Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles -5.5
Over/Under 44.5
Chris Thompson practiced fully for the first time Friday since suffering broken ribs October 28.
Zach Ertz has 84 catches for 895 yards and six touchdowns. He is on pace for 122 catches, which would break the tight end record of 110 set by Jason Witten in 2012. Ertz is also on pace to become just the sixth tight end in NFL history with more than 1200 receiving yards in one season. Ertz has already broken the Eagles record for most receptions in a season.
All six of Ertz’s touchdowns have come in the red zone this season.
In 10 career games against the Redskins, Ertz has 59 catchs for 620 yards.
The Eagles appear to have finally figured out their running game with rookie Josh Adams . Adams had a career-high 22 carries in Week 12 after totally 23 carries over his three previous games combined. Adams has a rushing touchdown in each of his last two games.
The Eagles still haven’t managed to get Golden Tate on track since trading for him before their bye. He has 11 receptions on 20 targets for 97 yards through three games with Philadelphia.
Alshon Jeffery has been nearly as bad, with 11 receptions on 16 targets for 120 yards over that same span.
Jordan Reed is listed as questionable, but Washington will be in good hands if he cannot go. Vernon Davis has been quiet this season, but he filled in quite ably when Reed missed time last season.
Josh Doctson posted season-highs with six catches on 10 targets for 66 yards on Thanksgiving. With Colt McCoy taking over for the injured Alex Smith , there is a chance we see similar production from Doctson the rest of the way even though he never produced much with Smith throwing him the ball.
Pre-Game Props
1. The last non-kneeling, offensive play of the 1st Quarter is a completed pass (we'll leave this open until the 2:00 mark) (3.6x YES / 1.6x NO)
YES. Philadelphia has completed a pass on 40.0 percent of its offensive plays this season. Washington has completed a pass on 33.4 percent of its offensive plays. Both of those are high enough for me to chase the bigger payout.
2. The first offensive play of the 1st Quarter gains 3 or more yards (2.1x YES / 3.4x NO)
NO. I don’t exactly trust Colt McCoy , and I do trust Washington’s run defense. I think Philadelphia will load up to stop the run, while Washington doesn’t really have to. If the first play is a run, I like my chances, and if it’s a pass, Carson Wentz has a 69.7 percent completion rate, compared to 60.0 percent for Colt McCoy . Either way, I like my chances.
3. C. McCoy (WAS) records more total passing yards than C. Wentz (PHI) in the 1st Quarter (4.0x YES / 1.9x NO)
YES. Colt McCoy threw for 268 passing yards against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. That was against a good defense with just three days to prepare. In nine games this season, Carson Wentz is averaging 282.2 yards per game. Wentz threw for 236 yards last week and 156 the week before. If the odds were even, I would pick Wentz, but he is not the overwhelming favorite these odds make him out to be.
4. Either team makes at least one FG of 42 yards or more in the 1st Quarter (2.0x YES / 3.0x NO)
NO. Dustin Hopkins has made eight field goals of 40+ yards this season, compared to just four for Jake Elliott . I don’t understand why No is getting the better payout.
5. C. Wentz (PHI) rushes for a 1st down on the PHI opening drive (4.5x YES / 1.5x NO)
NO. Wentz has rushed for 15 first downs in 96 drives this season. Even if we assume he hasn’t rushed for more than one first down in any single drive, that leaves us with a rushing first down in 15.6 percent of drives. That isn’t nearly enough to make me say Yes.
6. C. Thompson (WAS) records at least 1 reception or at least 2 rush attempts on the WAS opening drive (2.9x YES / 2.1x NO)
NO. Thompson is averaging just 5.2 carries per game and 5.6 receptions per game this season. He might not even play in the opening drive, especially if Washington goes three-and-out.