How many wins are the Philadelphia Eagles good for this year?
As the Eagles start training at their South Philadelphia complex, hope springs eternal to run the table, or at least enough wins to make the playoffs. Of course, that’s the feeling at camps across the NFL, but the Eagles and their fans are really feeling good about the team’s chances for 2019.
And why not? The Eagles head into camp with franchise quarterback Carson Wentz healthy and under no restrictions. The team bolstered its running back attack with the addition of veteran Jordan Howard in a trade with Chicago and added Miles Sanders with a second-round draft pick.
The Eagles also added to its deep receiver corps with the re-acquisition of DeSean Jackson to add to a rotation that features Alshon Jeffrey, Nelson Algohor and tight end Zach Ertz.
Eagles total: 10.5 wins
As offseasons go, the Eagles got better across the board headed into the 2019 season. As a result, oddsmakers have listed them at 10.5 wins for the season.
That 10.5 wins could be easy money with the Eagles considering the competition in a weak NFC East. In the division, only the Dallas Cowboys are given a chance to turn in a winning season by the oddsmakers with an over/under of 9 wins. Washington, at 6.5, and the New York Giants, at 6, round out the division.
Certainly the Eagles could eclipse 10.5 wins with four seemingly easy wins in the division against Washington and New York. Add another victory against Dallas if the teams split in 2019.
The rest of the Eagles schedule
That leaves six wins to get the over against the likes of:
- Atlanta
- Detroit
- Green Bay
- New York Jets
- Buffalo
- Minnesota
- Chicago
- New England
- Seattle
- Miami
Of those teams, Buffalo, Detroit, Miami and the New York Jets are slated for losing seasons by the oddsmakers. If those games can be counted on as wins for the Eagles, that brings the season total to nine wins.
That leaves just two wins against Atlanta, Green Bay, Minnesota, Chicago, New England and Seattle. Of those six games, three are at Lincoln Financial Field, where the Eagles are 14-4 over the last two seasons, including two playoffs victories over Minnesota and Atlanta. Let’s call it a split in those six games.
The math says: Bet the over
By that math, the over on 10.5 wins for the Eagles appears to be a solid bet. However, parity is the rule in the NFL and injuries are always lurking just below the surface.
Still, with Carson Wentz returning with a full bill of health and something to prove, the smart money is on the Eagles.
