Philadelphia (6-7) at LA Rams (11-2)
When: Sunday, December 16th 2018
Where: L.A. Memorial Coliseum,
Los Angeles, California
Time: 8:20 ET | TV: NBC
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -8/52
Carson Wentz just can’t seem to catch a break. The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback missed out on the playoffs last year after he tore his ACL and LCL during a game against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 10, 2017 and is now nursing a fractured vertebrae that has his availability in question for not only Sunday night’s game but the remainder of the season. Nick Foles stepped in for Wentz and took home Super Bowl Most Valuable Player honors after Philadelphia took the underdog roll all the way to the championship. Foles started the first two games of this season while Wentz was recovering but threw for one touchdown and one interception. The Eagles season may have ended last week with a key loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Philadelphia has an outside shot at a wild card, but will come into this Sunday night contest as 13-point underdogs. Los Angeles quarterbacks Jared Goff answered a 413-yard, four-touchdown performance in a 54-51 win versus Kansas City with a pair of clunkers in the next two games including a career-high four-interception effort in a 15-6 loss at Chicago on Sunday. The Rams are tied with New Orleans for homefield advantage in the NFC Playoffs, but would need to finish ahead of the Saints after losing to them 45-35 on November 4th. The Eagles, who have lost three of their last five overall, have won five in a row and 12 of 14 versus the Rams.
Foles will try and summon the magic from his brilliant run last year and still has plenty of offensive weapons, most notably, tight end Zach Ertz. Philadelphia’s passing attack primarily goes through Ertz, who ranks third in the NFL with 98 receptions and third among tight ends with 1,016 receiving yards. Foles made some huge plays in last year’s Super Bowl run with wideout Alshon Jeffery, who is looking to get back on track after recording 50 yards receiving last week against Dallas – his highest output since Oct. 21. The Eagles were doing a good job of mixing in the running game by giving Josh Adams a pair of 20-carry performances, but used him just seven times last week. Adams will look to exploit a Rams defense that allows 124.2 rushing yards per game.
Goff should be able to bounce back from the loss in Chicago with a huge day against a Philadelphia secondary that is not only injury-ravaged, but has allowed an NFL third-worst 277.4 passing yards per game. The Rams would be in line to clinch a first-round bye should they win on Sunday and the Bears lose to Green Bay. Los Angeles and Goff would love to get the running game back on track with superstar Todd Gurley, who has an NFL-best 19 touchdowns (15 rushing, four receiving). Gurley recorded season lows in rushing attempts (11), rushing yards (28), touches (14) and scrimmage yards (58) versus the stout Chicago defense. Gurley totaled 135 yards (96 rushing, 39 receiving) and a pair of touchdowns in the Rams’ 43-35 loss to the Eagles last season.
On paper, this game has blowout written all over it, but the Rams have not been covering spreads lately, especially as favorites. They have covered just two of the past 10 games overall and have been favored in each one. I think Foles can summon some of his magic from last year and at least keep this within two scores.
Pick: Eagles +13
Betting Trends:
- Eagles are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Eagles are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Eagles are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games on grass.
- Eagles are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in December.
- Eagles are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Eagles are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 15.
- Eagles are 1-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Eagles are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. NFC.
- Eagles are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Rams are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Rams are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Rams are 22-47 ATS in their last 69 games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Rams are 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 games in Week 15.
- Rams are 16-40-2 ATS in their last 58 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Rams are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games in December.
- Rams are 3-9-2 ATS in their last 14 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Rams are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
- Rams are 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Rams are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Rams are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC.
- Rams are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 home games.
- Rams are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games on grass.
- Over is 6-0 in Eagles last 6 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Eagles last 4 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 8-0 in Eagles last 8 games in Week 15.
- Under is 6-1 in Eagles last 7 games following a straight up loss.
- Under is 5-1 in Eagles last 6 games on grass.
- Over is 4-1 in Eagles last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 21-6 in Eagles last 27 road games.
- Under is 6-2 in Eagles last 8 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 13-5 in Eagles last 18 games in December.
- Under is 5-2 in Eagles last 7 games overall.
- Over is 38-17 in Eagles last 55 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 7-1 in Rams last 8 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Rams last 6 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Rams last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 4-1 in Rams last 5 games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Rams last 5 home games.
- Over is 6-2 in Rams last 8 games in December.
- Under is 11-4 in Rams last 15 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Under is 10-4-1 in Rams last 15 games in Week 15.
- Over is 5-2 in Rams last 7 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 12-5 in Rams last 17 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 7-3 in Rams last 10 games following a straight up loss.
- Under is 13-6 in Rams last 19 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Eagles are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 meetings.
- Eagles are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Los Angeles.
