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Eagles, Packers collide in key NFC matchup on Sunday
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 11/16/2014  at  5:35:00 AM
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PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (7-2)
at GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-3)

Kickoff: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
Line: Green Bay -6, Total: 54.5

Two of the NFC’s top teams clash on Sunday when the Eagles visit the Packers. Green Bay is 5-1 (SU and ATS) in its past six games, while Philadelphia is 4-1 (SU and ATS) in its past five contests.

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook betting preview for this matchup:

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers threw for six touchdowns in the first half of a 55-14 win over the Bears on Sunday night, and will now lead his team into a matchup with the Eagles, who are a bottom-10 team when defending the pass. However, Philadelphia is coming off of a dominant 45-21 victory over the Panthers where it forced five Carolina turnovers. Last season, the Eagles beat Green Bay 27-13 as 1.5-point road favorites. Rodgers was injured that game, which left Seneca Wallace and Scott Tolzien as the only quarterbacks on the Packers roster. Green Bay is 5-3 SU, but 3-5 ATS, when hosting the Eagles since 1992. Twelve of the 16 games played between these teams in that time have gone Under the total. The Eagles are 5-2 ATS this season when playing on a grass field and 4-1 ATS after having winning two of their previous three games. Green Bay, meanwhile, is 25-12 ATS after gaining 7+ yards per play in its previous game since 1992. The injury list is pretty small for both teams with the only recent injuries being Philly G Todd Herremans (bicep) and LB DeMeco Ryans (Achilles) both landing on IR early this week, while the only new Packers injury is to seldom-used WR Kevin Dorsey (foot), who is considered questionable.

Can the Packers win comfortably on Sunday versus a hot Eagles squad? For the answer, connect to NFL Best Bets for all the StatFox Experts picks throughout the 2014 regular season and playoffs. The experts have remained hot over the past eight weeks, combining for a 58% ATS mark (72-52). StatFox Scott is 69% ATS (22-10) in Best Bets during this timeframe, and 63% ATS (25-15) on the season. StatFox Dave is 60% ATS (21-14) in Best Bets during these eight weeks to improve to 56% ATS (25-20) on the season, while StatFox Brian has gone 54% ATS (15-13) in NFL Best Bets since Week 3, and continues to roll in NFL Totals with a stellar 70% record (21-9) for the season. StatFox Gary is coming off a perfect 4-0 ATS mark in his Week 10 Best Bets.

Philadelphia is coming off an excellent performance in all facets against the Panthers, winning 45-21. The Eagles defense forced five turnovers in the game, while allowing just 317 total yards. They’ll need to at least somewhat slow down Aaron Rodgers and company if they’re going to win this game. In the Week 10 win over Carolina, QB Mark Sanchez (534 pass yards, 4 TD, 2 INT) played very well in his first game as the Eagles’ starter filling in for injured QB Nick Foles (collarbone). Sanchez was 20-of-37 with 332 yards and two touchdowns, and showed some instant chemistry with rookie WR Jordan Matthews (39 rec, 451 yards, 5 TD) who caught seven passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Sanchez will need to do a better job of getting top WR Jeremy Maclin (48 rec, 828 yards, 8 TD) involved. Maclin had 150+ receiving yards in the two games prior to Sanchez becoming the starter. RB LeSean McCoy (641 rush yards, 2 TD) rushed for just 19 yards in the win over Carolina, but did find the end zone in garbage time. He also ran all over the Packers in last year's meeting with 155 yards on 25 carries (6.2 YPC). The Eagles will likely go back to featuring McCoy heavily against a Packers defense that is allowing 142.6 rushing yards per game (30th in NFL).

Green Bay hosted the Bears on Sunday night and completely shredded its division rival for 451 total yards in a 55-14 blowout. QB Aaron Rodgers (2,407 pass yards, 25 TD, 3 INT) threw for 315 yards and six touchdowns in the game and did pretty much all of that in one half of action. Rodgers now gets to face an Eagles defense that is allowing 251.7 passing yards per game (22nd in NFL). WRs Jordy Nelson (56 rec, 889 yards, 8 TD) and Randall Cobb (44 rec, 650 yards, 10 TD) combined for 10 receptions, 224 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Bears. The two of them should be able to keep their momentum heading into a matchup with this porous Eagles secondary. One player who has really stepped his game up in recent weeks is RB Eddie Lacy (478 rush yards, 4 TD). After a disastrous start to the season, Lacy is now up to 4.0 yards per carry on the year. He was a force against the Bears, rushing for 50 yards while also catching three passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. He ran poorly in this meeting last year (73 yards on 24 carries, 3.0 YPC), but if Lacy can get himself going against this Philadelphia team, then the Packers will have plenty more room to throw the football.


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