Patriots vs. Eagles: TNF betting odds, preview, and pick
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire)
August 17th, 2021
A Northeast Corridor preseason classic will take place at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday night as the New England Patriots visit the Philadelphia Eagles (7:30 p.m. ET, NFLN). Each team has already made one postseason appearance, with the Patriots handing Washington a 22-13 defeat last week, while the Eagles were beaten by the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-16.
Quez Watkins beats Patriots JC Jackson down the sideline for a TD from Jalen Hurts
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) August 16, 2021
Eagles fans going wild. And he signals TD. Bill Belichick not happy pic.twitter.com/HZsznUDNRq
After a pair of midweek practice meetings against one another, the score will be settled here. Our analysis and predictions are below.
New England Patriots (1-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (0-1)
Jones, Hurts should see plenty of snaps
Both the Patriots and Eagles fanbases should get a good look at the future of their clubs in this one.
Mac Jones – taken 15th overall by New England in this year’s draft – went 13-for-19 for 87 yards against Washington, and was sacked just once in 33 snaps. The Alabama product showed plenty of promise, and should get his fair share of playing time once more.
PFF passing grades among first round rookie QBs this preseason:
— PFF (@PFF) August 15, 2021
🇺🇸 Mac Jones - 82.0
✈️ Zach Wilson - 78.8
🐻 Justin Fields - 64.2
🐆 Trevor Lawrence - 58.5
⛏ Trey Lance - 49.0 pic.twitter.com/CEvlHxx1LI
As for Hurts – who’s apparently struggled at times in camp – threw just seven passes in last week’s preseason game against the Steelers, and completed only three of them. However, newly-minted Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was encouraged by what he saw from Hurts.
“I just thought [Hurts] was in complete command of the offense,” Sirianni told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “[I] was really pleased with the way he played.”
If Hurts is truly beginning to find his comfort zone at quarterback, he could have his way with a Pats defense that allowed Steven Montez to go 17-for-24 for 108 yards last week.
What will Rhamondre Stevenson do for an encore?
Rhamondre Stevenson – the 120th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft – made quite a first impression in New England last week, as he broke off an incredible 91-yard run against Washington. He finished with 127 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries.
Rhamondre Stevenson goes 91 yards TO THE HOUSE!!! pic.twitter.com/Amwvjpxkui
— Boston Diehards (@Boston_Diehards) August 13, 2021
A repeat of that effort could bury Philly’s running back corps, which accounted for just 52 yards on the ground against Pittsburgh.
Patriots vs. Eagles injury report
| New England Patriots | Philadelphia Eagles |
|---|
Hunter Henry: Questionable (shoulder) | Kerryon Johnson: Questionable (ankle) |
Jonnu Smith: Questionable (ankle) | John Hightower: Questionable (hamstring) |
Stephon Gilmore: Out (quad) | Isaac Seumalo: Questionable (knee) |
Nick Folk: Questionable (undisclosed) | Rodney McLeod: Out (knee) |
Patriots and Eagles betting trends
The Patriots are 5-2 ATS in their last seven Thursday games.
The Patriots are 5-1 ATS in their last six games played in August.
The Eagles are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games played in August.
The Over is 5-2 in the Eagles’ last seven Thursday games.
The verdict
Jones should carve up the suspect Eagles secondary and guide the Patriots to a fairly high-scoring preseason victory.
Score prediction: Patriots 24, Eagles 17
NFL pick: Patriots -1.5, Over
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