NFL Preseason: Eagles vs Patriots Odds & Analysis 

The Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots face off on Thursday night in NFL preseason action, with both teams expected to take a cautious approach by resting many of their starters.

This preseason matchup may not showcase the full firepower of either team, leading to expectations of a low-scoring game.

Game Information

• Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
• Date: Thursday, August 15, 2024
• Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: NFL Network

Prediction and Analysis

Low Expectations on Offense

Neither team is expected to deploy their top offensive units, leading to concerns about the overall quality of play, particularly at the quarterback position. The total points line has risen to 35.5, but with the anticipated poor quarterback play, betting on the Under could be prudent.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are likely to see significant playing time for quarterbacks Tanner McKee and Will Grier. With Jalen Hurts unlikely to take the field during the preseason, the Eagles’ offense may struggle to generate much momentum. Last week, McKee only completed 6 of 16 attempts, and Grier didn’t play at all, making it difficult to expect big numbers from this duo.

Kenny Pickett, who had a strong performance against the Ravens, is expected to sit out this week, which has shifted the betting line in favor of the Patriots. This further emphasizes the potential for a low-scoring game, as neither McKee nor Grier has shown the ability to exploit opposing defenses consistently.

New England Patriots

On the Patriots’ side, Bailey Zappe took most of the snaps in the opener, completing 12 of 20 passes for 108 yards without a touchdown.

Joe Milton III, who had limited action, managed to throw the only touchdown pass for the Patriots, going 4-for-6 for 54 yards. Jacoby Brissett saw very little action and is expected to be held out this week, paving the way for more playing time for Drake Maye. Maye’s limited preseason experience last week (2-for-3 for 19 yards) further supports the expectation of a low-scoring affair.

Defensive Matchup

Both the Eagles and Patriots have solid defenses, which are likely to stymie the unproven quarterbacks expected to see the majority of the playing time. With these factors in play, the Under 35.5 points appears to be a strong bet, as the game is likely to be dominated by defensive efforts rather than offensive fireworks.

Odds and Betting Trends

Opening Odds at BetOnline

• Spread: Philadelphia -3 | New England +3
• Moneyline: Philadelphia -155 | New England +130
• Over/Under: 33.5 (now 35.5)

With both teams likely to rest many of their key players and focus on evaluating depth, the game between the Eagles and Patriots is expected to be a low-scoring affair.

The defensive capabilities of both teams combined with the unproven quarterbacks on the field suggest that betting on the Under 35.5 is a prudent choice. As preseason games often feature conservative play-calling and a focus on avoiding injuries, don’t expect fireworks in this Thursday night matchup.

2-5 Record for Eagles’ Sirianni

The Eagles’ victory over the Ravens last week was only the second preseason win for head coach Nick Sirianni, who now has a 2-6 record in exhibition games. This trend further highlights the challenges the Eagles may face in securing a win, especially with a less-than-full-strength lineup.