NFC East Week 2 Bettor’s Playbook: Eagles seeking 2-0 Start, Giants Preparing For Washington
How do you like this view? New Jersey online sports bettors relish the lofty perch for the Philadelphia Eagles before the NFC East kicks off Week 2 with Thursday’s clash between the New York Giants and Washington Football Team.
The Birds, who plastered the Atlanta Falcons 32-6 on Sunday, helped set the current standings:
- Philadelphia Eagles 1-0
- Dallas Cowboys 0-1
- Washington Football Team 0-1
- New York Giants 0-1
The loser between the Giants and host Washington Thursday will trail the Eagles by 1.5 games.
When the Cowboys visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, they seek to overcome an 0-1 hole, as expected. What wasn’t expected is that they would take the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the final play before losing in heartbreaking fashion, 31-29.
But there was no heartbreak in Philadelphia. New Jersey bettors and Eagles fans had already written that one down as a Cowboys loss.
And when the Birds host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, they will take the field as the division leaders.
Here are some betting angles and takeaways from Week 1, along with a look at the NFC East teams.
First, here is a look at the opening lines as of late Sunday night.
Washington was -4.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook and BetMGM, -4 at Caesars Sportsbook.
Dallas was +3 at Caesars, +2.5 at DraftKings, and BetMGM.
The Eagles were +3 across the board.
Breaking down Thursday Night Football odds
The Giants enter with a five-game win streak versus Washington and perhaps a favorable opening line.
Big Blue leads the overall series 105-69-4 and has been 15-7 in the last 22 meetings.
But Sunday’s opening 27-13 loss to the Denver Broncos was ugly.
How familiar did this pattern look?
After leading 10-7, the Giants surrendered the go-ahead touchdown with eight seconds left in the first half.
Denver got the second-half kickoff and went 75 yards in 16 plays for an insurance score. The drive chewed up 8:12, more than half the third quarter. When the Broncos were on the Giants’ four-yard-line, on fourth down, the Giants missed both a sack and a tackle that would have denied the touchdown.
Coach Joe Judge also had a brain freeze. He threw the challenge flag after the touchdown, forgetting that all scoring plays are automatically reviewed. That cost the Giants a timeout.
And when quarterback Daniel Jones was leading the Giants back down the field, deep in Denver territory, he fumbled to end a 10-play drive. After that, the Giants could not get off the field on defense. With the field goal no longer useful, Jones then missed four opportunities near the goal and Big Blue imploded.
Washington looked better in its loss than the Giants did in theirs, but Thursday is another game.
Here are some betting props to consider, when they’re posted by the sportsbooks:
- Jones turnovers,
- Jones to rush for a touchdown
- Receivers Kenny Golladay and Sterling Shepard to score TDs
Jones liked both of them Sunday.
Washington Football Team: Is the (Fitz) Magic gone this week?
Washington is already on its second quarterback. However, second-string passer Taylor Heinicke had his baptism by fire with a 306-yard effort in his team’s 31-23 playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.
Heinicke was 11-for-15 Sunday in relief of starter Ryan Fitzpatrick, dubbed Fitz-Magic several years ago. Fitzpatrick suffered a second-quarter hip injury in the team’s 20-16 defeat.
Bettors who like Fitz-Magic may see a blessing in disguise with Heinicke. The team is comfortable with him.
Washington’s bigger problem may have been not taking a quarterback in the draft.
Betting considerations:
Wide receiver Terry McLaurin clicks well with Heinicke and has performed well against the Giants recently with three different quarterbacks. He’s fast and has good hands.
A turnover prop or one for the Washington defense to score might be considered. Washington has a good defense and Jones can’t stop making mistakes.
Eagle euphoria: gamblers had a hunch
OK, admit it. This was scary good.
And NJ sports bettors had an inkling. They took the Birds moneyline of +155 in bet percentages ranging from 79% to 89% across the major books, much of it with late wagering. This was more appealing than taking them at +3 and -110.
The team that suffered four sacks per game last year, worst in the NFL, allowed just one.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts was not only given excellent protection, but top draft pick DeVonta Smith helped him stretch the field with six receptions and a touchdown.
What about Week 2?
The Eagles play a Niners team that nearly coughed up a 28-point lead before holding off the Detroit Lions 41-33. The Niners’ personnel aren’t much different than when the Eagles defeated them last year, with the exception of Trey Lance at quarterback. The rookie QB is currently No. 2 on the depth chart behind return starter Jimmy Garoppolo.
So what are some of the Eagles odds and wagers to consider heading into Sunday’s game at the Linc?
Take a look at combined passing and rushing yards for Hurts. In Sunday’s win, he had 326 total yards (264 passing, 62 rushing).
Smith to score is another prop worth considering. We laid the numbers out there last week, that Smith was +190 to go in at +1200 to score the first touchdown at DraftKings. And many New Jersey bettors jumped all over that.
Dallas Cowboys and the Dak aerial attack
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, back from a season-ending injury suffered last year, shredded the Tampa Bay defense for more than 400 yards in the season opener. CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Amari Cooper are dangerous, and potent receivers.
On the flip side, Dallas’ Swiss-cheese defense was lit up by Tampa Bay but secured a couple of significant turnovers. This defense is improving, but still isn’t good and faces one of the league’s best gunslingers in Justin Herbert.
Take a look at passing yardage props for Prescott, especially in bets like 300 plus yards and a couple of scores.
The same applies for Herbert. He’s grown into one of the league’s top quarterbacks. You can easily see Herbert and Prescott combining for more than 600 passing yards, perhaps 700. The question is whether a bet lines up with that.
The books expect a shootout. The DraftKings board opened at 52 total points. Bettors may consider teasing that over-under down three or four points and parlaying with another bet they like.
Random NFL Week 2 odds
Here are some other NFL Week 2 odds from DraftKings.
Tampa Bay opened as the largest favorite, -12 against Atlanta.
The Sunday night game between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs opened as the highest total, 55.
After the Giants and Washington open the slate Thursday, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions close it on Monday Night. Green Bay is -10.5
AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
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