Minnesota (0-1) at Philadelphia (1-0)
When: Thursday, September 14th, 2023
Where: Lincoln Financial Field,
Philadelphia, PA
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: Prime
Opening Odds: Philadelphia -7.5/48.5
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Week 2 of the NFL season begins this Thursday night when the Philadelphia Eagles host the Minnesota Vikings from Lincoln Financial Field. Philly is a 7-point favorite as of Monday evening with a total of 48.5. The game opened at 7.5 but sharp bettors thought that was too high and took the Vikings immediately. It’s hard to back a Minnesota team that is coming off a home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as 4-point favorites. Three turnovers did the Vikings in and will need a much better effort this week if they don’t want to start 0-2.
The Eagles came out of the gates hot at New England last week, but the offense stalled in the second half. Still, they were able to fend off the Patriots 25-20. New England outgained Philadelphia by 131 yards, but the Eagles got three long field goals from Jake Elliott to get the season off to a winning start.
These two teams met in Week 2 a year ago on a Monday night in Philly. The Eagles trounced the Vikings 24-7. Jalen Hurts was 26-for-31 for 333 yards and a TD and rushed for two scores. The Eagles picked off Kirk Cousins three times and held Justin Jefferson to 48 yards on six catches and no scores. The Eagles are 6-2 ATS in their last eight Thursday games.
Many think the Vikings were lucky last year because they won a league-record 11 games by one score. Well, trends tend to even-out and Minnesota is already off to a 0-1 start in such games after a 20-17 loss to the Buccaneers.
Cousins put up 344 yards and two scores but also had a really bad interception. Jefferson, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the year, caught nine passes for 150 yards but was kept out of the end zone. The team ran for just 41 yards – third-worst of any Week 1 team entering Monday night’s contest. Center Garrett Bradbury left with an injury and didn’t return.
The 2022 NFC Champions got off to a 16-0 start before looking sloppy the rest of the way. New England had a few chances to win the game late, but the Eagles defense stepped up. Head coach Nick Sirianni admitted that he should have played his starters more in the preseason and that may change his thinking come next August.
Hurts was 22-of-33 for 170 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 37 yards. The running game was non-existent as well with new No. 1 running back Rashaad Penny being scratched before game time. Trade acquisition D’Andre Swift only had two touches, while Kenneth Gainwell led the team with 54 yards on 14 carries.
The Vikings have not fared well in three of their last four trips to Lincoln Financial Field. Those three losses were by an average of 28-8. Cousins has always been terrible when it comes to big games and prime time games. Minnesota is 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight conference games. The Eagles know they played poorly last week and should put together a better all-around game this week. Eagles by double-digits.
Pick: Eagles -7
