The Philadelphia Eagles suffered an embarrassing loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. However, the 5-7 Eagles are still within a game for first place in the NFC East.
With four games to play, that means the playoffs are still a possibility and next week’s Monday Night Football game against the New York Giants has become a marquee matchup and a must-win for Philadelphia.
The 6-6 NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day loss to the Buffalo Bills meant the Eagles could tie things up at the top of the division with a win over the woeful Dolphins Sunday.
Instead, Philadelphia laid an egg at Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida. They blew a 10-0 and 28-14 lead en route to a 37-31 loss to a now 3-9 team most thought was tanking this season.
However, the Eagles division title hopes did not die with this week’s punt in Miami.
Facing the 2-10 Giants twice, the 3-9 Washington Redskins and the Cowboys in Philadelphia means the Eagles have the potentially easier schedule to close things out. The Cowboys also get Washington, but they must face the 6-6 Chicago Bears and 7-5 Los Angeles Rams before the season is said and done.
The Eagles have not yet been mathematically eliminated from one of the two NFC Wild Card Playoff spots up for grabs. But with the 9-2 Seattle Seahawks, 8-3 Minnesota Vikings, the Bears, Rams, and 5-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of Philadelphia in the Wild Card race, winning the NFC East title remains the team’s best possibility of getting in the postseason.
That makes beating the Giants next Monday night in Philadelphia is a must.
Eagles vs. Giants opening lines
Considering both team’s records, and the recent history of this bitter NFC East rivalry, most NJ sportsbooks have opened the Eagles versus Giants’ betting markets with Philadelphia as heavy favorites.
Here’s a look at the opening Eagles versus Giants lines at DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook and William Hill (Caesars NJ Sportsbook):
Giants vs. Eagles | DraftKings | FanDuel | William Hill |
---|---|---|---|
Spread | PHI -8 NYG +8 |
PHI -8.5 NYG +8.5 |
PHI -8 NYG +8 |
Over/Under | 47 | 47 | 47 |
Moneyline | PHI -335 NYG +265 | PHI -440 NYG +350 | PHI -380 NJG +300 |
Eagles vs. Giants history
The Eagles versus Giants matchup is one of the most hotly contested in NFL history. There have been 174 games between these two NFC East rivals. The two teams stand knotted up at 86 wins, each with two ties.
However, the Eagles have dominated the matchup over the past five years. In fact, the Eagles have won five in a row and nine out of the past 10.
Last season, the Eagles pummeled the Giants 34-14 in New York in October. The convincing win came behind Eagles QB Carson Wentz‘s 278 passing yards and three TDs.
Then, Philadelphia won 25-22 on a Jake Elliott 43-yard, last-minute field goal in Philadelphia in late November.
Will these recent trends continue? Can the Eagles put the embarrassment in Miami behind them and stay in contention for the NFC East lead?
Bet on the game now at NJ sportsbooks and find out Monday, Dec. 9, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Kickoff is at 8:15 pm EST. ESPN will provide national television coverage.