Betting Picks

Week 7: Washington at Philadelphia MNF NFL Betting Preview and Pick

The broken collarbone suffered by Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Week 6 has wide-reaching effects. The Packers had been the favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LII. One team that could benefit in a big way from Rodgers’ expected season-ending injury is the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles. They host division-rival Washington on Monday to close Week 7, with Philly as a 4.5-point NFL betting favorite.

The Eagles (5-1) are the NFC’s first five-win team and are now the +425 favorites to win their first conference title since 2004. The franchise has never won a Super Bowl, losing in XXXIX to the Patriots and in XV to the Raiders. Philadelphia hasn’t made the playoffs or won the NFC East since 2013 but would have a two-game lead in the loss column with a victory over the Redskins (3-2). The Eagles also surely are interested in the continuing suspended/not suspended saga of Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott as Dallas (2-3) is the defending division champion.

With previously unbeaten Kansas City’s upset loss in Week 6, Philadelphia has the NFL’s longest winning streak at four in a row along with the NFC’s best point differential at plus-43. The Eagles were 3-point underdogs last Thursday at NFC South leader Carolina but won 28-23. Carson Wentz continues to play like an MVP in his second season, throwing for three touchdowns – two to tight end Zach Ertz. The Philly defense welcomed back Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox from a two-game injury absence, and he was a major factor. The Eagles continually pressured Cam Newton and picked him off three times.

Washington nearly was caught in a trap game last Sunday as the Redskins came out of their bye and were 12-point home favorites against winless San Francisco but escaped with a 26-24 victory. The Redskins were up 17-0 late in the third quarter and 26-17 with less than two minutes in the game but needed a late interception to prevent a potential game-winning field goal try by the 49ers. Kirk Cousins threw for 330 yards and two scores while running for a touchdown.

The Redskins are banged up as their top running back (Rob Kelley) and two starting cornerbacks (Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland) are in question for Monday. Excellent rookie defensive lineman Jonathan Allen sustained a Lisfranc sprain in the win over the 49ers and will miss the rest of the season. Kicker Dustin Hopkins was placed on injured reserve this week and replaced by undrafted free agent Nick Rose.

In Week 1, the Redskins were 1-point home underdogs and lost to the Eagles, 30-17, to end a five-game winning streak in the series. Wentz threw for 307 yards and two scores, although his one pick was returned for a score. Cousins had a rough day with an interception at the Eagles’ goal line and two lost fumbles.

Monday nights in recent years have been very different to these teams as Washington has failed to cover its past four (including in Week 4 at Kansas City on a fluke play), while the Eagles have covered five of their past seven on MNF. Philly does so here as well.