The Philadelphia Eagles look to continue their streak against NFC East opponents in their second matchup against Washington in three weeks. With the playoffs just around the corner, let’s take a look at the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Football Team Week 17 matchup and make an NFL betting pick and prediction.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Football Team pick, prediction | Week 17
- Spread: Eagles -4 (Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Moneyline: Eagles -190, Washington +160
- Over/Under: 46
Winning Eagles look to continue fine division form
The Eagles are hot right now. They’ve won five games in their last six outings. As a result, they find themselves in the mix for a playoff spot.
Having beaten both the Giants and Washington Football Team in the last two weeks, Philly is currently the seventh seed in the NFC, fighting for one of two available playoff spots.
[bet-promo id=”174860″ ]With the Packers, Cowboys, Rams, Buccaneers, and Cardinals all clinching playoff berths already, those fighting to get in are trying to clamber over each other for the final two spots. The Eagles and 49ers are currently the frontrunners at 8-7. However, any slipups would allow for the Vikings, Falcons, or Saints to potentially sneak in.
The Eagles have a fantastic running game going with QB Jalen Hurts and a committee of backs. Still, they did lose Miles Sanders to a hand injury this past weekend. While they might not be a contender yet, they’re finding a way to win and figuring out what’s working for them. That’s all a rookie head coach can really ask right now.
Washington limping to end of lackluster season
Washington is now on a three-game losing streak, all coming against division rivals. The last was an uncomfortable 54-point drumming from the Dallas Cowboys.
Washington is another team that doesn’t seem to have it figured out at quarterback for the future. Taylor Heinicke has done a solid job of commanding the offense at times, and he is popular with the fan base when they’re winning.
But there are times when they just don’t have enough offensive firepower to overcome bigger opponents, and the ceiling on a Heinicke-led offense feels extremely low.
This was a year where their defense came in as the second-best unit in football, and everybody was expecting big things. That quickly fell apart, and even before second-year standout Chase Young suffered a season-ending injury, they didn’t look like the same dominant Washington defense. It’s a disappointing year for them, but can they round it out by spoiling the Eagles’ playoff party?
Eagles vs. Washington betting trends
Before looking at either team individually, it’s worth noting that these two faced off only two weekends ago. The first matchup resulted in the Eagles winning by 10 against a 10-point spread. Additionally, the over cashed (44 points scored against a 39.5 over/under).
The second time around, the over/under has been pushed to 46, and the Eagles go into this one just 4-point favorites. The difference will be largely caused by the return of Heinicke, who gives Washington a better chance of winning the game than stand-in Garrett Gilbert.
The Eagles have cashed four overs in their last five games. Philly is now 9-6 on over/unders for the season. They’re also 8-6-1 against the spread (ATS) and have only lost once in their last six ATS.
Washington, on the other hand, has not won ATS in any of their last three games after going on a four-game hot streak in November/early December. The cold run can be attributed to a few injuries across the roster and a QB carousel with Kyle Allen and Gilbert both taking a ride. With Heinicke back in the lineup, can Washington come up with the upset?
Eagles vs. Washington prediction
I like Washington with the spread. I know the Eagles are hot, and yes, they’ve won five of their last six. But Washington has a point to prove in the division. They can take the tape from the last game, figure some things out, add Heinicke back into the lineup, and make it a much closer game.
The Eagles have a lot of pressure on their shoulders to hold onto the playoff spot, and it might be weighing on them. Even if they win, this has the feel of a back-and-forth game all the way down to the final seconds. It’ll be close, and it should be a fun one too, with the winner on the day being a coin flip.
Washington +4, and the over in the game — “PointsFest” incoming.
Eagles vs. Washington Prediction: Eagles 31, Washington 30