Washington, meanwhile, has been no slouch either. Its offensive line is seventh in pass block win rate and first in run block win rate.
When these teams played last, the Eagles clearly had the upper hand. They rushed for 7.4 yards per attempt on the ground, and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts averaged 11.4 yards per pass.
Jalen Hurts vs. Washington:
— PFF PHI Eagles (@PFF_Eagles) December 22, 2021
🦅 334 total yards
🦅 20/26 passing
🦅 3 total TDs#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/yuWgaHi4J3
Washington was only able to muster three yards per rush attempt, as Antonio Gibson got completely shut down, carrying 15 times for just 26 yards. There is plenty of reason to question if Gibson’s ineffectiveness was a result of Heinicke’s absence, however, with the Eagles able to bring men downfield to stop the run.
The Eagles appear to have an advantage yet again in the trenches and should be able to replicate last game’s success.
Eagles vs. Washington injury report
| Philadelphia Eagles | Washington Football Team |
|---|
DE Derek Barnett: Out (illness) | C Tyler Larsen: Out (Achilles) |
DE Tarron Jackson: Out (illness) | S Landon Collins: Out (foot) |
RB Miles Sanders: Out (hand) | RB JD McKissic: Out (concussion) |
RB Jordan Howard: Questionable (neck) | WR Curtis Samuel: Questionable (groin) |
Philadelphia and Washington betting trends
- Eagles are 6-2-1 ATS in the last nine meetings between these teams
- The Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings between these teams
- Washington is 2-5 ATS in its last seven home games
- Washington is 0-5 ATS in its last five Week 17 games
- The Under is 4-0 in Washington’s last four home games
Eagles will grind out a victory
Washington isn’t technically eliminated from the playoffs yet, but it is just a matter of time. Philadelphia, on the other hand, still has an excellent opportunity to surprise its fanbase relative to preseason expectations with a postseason appearance.
The Eagles are unfortunately going to be missing some players for this matchup due to COVID-19 protocols, but they showed dominance in the trenches in the last matchup and should enjoy it again. It’s something that both teams should remember well.
Washington will no doubt spend the week fired up following its embarrassing defeat on national television, in which videos of teammates fighting on the sideline emerged, but that’s likely not enough for a team that isn’t as good as its opposition.
Score prediction: Philadelphia 24, Washington 17
NFL Week 17 pick: Eagles -4
Eagles vs. Washington Football Team Pick powered by The Quant Edge
Our predictive engine is calling for the Eagles to cover the spread.
ADVERTISEMENT
