Saints vs Eagles Picks, Odds & Preview
- The New Orleans Saints (10-2) , with injured Drew Brees still not quite ready to play, are 8-point favorites vs the Philadelphia Eagles (3-8-1) in Week 14 (Sunday 1pm ET)
- Sunday Betting Record: 5-8-0, -3.20 Units
- See the game odds, spread, total, plus a preview below
Future Hall of Famer Drew Brees is eligible to come off the injured reserve this week, but the New Orleans Saints aren’t feeling pressure to rush him back.
Taysom Hill is 3-0 as the Saints’ substitute quarterback, and he’s expected to receive his fourth start Sunday against the Eagles. There are three reasons why the Saints probably will start Hill: Giving Brees another week to heal from 11 fractured ribs is desirable, plus Hill has been impressive in his audition as Brees’ replacement when he retires. Finally, the Eagles are 3-8-1
The Saints are 8-point favorites because they have been a consistent force all season. Meanwhile, the Eagles have lost four in a row, while not scoring more than 17 points in any of those losses.
Saints vs Eagles Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints | -333 | -8 (-110) | O 43 (-110) |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +280 | +8 (-118) | U 43 (-110) |
Odds taken Dec. 12 from DraftKings
Hill Proves He’s Heir Apparent to Brees
The former Brigham Young quarterback has been impressive to the point that there is now wonder whether it makes sense for the Saints to create a new offensive strategy that works in Hill as a QB at times even when Brees is ready to go.
In the three weeks Hill as been the No. 1 quarterback, the Saints have run more than they have passed and they have led the NFL with a 200 yards-per-game average in those three weeks.
Brees is clearly the superior passer, but the 221-pound Hill presents different challenges for defenses. He’s a credible passer, (71.6% completion percentage) and is a strong runner. He’s not Lamar Jackson , but he has bulled his way to 176 yards rushing in three games with a 5.2 yards-per-carry average. Even when Brees is back as the starter, Coach Sean Payton may give Hill snaps at QB just to keep defenses guessing. When he’s not taking snaps, Hill will stay in the game as a hybrid runner/receiver.
QB Rating for all current NFC South QBs this season:
▪️ Taysom Hill: 97.2
▪️ Teddy Bridgewater: 96.3
▪️ Tom Brady: 95.1
▪️ Matt Ryan: 91.5 pic.twitter.com/VpGQ6IaibK— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) December 7, 2020
Eagles Officially Still in the Playoff Race
As poorly as the Eagles have performed this season, they still have a 6% chance of making the playoffs.
The Eagles’ struggles have prompted them to switch quarterbacks, benching Carson Wentz in favor of rookie Jalen Hurts. He was brought in last week against Green Bay and completed five of 12 passes for 109 yards. He also ran for 29 yards.
Hurts will have trouble against a Saints’ defense that keeps improving. Over the past five weeks, the Saints have given up only 41 points total.
Miles Sanders on Jalen Hurts
“His confidence is through the roof. His command of the huddle. I don’t really see any weaknesses. I’m excited to see him on the field, honestly”
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 11, 2020
Brees Likely to Play in Week 15
Brees has recovered from the 11 fractured ribs and a punctured lung, but he needs games to restore his timing before the playoffs. It seems as if the Saints and Brees have been pointing to a Week 15 return since his injury occurred.
Saints defensive tackle Malcom Brown (shoulder) and cornerback Patrick Robinson (hamstring) won’t play against the Eagles. Receiver Deonta Harris (neck) is questionable.
For the Eagles, offensive tackle Jon Peters (toe) has been ruled out for the season. Linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) will also be out against the Saints. Cornerback Michael Jacquet (hamstring) also is out
The #Saints are 10-2 despite the fact that Drew Brees and Michael Thomas have only played two full games together all year.
— Christopher Dunnells (@ChrisDunnells) December 8, 2020
Indicators Point to Saints Covering
This week against the Eagles it doesn’t matter whether Brees or Hill is the starting QB. In terms of scoring, the Saints rank fifth in the NFL offensively and defensively. They are 7-5 against the spread. The Eagles are 4-8 against the spread. The Saints are a better team top to bottom.
Pick: Saints -8 (-110)
Kevin Allen has covered most major events, including the Olympics, Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final. He covered the NHL for USA Today from 1986-2020, receiving the Lester Patrick Award in 2013 and was honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014 with the Elmer Ferguson Award.
