The NFC East was one of the most competitive divisions in recent years, and the Philadelphia Eagles are a big reason behind it. Led by head coach Doug Pederson, the Eagles made the playoffs for the first time since 2017 after a 10-5 record in the regular season. They took the New Orleans Saints to a thrilling finish on Christmas Eve, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 15-point deficit in the end.
Here’s a look at the betting odds for the pivotal matchup between the defending Super Bowl champions and the team they’re trying to dethrone.
What is the Overall Odds of the Phillies Winning the World Series?
The 2018 World Series was an epic contest between the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Red Sox, with the Indians winning their first World Series title in 88 years. The A.L. Central was up for grabs for most of the year, with the Indians holding a slim edge at the end of the season. All along, the betting public had plenty of confidence in their favorite team to win it all after the World Series odds were released.
This year’s Fall Classic was even more competitive than usual, with fan bases split and the betting lines fluctuating a good deal. Though the Cleveland Indians had a significant edge in the regular season, the Boston Red Sox turned the tables in the postseason and stormed back to take the title. The series was so close that the teams were tied at three games apiece after the first six games. Then the Red Sox offense exploded and they won the rest of the way to hold a comfortable 5-3 lead in the series.
Will the Cleveland Browns Finish Season With a.500 Record?
The Cleveland Browns finished the 2018 season 4-12, their worst record in a decade and the first time they’ve had a losing record since 2014. The team’s hopes of a playoff run ended a day earlier than expected when they lost their last game of the year to the Cincinnati Bengals. Since then, Cleveland fans have had plenty of reasons to celebrate as the team went on a playoff run in the 2019 AFC North Division and reached the AFC Championship game.
While there’s been plenty to cheer about in Cleveland since the start of the year, there’s also been some negative factors stinging the franchise. Namely, the team was hit hard by several key injuries to star players. More troubling may be that the Browns were unable to come to terms with star quarterback Baker Mayfield on a contract extension. It seems the franchise still doesn’t have full confidence in his long-term health and plans to be smart about the cap situation in future years. That might prevent them from being able to throw money at other key positions, like wide receiver, where they did invest heavily.
Will the Miami Dolphins Snap Their 12-Year Dryspell and Make the Playoffs?
There’s plenty to like about the Miami Dolphins these days. Head coach Brian Flores has the team playing exciting, up-tempo football, and players like Jalin Marshall and Mike Pouncey are performing well. The team even made headlines this year for donating $500,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Florida in order to help kids stay active during the summer. It’s also had a successful offseason, adding key components to its roster. Most notably, the team picked up receiver Kenny Stills from the New York Yankees. If those two players can combine for any sort of productivity, especially on big plays, it could be the key to unlocking the team’s postseason success. Even so, there are concerns about the future of the Dolphins. Namely, the team is in a tough division and will need to improve its record by at least 5 wins next year if it wants to have any chance at making the playoffs.
Will the New England Patriots Rebound From a Year of Disappointment?
The New England Patriots had a disastrous year in 2018. A lot of people expected them to regress after losing star quarterback Tom Brady to a suspension and head coach Bill Belichick to retirement. Instead, the team got even better, going 12-4 and reaching the playoffs for the 11th straight year. It was also the third time since 2001 that they reached the postseason during the tenure of quarterback Tom Brady. The team looks even more impressive when you consider that it didn’t have key contributors like Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski for portions of the year.
The Patriots will be challenging for the next few years, due to the fact that they’re facing an increasingly crowded AFC East. However, they seem intent on keeping the status quo, with Brady set to return for at least one more year. The hope is that the 31-year-old will be able to play at a high level for at least another year and the team will be able to take advantage of it. Even so, there’s a good chance that the team won’t be able to keep up with the elite squads in the AFC East next year.
What is the Overall Betting Line for the Philadelphia Eagles vs. New Orleans Saints Game?
The 2018 NFC East saw some incredible competitive football. The Philadelphia Eagles are a serious threat to dethrone the New Orleans Saints as the kings of the division, and the betting public seems to have finally taken notice. The betting line for the prime rivalry game between the two division rivals is in favor of Philadelphia.
The Saints were the defending Super Bowl champions and returned much of the same roster, but they were unable to replicate their 2017 form. The Eagles had the better record in the regular season (10-5) and New Orleans made the playoffs, but Philadelphia finished the year on a high note, upsetting the defending champions in the NFC Playoffs. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Saints have been an absolute disaster since winning the Super Bowl with Drew Brees as the centerpiece of their attack. The betting public has no love for them, with the line opening at Philadelphia -3 and the over/under at 47 points, according to OddsShark.com.
How Important is the Offense vs. Defense in This Game?
For most NFL fans, the annual rivalry between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New Orleans Saints is one of the most interesting games each year. Even for those who aren’t overly familiar with football, there is plenty to watch. Two excellent teams duke it out in a game that is usually decided by which side scores the most points. The truth is, there isn’t a whole lot of difference between the two teams when it comes to their ability to score points. That means this year’s matchup is going to be close on the betting board. While the offense might not be able to keep up with the high-octane Saints attack, the defense might not be able to keep pace with the high-powered Eagles offense.
What Will Be the Key to Victory for the Philadelphia Eagles?
One of the keys to victory for the Philadelphia Eagles this year will be the play of quarterback Nick Foles. The team made a big move in the offseason, trading up in the draft to select him with the 10th overall pick. Since taking over for an injured Carson Wentz in the first half of the season, Foles has been playing at a high level and the team has won six games in a row, including a 45-35 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 8. The 29-year-old has thrown more touchdowns (21) than he has incompletions (20), with a 77.8% completion rate in 23 games this year. Foles has been extremely reliable for the Eagles, throwing for at least three touchdowns in seven of his last 10 games and at least four touchdowns in four of those games. Those are high-level performances for a quarterback and could go a long way to helping the Eagles continue their push for the top spot in the NFC.
Foles’ performance has been a pleasant surprise for Eagles fans, who were concerned about the possibility of losing the quarterback battle to Wentz. While Wentz is set to return from his two-game suspension in the next game, Foles will still be the starter for at least the next couple games.
What Will Be the Key to Victory for the New Orleans Saints?
The New Orleans Saints are the defending Super Bowl champions and they have everything they need to continue their dominance of the NFC South. Led by head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees, the Saints had one of the most active offseasons in recent memory. They added a number of key players to an already competitive roster and went on an extensive road trip, visiting all 31 NFL cities during the offseason. It’s apparent that the organization and its fans are proud of their championship and aren’t ready to give it up just yet.