Eagles win total preview: Plenty of upside after injury-riddled 2019
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The Philadelphia Eagles had high expectations in 2019, but the injury bug had other plans. Is the franchise for real, or has its title window closed?
Let's take a deep dive into Philly's win total for this upcoming campaign.
| How many games will the Eagles win in 2020? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 9.5 | +100 |
| Under 9.5 | -120 |
A look back
The Eagles went 9-7 last season. It's tough to get excited about that record when you're only a few years removed from a Super Bowl, but Philly didn't have much control over what transpired in 2019.
Philadelphia lost 13 players to injured reserve; nine players who started Week 1 were on the sidelines for the regular-season finale.
Still, the Eagles won the division. They weren't a great bet, though, going 7-10 against the spread, including the postseason.
Philadelphia was a middle-of-the-pack team in DVOA, finishing 14th in offense, 16th in defense, and 19th in special teams.
Quarterback Carson Wentz probably didn't get enough credit for righting the ship. He registered a franchise-high 388 completions despite completing just 23% of those to his top three receivers, according to PhillyVoice's Evan Macy.
Offensive firepower
Philadelphia posted just 5.2 yards per play in 2019, which ranked No. 20 in football. That number will increase this fall.
The offensive line rounds out PFF's top 10 units. Wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery will be crucial after missing a combined 19 regular-season games. Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert form one of the league's most underrated tight end tandems. Rookie wide receiver Jalen Reagor is already being compared to Julio Jones by his quarterback. Running back Miles Sanders had one hell of a rookie campaign and could be the straw that stirs the drink so long as his lower-body injury doesn't keep him sidelined for an extended period.
There's no shortage of talent across this unit.
Underrated defense
Philly's defense improved by leaps and bounds as the season progressed.
Through their first nine games, they allowed an average of 23.6 points. Following a Week 10 bye, they surrendered 20.1 over their final seven.
They had the third-best rushing defense in football and only allowed five 100-yard rushers. Philly also made a splash via trade, landing cornerback Darius Slay in March to aid a secondary that finished No. 22 against the pass.
Best bet
The Eagles did a lot with a little in 2019. It wasn't pretty, but head coach Doug Pederson got the job done.
There's a slim chance that Philadelphia suffers so many injuries again. If the Eagles remain healthy, they boast enough talent to reach double-digit wins.
After recommending the over on the Cowboys' win total earlier this week, add another NFC East team to the list.
Pick: Over 9.5 +100
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.