The second match of a busy Christmas Day in the NFL 2023 season is another divisional clash and one where the race for the NFC East title is very much in the spotlight when the Philadelphia Eagles host the New York Giants.
The Eagles saw their rivals Dallas Cowboys lose on Sunday which sent them to the top of the NFC East table without even playing. A win here would see them take a huge leap towards the title. New York Giants are just looking to play the role of party pooper.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles were absolutely flying three weeks ago. They were 10-1 for the season and were the favourites to go on and land the number one seed in the NFC and all the rewards that go with it. Then out of nowhere they have lost three on the spin and suddenly the Dallas Cowboys have matched their record and have the tiebreaker heading into this week. The Eagles suddenly have their destiny in their own hands and it will be interesting to see how they go with it.
The Eagles are double digit favourites in this match but having shipped 95 points in their three defeats recently they will know that they need to get their defence sorted out, not just to win this game but also to go on and look to go one better than they did last season and this time come out on top at the Super Bowl. Offensively they should be a match for anyone but even as good as their offense is it can’t do anything when the defence is struggling like it is.
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New York Giants
There is no getting away from the fact that this has been a disappointing season for the New York Giants, particularly when you consider that they went to the playoffs last term. They have never looked like replicating that this time around and while injuries certainly haven’t helped them, at one stage they were 2-8 for the year. To their credit they go to Philadelphia off the back of three wins in their last four, a three match winning run which was ended in New Orleans last week.
You can argue about what the Giants beat in those three matches. Washington, New England and Green Bay are all having weak seasons but when you went into that run 2-8 any win is acceptable. The Giants defence got the job done in those matches. They restricted those three sides to just 48 points in total but you would think their defence is going to come under pressure here. The big question will be whether the Giants’ offense can get at a Philly defence which has fallen apart in recent weeks.
Betting
Although they have lost three on the spin I am looking at this match and I am finding it hard to see anything but a Philadelphia Eagles win and a pretty comfortable one at that. The point spread tempted me but when it gets up towards the two touchdown line the back door cover is always in play with starters sitting out the fourth quarter and things like that so rather than take the Eagles I’ll side with them to win cosily another way.
That comes in the rushing yards of their number one back D’Andre Swift who has a rushing yards line of just 64.5 which feels low to me should the Eagles be managing the clock in the second half of the game as I expect. Swift averages bang on 64 yards per game but he is going up against a defence which regularly gives up 100+ rushing yards in games, indeed they have done it in nine of their 14 outings this season. This one is all about winning for the Eagles so when they get in front I think they’ll control the clock through their running backs which should see Swift getting more than enough carries to go beyond 64.5 yards.
Tips
Back D.Swift – Over 64.5 rushing yards for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Bet365
