It’s a rematch of the last Super Bowl in name only. Most of the players who made that a memorable contest will play very little if at all when the Philadelphia Eagles visit the New England Patriots in Week 2 of the preseason. Philly is being cautious with its quarterbacks having sat Carson Wentz and Nick Foles last week. Tom Brady has played sparingly in the preseason over the past several years, but could see his first action if his back is feeling better. And he’d love to get another crack at the Eagles, who dominated last February.
This duel in Week 2 of the preseason will go down Thursday, August 16, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Philadelphia Eagles +3
New England Patriots -3
Over/Under 42.5
Odds Analysis
The Patriots used a second-half comeback against the Redskins with a late touchdown securing a cover win. They gave the standard field goal for home field advantage in their Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles, opening as a 3-point favorite. No Week 1 game had a total above 40, but this one opened at 42.5 after both teams cashed the over last week.
Players to Watch
The situation will be resolved once the regular season gets underway, but in the meantime the Eagles need a quarterback to get them through the exhibition games. Wentz is still recovering from offseason knee surgery and didn’t play in the opener. We’ll likely see him in Week 3 if he’s able to go.
Foles experienced some neck and shoulder discomfort leading up to last week’s game and was also held out for precautionary reasons. Foles had the marvelous postseason run to lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl, where he earned MVP honors in the win over the Pats in February. Foles has a better chance than Wentz of playing on Thursday, but he’ll get only a few snaps if he does play.
Second-year player Nate Sudfeld got the start last week and will get plenty of snaps on Thursday. He completed 10 of 14 passes for 140 yards with two touchdowns and two picks against the Steelers. The Eagles are high on Sudfeld, who served as Foles’ backup after Wentz went down with a knee injury late last season. He’ll be the team’s third quarterback and an insurance policy if Wentz or Foles get hurt.
The Eagles also added a camp arm this week by signing former New York Jet Christian Hackenberg. According to the team the move is not related to the health of Wentz and Foles, rather it bolsters the depth of the roster. A former second-round pick by the Jets, Hackenberg has yet to throw a regular season NFL pass. It’s unknown if Hackenberg will digest enough of the playbook to see action on Thursday, leaving Joe Callahan to pick up the scraps.
Position Battle
The Eagles got plenty of mileage out of their tight ends last season and the position plays a big role in the success of the offense. Zach Ertz is one of the best at the spot but they are looking for bodies behind him after the Eagles parted ways with Trey Burton and Brent Celek. Ertz led the team with 74 receptions last season while Burton and Celek combined for 36 catches and six touchdowns.
Rookie Dallas Goedert looked the part last week, catching four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers. The second-round pick from South Dakota State is having a strong camp and has an edge over veteran Richard Rodgers, Joshua Perkins and Billy Brown for the role.
Free ATS Pick
One thing we learned from last week is that the Patriots are regretting their decision to trade Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett. Getting the start last week, Brady’s backup Brian Hoyer struggled against Washington’s starters, but he rallied the team in the second-half for a comeback victory.
There’s a chance we could see Brady this week for a series or two and Hoyer will get plenty of reps. Danny Etling didn’t get in last week’s game until midway through the fourth quarter, and given Belichick’s reluctance with rookie QB’s it’s doubtful he sees much more time on Thursday. It’s only a preseason game, but the Pats are looking for some revenge after getting smoked in the Super Bowl. This is their only chance this year and they will make the most of it.
NFL Odds: Patriots 26, Eagles 21
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