The injury to Nick Foles must have given Philadelphia Eagles fits, especially at this point of the season. Enter Mark Sanchez, who easily erased all the team’s worries when he spearheaded the Eagles’ demolition job of the Carolina Panthers in Week 10. Demolishing the Green Bay Packers, however, is a much different thing, and if Sanchez could lead the Eagles to a win in Lambeau Field, then he’ll return home in Week 11 a hero. That’s a big if, though, as the Packers have Aaron Rodgers, who has been playing out of his mind lately.
Looking for more Week 10 game previews? You can check out our complete breakdown of Steelers vs. Titans here and of Vikings vs. Bears here.
[sc:Football ]Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay
When: Sunday, November 16, 4:25 PM ET
Line: Philadelphia Eagles (+5) at Green Bay Packers (-5); total: 56.0 – see all NFL lines
Betting on the Philadelphia Eagles
If the Dallas Cowboys were all smiles upon learning that Mark Sanchez will take over Nick Foles’ starting job, well, they aren’t now. With Sanchez under center, the Eagles didn’t lose a single beat and thoroughly manhandled the Carolina Panthers for a 45-21 win Monday to regain the solo lead in the NFC North.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Sanchez passed for 332 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions to power the Eagles’ offense that was simply too much for Carolina’s defense. Both of Sanchez’ s touchdown passes were hauled down by Jordan Matthews, who also registered his first career 100-yard receiving game with 138. Tight end Brent Celek also recorded a season-high 116 yards. He only had 90 receiving yards in the previous eight games.
The top two Eagles receivers in Jeremy Maclin and Zach Ertz only had 55 yards receiving yards between them, but they’re certainly going to be back in the mix when Philly faces the Packers’ passing defense that gives up only 229.1 yards per game.
The Eagles defense, however, deserves a special mention, if not a badge from the Department of Defense, for the awesome job it did against Carolina. Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was sacked nine times by the Eagles with Connor Barwin leading the way with 3.5 sacks, followed by Brandon Graham, who had 1.5. That should serve as a strong message to Aaron Rodgers’ protection unit. Rodgers was sacked eight times over the Packers’ last four games.
The Eagles are 3-1 ATS in their last four road games.
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Betting on the Green Bay Packers
The Packers, particularly Aaron Rodgers, played last Sunday as if the Chicago Bears stole something from them, as the quarterback threw for 315 yards and six touchdowns – all in the first half – to guide the Packers to a 55-14 annihilation of their struggling rivals.
Green Bay’s offense was simply untouchable in that game. DuJuan Harris, who never sniffed 10 rushing yards this season prior to the game, ran for 52 yards, while top running back Eddie Lacy registered 50 rushing yards.
But with Rodgers playing like he’s desperate to have an award named after him, it was easily Green Bay’s passing game that shined the most. Jordy Nelson had 152 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while Randall Cobb had 72 and a touchdown. Even Lacy had a field day down the field, as he caught three passes for 68 yards to go along with an end-zone score.
Philadelphia’s pass defense has been good over its last three games (226.3 yards allowed), but in all fairness to the Eagles defense, Rodgers is of a higher breed right now than Carson Palmer, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Cam Newton – the three quarterbacks the Eagles last faced. Rodgers has averaged 329.33 passing yards per game with 10 touchdowns in Green Bay’s last three games.
On defense, the Packers will look to sustain their success in defending against the rush. They found a fix in their faulty rushing defense by putting outside linebacker Clay Matthews inside the defense versus the Bears. Matthews then rewarded the team by recording 11 tackles (nine solo), thus helping the team limit the Bears to just 55 rushing yards.
Expect the same alignment from the Packers next Sunday against the Eagles, who are ranked eighth in the league with 124.5 rushing yards per game.
The Packers are 4-0 SU and ATS in their last four home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Green Bay (-5) wins, 38-23.
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