NFL Week 13
Eagles (4-7) @ Seahawks (4-7) - Long road trip on short work week (Jets/49ers lost last two Thursdays doing same thing) for Philly team that actually plays better on road (3-2) than at Linc (1-5), but Iggles’ season pretty much died Sunday night. Philly is 3-6 as a favorite this year, 2-2 on road- they’re 5-2 in last seven visits here, winning last three 27-3/27-20/26-7 in series where road team won last six meetings. Seattle is 6-1-1 vs spread in last eight games as underdog; they’re +5 in turnovers last three games, starting 10 of 38 drives in enemy territory, compared to just 2 of 35 for opponents. NFC East favorites are 6-11-1 in non-divisional games, 3-2-1 on road; NFC West home underdogs are 3-6-1. Three of last four Seahawk games stayed under total.
Eagles at Seahawks
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Very few people would have thought that the Eagles and Seahawks would own identical 4-7 records heading into December. The two division winners from a year ago hook up at Qwest Field on Thursday trying to salvage some kind of dignity from a lost season, even though Philadelphia is the one who was expected to do big things.
Ridiculous expectations coupled with injuries and off-season signings that didn't work out equaled disaster for Andy Reid's club, who sits at the bottom of the NFC East alongside Washington. The Eagles will be without QB Michael Vick (ribs), WR Jeremy Maclin (shoulder), and CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (ankle) at Seattle, as all three players missed last Sunday's home blowout loss to the Patriots. New England destroyed Philadelphia as three-point road favorites, 38-20, while Tom Brady carved up the Eagles' defense for 361 yards passing and three touchdowns. Vince Young threw for 400 yards in the loss, as the Eagles squandered an early 10-0 lead in their fifth home setback of the season.
The Seahawks were listed as a favorite for the first time this season as they failed to hold on to a 17-7 advantage over the Redskins in a 23-17 home defeat last Sunday. Seattle entered the game on a 6-1-1 ATS run, but Pete Carroll's team allowed a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns, while halting a two-game winning streak.
The key for Seattle's success against the number this season is when the team is listed in the underdog role, which is the case on Thursday. The Seahawks are 6-3-1 ATS when receiving points, including a 3-1 ATS mark as a home underdog. Seattle has been cashing 'overs' at a nice rate at Qwest Field, hitting three of four 'overs' despite the fact the Seahawks average just 16 points per game. However, the Seahawks will be without WR Sidney Rice, who was placed on injured reserve after suffering a concussion in the Washington loss.
VegasInsider.com's Chris David gives his viewpoint from the total aspect, "The total on this game opened up at 44 ½ and it's since dropped to 43½ and 43 at most shops. I wouldn't be surprised to see the number go lower. The Eagles haven't seen a total lower than 43½ points all season, which tells you something right there. With Young at quarterback, and injuries abound, the Eagles' offense have put up 17 and 20 points the last two weeks."
David believes that Seattle's underrated defense is another reason to look at playing the 'under' on Thursday, "You can make a case that the Seahawks' defense is just as good if not better than Philadelphia's last two opponents, New York and New England. Seattle has watched the 'under' go 6-5 this season and 4-2 the last six weeks. During this span, the team has allowed 18.3 PPG and if you take out defensive scores, the number drops to 16 PPG."
Playing on the short week as David points out, also has seen the offenses taking a step back, "Bettors looking for another angle should make a note that the 'under' has gone 5-0 in the last five games played on Thursday this season, which includes a perfect 3-0 mark last week on Thanksgiving."
The last time these two teams met came in November 2008 in Seattle as the Eagles punished the Seahawks, 26-7 as seven-point favorites. Donovan McNabb torched the Seattle secondary for 349 yards and two touchdowns, while the Eagles held the ball for nearly 37 minutes. The road team has won and covered each of the last six meetings dating back to Seattle's days in the AFC in 1998.
The Eagles are listed as a favorite for the 10th time this season, going 3-6 ATS in the first nine games as 'chalk.' Philadelphia opened as a three-point favorite, but that number is quickly dropping to 2½ at most spots. The total is set at 43 across the board, while temperatures are set to be in the mid-40's. The game will be televised nationally on NFL Network and kicks off at 8:25 PM EST from Qwest Field.
Thursday Night Football: Eagles at Seahawks
By Covers.com
Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks (+3, 43.5)
THE STORY: Some dream, eh? The self-labeled "Dream Team" – otherwise known as the Philadelphia Eagles – will travel to the Pacific Northwest to continue their nightmare of a season on Thursday against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Despite widely different expectations after last season's playoff appearances, both clubs enter Thursday's prime-time contest with identical – and disappointing – 4-7 marks. After dropping three of its last four games, Philadelphia's rail-thin postseason hopes rest on running the table and receiving a riverboat gambler's share of luck in the process. To add injury to insult, QB Michael Vick (ribs) and WR Jeremy Maclin (shoulder, hamstring) are likely to miss their respective third straight games on Thursday. For its part, Seattle saw its modest two-game winning streak come to an end with a 23-17 home loss to the Washington Redskins.
LINE: The Eagles opened as field-goal favorites and the line has remained stable. The total opened at 44 and has dropped to 43.5.
ABOUT THE EAGLES (4-7, 4-7 ATS): Vince Young is credited/blamed for bestowing the team with an unneeded nickname in the preseason and saddling it with even loftier expectations. Young started his second straight game in place of Vick and threw for 400 yards in Philadelphia's lopsided 38-20 loss to the New England Patriots. LeSean McCoy, who is the league's leading rusher with 1,050 yards, received just 10 carries last weekend. McCoy will likely see a larger workload against the Seahawks, who do boast the league's 11th-ranked rush defense despite surrendering 108 yards to Roy Helu on Sunday.
ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (4-7, 6-4-1 ATS): QB Tarvaris Jackson isn't lighting up the scoreboard, having averaged just 182.5 yards in his last four contests. During that stretch, Jackson has three touchdowns and six interceptions. He'll likely be without WR Sidney Rice, who suffered his second concussion of the season on Sunday. RB Marshawn Lynch rushed 24 times for 111 yards on Sunday, but Seattle was unable to grind out the clock and watched a 10-point lead evaporate in a loss to the Redskins.
TRENDS:
* Favorite is 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings.
* Road team is 6-0 ATS in their last six meetings.
* Eagles are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games overall.
* Seahawks are 5-1 ATS in their last six vs. NFC.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Disgruntled Eagles WR DeSean Jackson was benched in the fourth quarter on Sunday after dropping three passes. Despite his season-long troubles, the two-time Pro Bowler will start on Thursday.
2. Seattle is ranked second in the NFL in total penalties (105). The Seahawks committed just 101 penalties all of last season.
3. Prized offseason acquisition CB Nnamdi Asomugha (hyperextended knee) is also a game-time decision for the ailing Eagles.
PREDICTION: Eagles 20, Seahawks 17. A short week away from its rabid fan base may actually serve Philadelphia well. McCoy will do just enough against a Seattle club which ups its intensity when playing in the Emerald City.
NFL Poolies Cheat Sheet: Week 13
By Colin Kelly
Covers.com
Philadelphia (-3) at Seattle
Why Eagles cover: It’s getting harder and harder to make a case for this nightmare of a Dream Team. But short weeks seem to work pretty well for Andy Reid & Co., with Philly cashing in its last four Thursday outings.
Why Seahawks cover: Before falling straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) at home Sunday to Washington, Seattle was on a 6-1-1 ATS spree. Philly (4-10 ATS last 14) will again be without QB Michael Vick (ribs), and the Eagles have less and less to play for with each passing week.
Total (43): The over is 9-2 in Eagles’ last nine on road and 4-0 in the Seahawks’ last four at home.