Washington Redskins at Philadelphia
Eagles
My Prices – Redskins
2.75 Eagles 1.56
This is a huge divisional game for both teams, the Redskins
can clinch the NFC East title with a win and the Eagles need to win their last
two matches to clinch a second division title in three years. If the Eagles
lose to the Redskins here they would miss the playoffs altogether, so it’s safe
to say both teams will throw everything they have at each other.
Despite the blowout loss to the Cardinals on Sunday I
thought the Eagles actually played pretty well as at the end of the 2nd
quarter they were 1 yard away from tying the game at 17-17 and for most of the
contest QB Bradford was moving the chains effectively against a very good
defence.
With that in mind the Eagles should be able to move the chains here
with ease as the Redskins have a very poor secondary (ranked 20th)
and a poor pass rush (only 29 sacks all season). Philly will be able to run
effectively as well as only the porous Saints defence surrender more yards per
carry on the ground than the Redskins.
So if the Eagles are going to be able to move the chains can
the Redskins keep up?
QB Cousins has been excellent since Week 7 but his offensive
line is beginning to creak and has given up 8 sacks over the last two games add
to that the Eagles quality pass rush and the Redskins could be in trouble. Of
course, the pass rush won't be much of an issue if the Eagles can't stop the
run (Ranked 26th), the positive here is the Redskins are 31st
on the ground in my offensive rankings and their main RB Jones is listed as
injured with a hip contusion. WR Jackson needs to be covered though as he’s
been in top form recently and if the Eagles can shut him down then they will stop
Washington.
I can see this being a very tight edgy game with so much at
stake and I’m coming down on the side of the Eagles with homefield advantage as
the Redskins aren’t as convincing away as they are in Washington and even
though they have put themselves in pole position to win the NFC East they need
to achieve something they haven’t managed all season long - to put more than
two wins together.
With all this in mind
I think the pressure will be too much for the Redskins so I’m backing Philadelphia -3 at 1.98 with Matchbook to
take the race for the NFC East into Week 17.
New England Patriots at New York Jets
My Prices – Patriots
1.72 Jets 2.40
Vegas Line –
Patriots -3
The Jets have won their last four games and can make the
playoffs if they win their last two and other results go their way. The
Patriots need one more win to gain home-field advantage through to the
Superbowl but are walking wounded at the moment with a thread-bare squad.
Offensively all Patriots QB Brady has left to throw to here is TE Gronkowski.
That's not good at all for New England as the Jets are decent at defending
Tight Ends and really do have a very good defence all over coming in at 5th
on my rankings. This is a very good match up for New York considering how
depleted the Patriots are at the moment.
When these teams met in week 7 Jets QB Fitzpatrick went 22
of 39 for 295 yards and 2 touchdowns and there is absolutely no reason why he
can’t do the same again against a considerably weaker Patriots side. Losing LB
Hightower last week was a massive blow to the Patriots defence and the Jets can
take advantage.
The Jets have everything to lose here while the Patriots are
sitting pretty at 12-2, the trouble for New England is they keep losing players
week after week and I’ll be willing to bet that the Patriots main priority will
be to escape this game without any further injuries as more players down would
seriously derail their Superbowl bid.
Take the points and back the Jets +3 at 2.00 with Sportingbet.
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