It’s been almost an entire year since the Eagles have won a home game (337 days to be exact). Nevertheless, Philly has opened as the early favorites in their home contest this week against the New Orleans Saints. For the record, the last home win the Eagles have was against New Orleans last season.
It’s not hard to see why Vegas currently has the line at -1.5 for the Birds. The Eagles are 2-1 in their last three games and are coming off their most convincing win of the season against a stout Broncos team. The Saints, on the other hand, are in a bit of a tail spin. They’ve lost two straight with Trevor Siemian under center and have fallen back down to Earth after a 5-2 start.
But don’t be mistaken, this Saints team should not be overlooked. Sean Payton is still one of the best coaches in the NFL. He’s getting the most out of an offense without a franchise quarterback and without a legit receiving option on the outside. They currently rank 17th in offensive DVOA.
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Their defense has been their strong suit this season. They’re fifth in total yards allowed, first in rushing yards allowed, and third in defensive DVOA.
New Orleans has some great wins under their belt as well. They’re the only team to beat Aaron Rodgers this season and they bested the defending Super Bowl champs just a few weeks ago.
This is a huge game for both sides. The Saints need the W to stay in front of the NFC wild card race. A third straight loss would really put a damper on their playoff chances. An Eagles win would give Philly a valuable tie breaker in the playoff race and could propel them into a late season run.
Aside from Dallas in Week 18 — a team that may or may not play their starters in that game — this is the toughest remaining game on the Eagles schedule. After this, they’ll have the Giants and Washington twice, the New York Jets, and the aforementioned Cowboys in the final week of the season.
This game will go a long way in deciding the fate of both teams.
Can the Eagles capture their first victory at home this week? Can they win back-to-back games for the first time in over a year? Sound off in the comments section and let us know.
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