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Eagles Become Favorites to Win NFC East After Beating Giants

Eric Rosales

by Eric Rosales in NFL Football

Updated Mar 8, 2021 · 11:16 AM PST

Carson Wentz of the Eagles
Head coach Doug Pederson is the -215 odds-on favorite to be let go by the Philadelphia Eagles before GM Howie Roseman (+165) or quarterback Carson Wentz (+900). Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
  • With a win over the New York Giants to start Week 7, the Philadelphia Eagles jump into first in NFC East
  • Philly leapfrogs the Dallas Cowboys as betting favorite to win the division
  • Read below to see who we like to capture the NFC East

In a game they needed to have, the Philadelphia Eagles barely got past the New York Giants, staging a late rally to win 22-21.

Usually, a win that moves you to 2-4-1 on the year might start the wheels of belief in motion, that you could turn things around.

In the Titanic division that is the NFC East, that just vaulted the Eagles to first place and the betting favorite to win the division.

No, really.

NFC East Odds

Team Odds
Philadelphia Eagles +110
Dallas Cowboys +120
Washington Redskins +900
New York Giants +1300

Odds from DraftKings on October 22

Just two days ago, they were staring up at the Dallas Cowboys, who were -105 favorites to take the East in the NFL Divisional odds, with Philly sitting back at +140. Is this a position they can hold on to, and a wager for you worth making?

Wentz Guts Out Win

Not sure how you’re supposed to characterize Carson Wentz’s performance Thursday Night. On the one hand, after leading the Eagles on their first TD drive, he had maddening moments of inconsistent play for two and a half quarters. If he wasn’t throwing an interception, he was overthrowing guys, or hanging in the pocket too long to take sacks and just generally out of sync.

Philadelphia was moving the ball up and down the field, but dying in the red zone — they had five trips there and came away with just 10 points. It enabled the G-Men to build up a 21-10 lead with under five minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

And that’s when Wentz reminded everyone why the Eagles have invested everything in him. He led two brilliant 70+ yard drives, picking apart the Giants’ defense. His two TD passes pushed them to a come-from-behind win, the second week in a row he’s been on fire in the fourth quarter.

When it was all said and done, Wentz finished 25-for-43 for 359 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception.

Eagles Can Create Separation

The schedule makers have given some relief for the Eagles, though as they showed Thursday, anything is possible (in a bad way).

They get the beleaguered Dallas Cowboys in Week 8, a first-place divisional showdown between two teams with four wins combined.  Consider the Cleveland Browns are at 4-2, and sit third in the division from hell that is the AFC North.

At least Wentz has shown he’s a gamer. This win over the Giants, and continuously battling in consecutive beatdowns to the Steelers and Ravens has got to have the organization feeling good. While the wins aren’t there right now, their franchise pivot is giving them a chance. Amidst the injury chaos (add Lane Johnson and DeSean Jackson — who just returned from injury! — to the list), he’s doing the best with what he’s got.

That’s hard to say for the Cowboys, who looked lost in Andy Dalton’s first start in place of the injured Dak Prescott. With their offensive line now mortal and their defense porous, there’s just little to believe that Dallas can re-establish a stellar run game with Zeke Elliott or have Dalton carry them for stretches.

If Philly can beat Dallas, it’s a return date with the Giants following their bye, before battling those Browns. Philadelphia has the chance to get to 5-4-1 and take control of the division.

What’s the Best Bet?

Still, I have trouble trusting the Eagles. Consider: the Giants were up 11 and five minutes away from being the hottest team in the NFC East, and would have shot to second in the division with a win Thursday. Also, who lets Daniel Jones do this?

The Eagles better make hay these next three, because after Cleveland (who, while formidable, is beatable), Philly gets Seattle, Green Bay, New Orleans and Arizona. Dallas still has the Ravens and Steelers on their slate, but they also have five  games against teams with just one win on the year right now (Washington x2, Giants, Bengals and Vikings).

There’s no good choices here. Stay away. But if you must, I guess … go Eagles?

The pick: Philadelphia (+110)

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