Eagles vs. Commanders predictions: Rounding up expert picks for the Week 8 matchup on ‘Sunday Night Football’
Two reeling teams collide on 'Sunday Night Football." Here's how the experts think it'll shake out.
Two reeling teams in the Eagles and Washington Commanders will battle it out on Sunday Night Football. Both will be hoping to stop some bleeding and come out with a win, despite multiple key injuries.
The Eagles are looking for their first win since Sept. 20, while the Commanders are vying for their first since Sept. 27. They have a slight advantage, as they’re coming off a bye, and are favorites at home.
The Birds, meanwhile, are headed to Washington on a short week after a disastrous defensive showing against the Cowboys last Monday night.
Here’s who the media is picking to win in prime time:
Inquirer predictions
Although the Eagles have lost five straight, two of The Inquirer’s three beat writers have some confidence in the Birds, mostly because they’re playing one of the worst teams in the NFL.
Jeff Neiburg, who is thrilled he doesn’t have to watch this primetime matchup between 2-5 and 1-4-1 teams because he’s on assignment in Rome for Villanova basketball, has the Eagles winning, 20-16.
But the Eagles weren’t the unanimous choice. Olivia Reiner has the Commanders winning in a relatively high-scoring affair, citing the quarterback discrepancy as one reason why Washington could pull this one out.
Read The Inquirer writers’ full predictions here.
National media predictions
NFL.com: All five panelists are backing the Commanders, with senior editor Dan Parr writing that “Dan Quinn should have ample time to get his players ready to kick a division rival when it’s down” following the bye week.
ESPN.com: Out of 11 panelists, only Seth Wickersham picked the Eagles.
The Athletic: No one here has faith in the Birds, as all seven writers picked the Commanders.
CBS Sports: Two writers took the Eagles against the spread — Jared Dubin and Jamey Eisenberg.
USA Today: Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz was the only panelist to pick the Eagles, predicting a 23-16 win for them on the road. “The severely shorthanded Eagles offense finally showed signs of life against the Cowboys, though the once-reliable defense suffered perhaps its worst performance of the Vic Fangio era. Expect a bounce-back outing against a Washington team short on weapons,” Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote.
Sports Illustrated: Two of eight pickers have the Birds pulling off the upset.
Bleacher Report: This group is a bit more split, with three backing the Commanders and four on the Eagles against the spread. Brad Gagnon wrote, “Let’s not overrate a Washington team that has one victory all season and hasn’t won a home game by more than a field goal since last September.”
Pro Football Talk: Mike Florio is taking the Commanders, 24-21, writing that “If the Commanders can’t win this one, they may not win another game all year.”
Sporting News: Bill Bender has the Commanders winning, 23-18.
Local media predictions
Philly Voice: All four writers picked the Commanders.
Bleeding Green Nation: Ben Natan is the only one behind the Eagles.
When Jalen Carter is at his game-wrecking best, he’s as unstoppable a force as there is in the NFL. Such was the case during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run two years ago. But since then, between injuries and uneven play, the defensive tackle’s contributions have been inconsistent. On the heels of general manager Howie Roseman signing Carter to a historic contract, The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane looks at the costs of the extension — both in terms of dollars and cents, as well as roster construction. Plus, Jeff advances storylines for the Nov. 10th NFL trade deadline, and, in his weekly mailbag, addresses some reporting about the Eagles’ salary cap situation. Listen here.
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