NFL Picks Week 11: Redskins vs Eagles ATS, Predictions, & the Facts

The Eagles are 4.5 point favorites at home where they haven’t won in over a year.

By: MaChez, TSZ Expert

I know you all were dying to hear about the Raiders and Texans matchup, but with Terrell Pryor ruled out late yesterday, we’re stuck taking the Eagles/Redskins rematch of Week 1 MNF as the TSZEGOTW.   It’s not that bad, though – featured in the game we have last year’s face of the NFL, RGIII, facing off against this month’s face of the NFL, Nick Foles.  If this game is anything like these teams’ first meeting this year, it should be a good one.

The Spread

Based on the last few weeks, the Eagles are by far a better team than the Redskins, but fortunately for Washington they’re playing the Eagles in Philly where they haven’t won since last September.   Vegas seems to think it’s finally time for the Eagles to end that curse and has them favored by 4.5 with the total sitting at 53.

Philadelphia Eagles

With Mike Vick unable to separate himself from his bad habit of getting injured, Nick Foles is pulling his best Mike Vick and trying to capitalize on an opportunity afforded to him due to injury.  Over the past two weeks, Foles has been the hottest QB in the league with Kurt Warner even saying he was the best in the league during Thursday Night’s broadcast.  In games against the Raiders and Packers, Foles and the Eagles receivers have connected for ten TDs while setting it up nicely for RB LeSean McCoy to run wild.  Despite Foles not being a mobile QB, things are clicking for Chip Kelly’s offense.

On defense, the Ealges have also improved significantly in recent weeks.  In the second half of the season, the Eagles have yet to allow more than 20 points, but they have benefited from QBs like Scott Tolzien, Terrell Pryor, Eli Manning, and Mike Glennon during that time.  If they can limit RGIII again like they did in the first half of Week 1, the Eagles will find themselves in sole possession of first place in the NFC East.

Washington Redskins

The Redskins once again find themselves at 3-6 and can’t stop remembering last year when they won seven straight to reach the playoffs.  Someone needs to remind them that the NFL isn’t very poetic.  Although the fact that they’ve done if before is probably somewhat reassuring, the Redskins didn’t get to 3-6 with good play.  We all know RGIII started the year off with a thud and Washington’s D has been abysmal.  Luckily for them, with how bad the NFC East is this year, they may not need to win seven straight to return to the playoffs.

RGIII is playing more like himself recently and the emergence of TE Jordan Reed and RB Alfred Morris’ return to last year’s form are helping.  While McCoy is leading the league in rushing, Morris is leading the league in yards per carry so this should be a fun matchup.  The Redskins defense will have their hands full though and will need playmaker DeAngelo Hall to keep receivers Riley Cooper and DeSean Jackson in check.

Prediction

With some of the top RBs, top passing attacks, and softest D’s in the league, this game on paper looks like it should be an exciting one.  In reality, I think it’s going to be a little different, though.  With their recent string of success, the Eagles will come up fired up to get their first win at home against a Redskins team that has only held a team to under 24 points once this year.  This should be an easy win and cover for the Eagles, but the total will stay UNDER.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-4.5) over Washington Redskins
UNDER 53