Washington vs. Eagles Week 17 Predictions, Odds, Preview

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• December 31, 2020
• By Matt Blunt
• VegasInsider.com

We've reached the final week of the regular season, and for all the craziness that can go on in Week 17 in terms of motivation and guys sitting/starting, the Sunday Night Football game in Week 17 tends to be one where motivation rarely seems to be a problem.

Typically it's a game where the result means something to both sides, but this year we get the NFC East taking the prime time stage for one final time with the game only meaning something to the visitors from Washington.

It's a win and you're in scenario for the Washington Football Team, as they get to go up against the only NFC East team that doesn't have a shot at winning the division still; Philadelphia. Thankfully the Eagles at least went with the QB switch to Jalen Hurts a few weeks back so I wouldn't have to find more creative ways to discuss Wentz's play leading up to a prime time affair.

It's Hurts and the Eagles looking to play spoiler though, as a Philly win over Washington here would give the winner of the Dallas/NYG game earlier in the day the NFC East crown and a home playoff game.

Washington's still hoping that a season filled with remarkable victories on (Alex Smith's return) and off (Ron Rivera's health battle) can continue to see their name scheduled for games, but they'll have to sweep the season series with Philadelphia to do so. Can Washington get it done?

Washington vs. Philadelphia - Predictions

• Score Prediction: Washington 20, Philadelphia 17
• Best Bet: Under 43.5

Betting Resources

• Week 17 Matchup: NFC East
• Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
• Venue: Lincoln Financial Field
• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Date: Sunday, Jan. 3, 2020
• Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC
• Bet: BetMGM | BetRivers | FanDuel | PointsBet | All |Bet Now in Pennslyvania

Washington-Eagles Betting Odds

Line Movements

Odds Subject to Change

2020 Betting Stats

(Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under - O/U)

Washington

• Overall: 6-9 SU, 9-6 ATS, 5-10 O/U
• Road: 2-4 SU, 3-3 ATS, 3-3 O/U
• Offense PPG: 21.0 (Rank 26)
• Defense PPG: 21.0 (Rank 5)
• Offense YPG: 321.9 (Rank 30)
• Defense YPG: 310.5 (Rank 4)

Philadelphia

• Overall: 4-10-1 SU, 5-10 ATS, 7-8 O/U
• Home: 3-3-1 SU, 4-3 ATS, 3-4 O/U
• Offense PPG: 21.3 (Rank 25)
• Defense PPG: 26.5 (Rank 21)
• Offense YPG: 342.5 (Rank 22)
• Defense YPG: 370.8 (Rank 21)

Over vs. Under
Handicapping the Total

The first meeting between these two back in Week 1 saw Washington rally from being down 17-0 midway through the 2nd quarter to score 27 unanswered points in the 27-17 victory. It was a game where the prospects for the season – and Washington QB Dwayne Haskins – looked very promising, but Washington went on to lose five straight after that, forcing Haskins out of the starter's role, and ultimately he was left without a job this past week.

Washington's season turned the first time they took any control away from Haskins, and while that's obviously the hope for the Football Team this week, it also means they are returning to Smith (likely) under center who has got some injury concerns lingering as well. More importantly though, we are going to get two QB's that didn't have any impact on the first meeting, so not a whole lot can significantly be taken from that contest, let alone that it came in Week 1 as well.

One thing to at least acknowledge for this Week 17 game regarding the total is the fact that most weather reports are calling for rain throughout the evening in Philly, and how a bettor chooses to interpret rain into the handicapping is up to them.

This late in the year, it does suggest that the team that can run the ball more effectively should gain some sort of edge, as least if the rain continues on the whole way through. That definitely brings another element to the Philly side this week with Hurts and the Eagles liking to see him run the ball often.

Regarding the total though, I do believe heavy run-based attacks which we are likely to see here – either through weather or both sides having trouble trusting their respective QB's to air it out often – do favor a look to the 'under' overall. A heavy run game will have the clock continuing to churn, and an 'under' play would be a flip from the first game's 'over' result as well.

Furthermore, with the “win and in” scenario for Washington in this game, I would expect the Football team to rely on their strengths to get the job done, and the biggest one of those is Washington's defense. Washington has been an 'under' team all year long with a 5-10 O/U record, a number that's actually 2-8 O/U in their last 10 games.

The Football Team hasn't allowed more than 20 points in six straight games (4-2 SU in those games), and offensively Washington has scored more than 23 points just once in that same six-game stretch.

A struggling offense for Washington helps ease concerns about Philly's defense continuing to get torched (allowed 30 or more in three of their last four), and even with a low-40's total currently, 43 points may be the ceiling for these two clubs here.

Have to take the 'under'.

Head-to-Head History

• Sep. 13, 2020 - Washington 27 vs. Philadelphia 17, Football Team +5.5, Over 41.5
• Dec. 15, 2019 - Philadelphia 37 at Washington 27, Eagles -7, Over 38
• Sep. 8, 2019 - Philadelphia 32 vs. Washington 27, Football Team +10.5, Over 44

Washington seeks the NFC East championship with a win at Philadelphia on Sunday night. (AP)

Washington vs. Eagles
Handicapping the Side

I touched on the unlucky run it's been for home teams on SNF in Week 17 earlier in the week here, but almost always those home teams were the ones facing quite a bit of pressure to keep their season alive or possibly improve their playoff standing. Most of the time it's “win and in” for those teams though and that's just not pressure the Eagles are concerned with at all this week.

That fact actually makes Philadelphia somewhat of an attractive betting choice as the small home dog, because it's not like Washington's a spectacularly great football team to begin with, it's Washington that's got all the pressure on them in this game, and it's Washington who's going with a QB who's either very sore and fragile (Smith) or a guy in Taylor Heinicke who's only action this year was in relief last week and has 77 career NFL pass attempts.

No matter how you slice it, Washington's got plenty on their minds entering this week, and a busy mind is far from the best thing to have as a football team if you want to execute at a high level on the football field.

But Philly's still got nothing to play for outside of continuing to see what they've got in Hurts, although that decision regarding the QB position in the future for Philly has likely already been made. A team with nothing to play for can also no-show these games as well, so backing them even in a great fade spot for their opponent can be tough.

The last time Philly was even an underdog against Washington was back in December of 2016 – Carson Wentz's rookie year – and the Eagles were catching +2 as home underdogs. Awfully familiar no? Washington went on to win that game 27-22.

It is a prime time showcase for Hurts and the Eagles, so I wouldn't expect them to completely lay an egg on the effort front, but it's enough of a concern where it's far easier to pass on a questionable side in a Week 17 game to begin with. Save that unit for a better spot somewhere down the road.

Key Injuries

Washington

• RB Antonio Gibson: Toe - Probable
• QB Alex Smith: Calf - Questionable
• G Wes Schweitzer: Hip - Questionable
• LB Kevin Pierre-Louis: Ankle - Questionable
• WR Terry McLaurin: Ankle - Questionable
• LB Thomas Davis, Sr.: Knee - Questionable

Philadelphia

• WR Quez Watkins: Ribs - Questionable
• WR DeSean Jackson: Ankle - Questionable
• TE Dallas Goedert: Calf - Questionable
• LB Shaun Bradley: Neck - Questionable
• DT Fletcher Cox: Stinger - Questionable
• TE Richard Rodgers: Ankle - Questionable

2020 Sunday Night Football (SNF) Betting Results

Betting Results

Straight Up (SU), Against the Spread (ATS)

• Home-Away: 11-5 SU, 10-6 ATS
• Favorites-Underdogs: 9-7 SU, 6-10 ATS
• Over-Under: 6-10

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