Giants favored by 3.5 points in Week 9 clash with struggling Eagles
Philadelphia sits 2-6 after six straight losses, while New York leads the NFC East with a 4-2-1 record.
By Simon Bennett ·
The New York Giants are projected as 3.5-point road favorites against the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC East matchup scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. The Over/Under for the contest is set at 39.5 points. This game will determine whether New York can extend its divisional lead over the Dallas Cowboys, who hold the second spot in the conference race with a 3-5 record.
The Eagles have lost six consecutive games, dropping to a 2-6 record this season. Injuries have severely impacted the roster, most notably the season-ending injury to quarterback Jalen Hurts. Since Hurts left the team, backup Tanner McKee has started three games. In those contests, the Eagles have averaged fewer than 15 points per game. McKee has completed 200-yard passing games in all three starts but has been sacked 10 times and thrown two interceptions. He also has two touchdown passes in that span.
New York enters the game with a 4-2-1 record and has won three of its last five games. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy has taken over the starting role after Jaxson Dart was lost for the season. McCarthy has thrown for 495 yards over the past two weeks. In the Giants' most recent game, a 27-21 overtime victory against the Houston Texans, McCarthy led the team to 427 total yards while holding the opponents to 237. Running back Cam Skattebo rushed for 124 yards, and receiver Malik Nabers finished with over 100 receiving yards. Nabers has exceeded 100 receiving yards in each of his last four games, totaling 509 yards in that stretch.
The statistical gap between the two teams is wide. The Eagles rank last in the NFL in total offense, averaging 265.3 yards per game, and score 17.1 points per contest, which is 30th in the league. Their defense allows 367.3 yards and 25.3 points per game. The Giants are 11th in total offense with 346 yards per game and score 23.3 points per contest. New York’s defense ranks ninth overall, allowing 313 yards per game, and is 15th in scoring defense, conceding 23.0 points per game.
Betting records show a divergence in performance relative to the spread. The Giants are 5-2 against the spread this season and have covered two of their three road games. The Eagles are 1-7 against the spread. Their only cover came in a 19-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. The Eagles are 3-1 to the Over at home, while the Giants have gone Over in five of their seven games.
The Eagles' offensive line has struggled, contributing to their defensive struggles. Star running back Saquon Barkley is averaging 4.9 yards per carry but sees only nine attempts per game. Receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks are listed as questionable for the game. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates games 10,000 times, predicts the Eagles will cover the spread in 60% of simulations. The model also shows the Eagles winning outright in 51% of simulations as plus-money underdogs.
