Are we able to trust the Eagles’ ability to bounce back in Week 17.
Week 17 is packed with storylines, as the playoff picture is beginning to emerge. There are nine playoff spots secured. The remaining five spots will be up for grabs by 15 teams. Some teams just need to win, while others need to manage their business and pray the dominoes will fall in their favor.
If sportsbooks offered odds on how often I would have to refer back to the league’s web tiebreaker scenarios, the over would be a free wager. These final two weeks will focus on tracking motivational spots so that teams can see who wins and which loses.
This is the beauty of the league’s playoff format. Because they are the conference’s No.1, even the best teams in each conference can be motivated. 1 seed. Although the Eagles lost their chance last week in Dallas, here are some reasons why they are an excellent choice to capitalize against a more favorable opponent this weekend. Motivation comes in many forms and I targeted another team in a different spot to find this week’s best picks.
As disappointing as the Saints season was, it’s only the second instance in which they are underdogs more than four. Saints fans have bad news: They lost a 13-0 win to the Saints last time. San Francisco 49ers. I am not here to convince the Eagles that their defense is as strong and as good as the 49ers. This was especially after being smoked for 40 at Dallas. But it’s good enough to cause chaos on a Saints offensive team with the 10th-lowest pass blocking grade by PFF.
Despite the Dallas disaster last week, Philadelphia ranks fifth in Football Outsider’s defensive DVOA metric. It has PFF’s third highest defensive grade and is second in EPA per allowed play. This week’s disaster in Dallas should not be a problem for the defense. They should be strong at home and very motivated to get it over with.
Saints scored just 43 points in their last four games on the road (10.8 ppg), but now they face an Eagles team which averages 30 at home. Philadelphia’s offense isn’t as good without it. Jalen Hurts And Lane JohnsonThey were able to score in the 30s in spite of a Dallas defense that was very good. Although seven points is not something anyone likes in the NFL, this one has 27-13. Place your bets on the Eagles winning the No. They will be the No. 1 seed, and they will cover the huge number in front their fans.
Although I understand the reasons why the Texans should be supported, the same reasons that create value on the opposite side are also valid. The Texans are a strong underdog and have covered the past three weeks and beat the Titans in straight. It is a huge lookahead spot in Jacksonville for an inexperienced, young team. The game is irrelevant as they could still win the AFC South title next week. These are the calculated risks that bettors must weigh at this time of year. Although there’s always a chance that the Jaguars will rest their starters on Sunday, I believe Jacksonville will be there.
Here, a different motivation is at work. This is not a game that the Jaguars see as another on their calendar. Doug Pederson, the head coach, is creating a new culture in Jacksonville. This requires consistency and discipline. It’s difficult for me to see the Jaguars stalling their progress now that they have won their last three games. They have the chance to enter the playoffs on a winning streak of five games.
Jacksonville fell in all three of its games this season as a favorite, falling to 0-3 S/U. ATS. But, this team has improved throughout the season and is playing its most offensive football heading into this matchup. In dropback success rate, the Jags’ passing offense ranks second only to Kansas City over the past three weeks. Houston has seen one of the worst defenses in the league this season. Jacksonville should be able to gain momentum for next week’s matchup with Tennessee. The Jaguars have the best defense, but there’s a big gap between the offenses. I’m betting on Pederson keeping the team focused. They will make a statement with playoffs in sight. The Jaguars will score the points.
Stats provided pff, teamrankings and rbsdm (based upon 90-10 WP), outsiders football.