NFL Week 13 Betting Previews- Philadelphia Eagles vs. Seattle Seahawks

When the Eagles limp into CenturyLink Stadium this Thursday night to play Seattle they will not only be playing for pride, they will be playing for their jobs. You cannot help but feel that everyone from Andy Reid down to the water boys will be under the microscope over the final five games to see who will be back after one of the most disappointing seasons since Jeff Lurie bought the team.

I believe that Reid's job is safe unless the team loses out, but the bigger question is will he return after 13 long, hard season's at the helm of one of the most scrutinized franchises in the NFL. You have figure that this season took a huge chunk of energy out of him and he may opt for a year or two off to recharge the batteries.

The one thing that is for sure, is that this team will look radically different on opening day next season than the one that walks off the field at the Linc on New Year's Day when time runs out in its final regular season game this year against the Redskins. It remains to see who will go and who will stay, but the current plan of assembling a bunch of over-priced talent obviously did not work, so it is back to the drawing board to try and get the Birds back on top in the NFC East.

Below is a link to my complete preview & pick for Thursday's game as originally posted on SportsBooks.Net


NFL Week 13 Betting Previews- Philadelphia Eagles vs. Seattle Seahawks

New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles Preview & Free Week 12 Pick

The Eagles refused to let the Giants pull the plug on their season last Sunday night with a rare come-from behind 17-10 victory. Unfortunately, they may have no choice about throwing in the towel after this Sunday, with New England coming to town.

It looks like Vince Young will once again get the start in this game with Michael Vick still recovering from broken ribs. He had a decent game against the New York in relief of Vick, however the outcome of this game will be dictated by how well Philadelphia's defense plays. Last week's win gave us a glimmer of hope that this high-priced and over-priced unit can live up to all the hype. If it finds a way to keep Tom Brady & Co. in check then I might start to believe.

Anyone who reads this blog on a regular basis already knows that I have already threw in the towel for this season mainly because of the huge hole the Birds already dug for themselves, but also because no team out of the NFC East is going anywhere this season. Somebody has to win the division, but whichever team it is will be a 'one and done' in the postseason.

Below is a link to my complete preview and prediction for Sunday's game against the Patriots as originally posted on Cappers Picks


New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles Preview & Free Week 12 Pick

NFC East Game Previews – Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have suddenly become the darling of the NFC East by virtue of a 6-4 record and first-place tie with New York for the lead in the division.

If Washington kicker Graham Gano's 52-yard field goal attempt in overtime of last Sunday's game would have been good, everyone would be talking about how the Cowboys let another game slip away. However since it went wide and Dallas ended-up squeaking-out a 27-24 victory, the 'Boys are back in the spotlight on ESPN and the NFL Network.

Here is a news alert in case anyone has not been closely following the NFC East this season; this division is a non-factor. Even though at least one of the teams has to be included in the playoffs, there is a good chance it will be a one-and done no matter which team wins the division title.

The Cowboys will win their Turkey Day game against the Dolphins (unless it snows in Dallas) and continue to create the illusion that they can compete with the elite teams in the NFC, but the reality is that the NFC East is much like the Big East in college football; a closet Mid-Major in a major conference world.

Below is a link to my complete preview & pick for Thursday's Miami vs. Dallas game as originally posted on Cappers Picks


NFC East Game Previews – Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys

NFC East Game Previews- Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants

Before the season started, I had this game circled on the schedule as the Eagles' coming-out party as not only the best team in the division, but as one of the top two teams in the NFC. Well after last week's debacle against Arizona, I have officially written this year off as a lost season even though there are still seven games remaining on the schedule.

I feel bad quitting on this team and my poor father is probably rolling around in his grave as he would equate this poor attitude to someone leaving the game in the third quarter, but unfortunately the reality of the current state of this team leaves me no choice. Let's go back in time to the 2005 regular season when the Birds were coming off a tough loss to New England in the Super Bowl, but were one of the favorites to return to the NFC title game with a team that was still loaded with talent. Terrell Owens started the downfall but the rest of the squad quickly followed suit in what resulted in a disappointing 6-10 record and an early exit to the offseason.

In the spirit of T.O., DeSean Jackson has picked-up the torch of disgruntled wide receiver but he is just a minor part of what is wrong with this team. Unfortunately in the NFL, shiny and new is often more effective than tried and true. Andy Reid could almost be considered a dinosaur for his 12 years as a head coach with the same team, especially in a town like Philadelphia. Right now he is the most tenured coach in the league, which is as much of a curse as it is an accomplishment.

As the weather turns cold in South Philly, the winds of change are also starting to swirl much harder around the perimeter of Lincoln Financial Field. The best thing that can happen from this point on is for the Eagles to maintain their current form so that Reid can pull a Dick Vermeil and quietly excuse himself from the top spot, citing burnout as the primary reason for doing so. This would give him a year off to recharge his batteries and come back stronger than ever with another team.

Nothing lasts forever, especially in the NFL, and it is time for a clean sweep on a team that is obviously headed in the wrong direction. What would remain is a enough talent to win right away with a young buck in place to relight the fire under a franchise whose pilot light has clearly gone out.

For what it is worth, below is a link to my complete preview and pick for Sunday night’s game against the Giants as originally posted on Bang the Book.


NFC East Game Previews- Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants

NFC East Game Previews- Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins

On the undercard of a NFC East double-header this Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys look to keep pace with New York in the division race when they take-on a woeful Washington squad that has now lost five straight games after a surprising 3-1 start.

This game offers the Cowboys an opportunity to not only go 6-4 overall, but to establish themselves as a legitimate playoff team after suffering through an up-and-down start. They come in with a two game winning streak after beating Seattle 23-13 two weeks ago and crushing Buffalo 44-7 last Sunday. Tony Romo has been able to put the inconsistencies of earlier this year behind him and the Dallas defense is stepping things up on the other side of the ball. The lingering problem for this team is a rash of lingering injuries to some of its best players. Wide receiver Miles Austin remains out until later this month with a strained hamstring and running backs' Felix Jones and DeMarco Murray are still a bit nicked-up.

Below is a link to my complete preview and pick of Sunday's game as originally posted on Cappers Pick.

NFC East Game Previews- Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins

NFC East Game Previews – Arizona Cardinals vs Philadelphia Eagles

This Sunday's Cardinals-Eagles game remains 'off the board' in Las Vegas most likely due to the uncertain playing status of Kevin Kolb. The former Eagles quarterback is suffering from a severe case of turf toe and a bone bruise in his foot he sustained two weeks ago against Baltimore. While he is currently listed as doubtful on the latest injury list, Kolb has vowed to do whatever it takes to get a shot at adding to his old team's misery by tagging Philly with its sixth loss in its first nine games.

To me, it does not matter if Kolb plays or holds a clip board on the sidelines, as this game is one final gut-check for a team that has basically thrown away a golden opportunity at making a legitimate championship run. In their first five losses the Birds have repeatedly beaten themselves, as they had numerous chances to come away with a victory in all five of those games. Last Monday night's game made me sick to my stomach as the Eagle's multi-million dollar secondary made Jay Cutler look like the second-coming of Joe Montana.

The Falcons,Giants,49ers, Bills,and now the Bears did not beat the Eagles. As mentioned before, the Eagles beat themselves. If we have to add the Cardinals to this list then all is lost for this season and possibly for Andy Reid as well. If he cannot get his team ready for a matchup against a 2-6 team playing on the road with an offense that is ranked 22nd in the NFL and a defense that is ranked 23rd, it is probably time for Jeff Lurie to start a search for someone who can.

Below is a link to my complete preview & pick for Sunday's game as originally posted on Cappers Picks


NFC East Game Previews – Arizona Cardinals vs Philadelphia Eagles

NFC East Game Previews- New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers

The New York Giants' path back to the postseason became a tad bit easier after a pulling out a huge 24-20 last-second victory over the heavily favored New England Patriots last Sunday. The schedule ahead is still brutal starting with this week's game against the 49ers, but they have a two-game lead over Dallas and a three-game advantage over the Eagles, so they can now afford one or two slip-ups along the way and still come away with the division title.

The other major factor in the Giants favor is they appear to be the only team in the East that can win games on a consistent basis. Both the Cowboys and the Eagles have grasped defeat from the jaws of victory this season and remain totally unpredictable from one week to the next.

Below is a link to my complete preview & pick for Sunday's game as originally posted on SportsBooks.Net


NFC East Previews- New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers

NFC East Game Previews – Buffalo Bills vs Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys will try and keep pace with the New York Giants in the NFC East Division with a win over Buffalo this Sunday. After last week's 23-13 win over Seattle, the Cowboys evened their record to 4-4 while the Giants improved to 6-2 with a huge 24-20 victory over New England.

Tony Romo will be missing a huge piece of the offensive attack with his favorite receiver Mile Austin on the shelf with a hamstring injury. The other bad news is that running back Felix Jones, who missed the past three games with a high ankle sprain is most likely out of this one as well. Fortunately for Dallas, rookie running back DeMarco Murray continues to fill the void in Jone's absence. This game will still come down to Romo and the idea of putting the game on his back is just what the Bills need to pull-out a win on the road as 5.5-point underdogs.

Below is a link to my complete preview and prediction for Sunday's game as originally posted on Cappers Picks


NFC East Game Previews – Buffalo Bills vs Dallas Cowboys

NFL Week 9 Monday Night Football- Chicago Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The Chicago Bears, fresh off their bye week, come to town this Monday night in a prime-time clash with the suddenly rejuvenated Eagles. At face value with the Birds currently listed as a touchdown or more home favorite, it appears that this game should result in a 4-4 record for both teams through the first half of the regular season.

However, before you go and chalk this one up in the win column for the Eagles, keep in mind the fact that they were favored by nine-points against the Giants and 9.5 points against the 49ers at home earlier in the year and we all know how both those games ended-up. Also keep in mind that the Bears have just about owned Philly in recent memory with a 3-1 record in the last four seasons. Before that, the roles were reversed when Donovan McNabb was in his heyday, with five straight Philadelphia victories.

In typical fashion, I am chalking this one up as another convincing victory for the high-flying Birds. Playing in prime time at the Linc always seems to bring out the best out of Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson on offense and Trent Cole on the defensive side of the ball. In reality, look for another heavy dose of LeSean McCoy as Andy Reid continues to prove people wrong that he hates to run the ball. The truth is, he just hates to lose and will do whatever it takes even if it means creating a balanced attack on offense. You know, the one that we have been coveting since Deuce Staley and Brian Westbrook roamed the backfield.

Also, this is traditionally the time of the year when Philadelphia reels-off five or six straight victories to get everyone all fired-up for a Super Bowl run, before losing a key game or two down the stretch to return us back to reality.

Copied below by special permission of Golden Affiliates and GamblingIQ is my complete preview of Monday night's game:



Monday Night Football Betting Preview- Chicago Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Point spread: Philadelphia -9
Over/Under: 47.5


The well-rested Chicago Bears come off of their bye week to tangle with the high-powered Philadelphia Eagles this Monday night in front of a prime-time audience at Lincoln Financial Field. The kick-off for this NFC clash is slated for 8:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Chicago went into its bye week at 4-3 straight-up (3-4 against the spread) after a 24-18 victory over Tampa Bay in London as a 1.5-point favorite. The total stayed ‘under’ the 44-point line in this game and has now stayed ‘under’ in four of its seven games this year.Look for a heavy dose of running back Matt Forte in this game as the Bears will try and exploit an Eagles’ defense that has struggled to stop the run this year. This will also take the pressure of a Jay Cutler, who looked less than spectacular against the Buccaneers. He completed just 53.1 percent of his throws and was intercepted twice.

Philadelphia came off its bye last week against Dallas and finally played like the team that many people had penciled-in as one of the top three in the league. Its 34-7 demolition of the Cowboys as a three-point home favorite raised its record to 3-4 both SU and ATS. The total stayed ‘under’ the 49-point line, but it has gone ‘over’ in four of its previous six games.The victory over Dallas proved that if Michael Vick takes care of the ball, and the rest of the offense eliminates the mistakes that plagued it in its four-game losing streak, there are few defenses in the league that can stop this team. The Eagles are now ranked first in the NFL in total yards per game and an impressive first in rushing offense with an average of 179.9 yards a game.

The Bears are 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 games as an underdog on the road. The total has stayed ‘under’ in 20 of their last 28 road games.

The Eagles are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games as a favorite, but they are 4-0 ATS in their last four Monday night games. The total has stayed ‘under’ in five of their last six home games.

These two have played each other the last four seasons with Chicago holding a 3-1 edge both SU and ATS. This time around, stick with Michael Vick the Eagles to put on another prime-time show that results in another big win at home.


The Pick: Philadelphia 34 Chicago 20

NFL Week 9 Previews – New York Giants vs New England Patriots

The New York Giants squeaked-by the winless Miami Dolphins 20-17 last week in one of their last tomato cans on the schedule for quite some time. After this week's trip to Foxborough to face the 5-2 Patriots they head out west to face the surprisingly-good 6-1 San Francisco 49ers.

This sets-up Round 2 with the Eagles at MetLife Stadium in a Sunday night prime-time showdown that could very well be for the lead in the NFC East. After that, the Giants go back on the road to face the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome, which is never an easy place to win a game no matter how the Saints are playing. To top things off, New York returns home in Week 13 to host the best team in the league when the undefeated Green Bay Packers come to town.

This brutal stretch of games plays right into the Eagles' hands assuming that they have put the four-game debacle of earlier this season behind. The Birds have Chicago at home this Monday night, before heading to the desert to play the 1-6 Arizona Cardinals. After its tilt with the Giants in Week 11, Philadelphia hosts New England in what should be an offensive assault on the senses. From there, the Eagles return out west to take-on the 2-5 Seattle Seahawks, in what will be a tougher game than advertised.

According to my calculations, the Giants current 5-2 record by then will be a much more modest 6-6, while the Eagles will now have the edge for the division title at 7-5.
From there, New York has Dallas twice, Washington, and New York (Jets) left on the slate, while the Birds face the Dolphins, Jets, Cowboys, and Redskins on their dance card. This could leave both teams at 10-6 as they were last year with the tie-breaker up in the air (assuming the Eagles beat the Giants the second time around), but I am more bullish on Philadelphia to win the division outright at 11-5.

But I digress. Let's go back to the beginning of this whole exercise with this week's matchup against the Patriots. Below is a link to my complete preview of Sunday's game as originally posted on Cappers Picks


NFL Week 9 Previews – New York Giants vs New England Patriots