Sunday Night Football: Eagles vs. Commanders Picks and Preview

Matchup Preview

NBC is airing a game between the two worst teams in the NFC, and nobody is pretending it's anything else. Philadelphia comes in at 2-5 on a five-game losing streak. Washington is 1-4-1 and coming off a bye. The Giants lead the NFC East at 4-2-1, so whoever loses Sunday night can start thinking about draft position. The Eagles won the Week 1 meeting 24-22, but that was with Jalen Hurts. He's expected to miss the rest of the season with blood clots, so Tanner McKee makes his third straight start.

Philadelphia's injury list keeps growing. DeVonta Smith (hamstring) is out, and so are cornerback Jonathan Jones, Jihaad Campbell, Britain Covey and Dontayvion Wicks. Saquon Barkley will play through hamstring and back issues. This offense averages two explosive plays of 20-plus yards per game, the fewest in the league, and it has covered the spread once in seven tries. Monday's 38-21 loss in Dallas showed what happens when it falls behind.

Washington has its own problems. Terry McLaurin is done for the year with a torn patellar tendon. Jayden Daniels was a full participant all week despite a left elbow injury, but he's 0-7-1 in his last eight starts. The Commanders have also failed to cover four straight games as a favorite. The worse news is up front: Daron Payne broke his foot in Friday's practice and is out for the season, and Javon Kinlaw (knee) is out too. That leaves Washington without both starting interior defensive linemen.

That shapes the game. Philadelphia can't threaten anyone downfield with McKee throwing to a depleted receiver room, but it can run right at a gutted defensive interior. Washington also has the league's worst red zone defense. The Eagles' plan should be simple: give Barkley the ball, shorten the game and keep it close. Philly's pass rush has the fifth-lowest pressure rate, so Daniels will have time, but he has few receivers to throw to behind a shaky offensive line.

The weather won't matter. The forecast at Northwest Stadium is about 51 degrees at kickoff, falling into the upper 40s, with almost no wind and no rain. Most books have moved from the opening Eagles +6.5 to +6, and the total is 40.5 everywhere.

The Picks

Pick 1: Saquon Barkley Over 47.5 Rushing Yards (-113) at Lucky Rebel. Washington is down both starting interior defensive linemen, and Payne went down on Friday, too late for the defense to fully adjust. Philadelphia has no downfield passing game to lean on, so Barkley should get plenty of carries. Shop around: BetOnline has this line at 50.5, so Lucky Rebel gives you three extra yards.

Pick 2: Under 40.5 (-112) at Bovada. One offense is starting a backup quarterback without its WR1 and produces the fewest explosive plays in the league. The other is missing its best receiver and has a weak offensive line. A run-heavy Eagles plan keeps the clock moving, and neither team has shown it can put together long scoring drives. Bovada's -112 is the best under price on the board.

Pick 3: Eagles +6 (-111) at Everygame. Laying six points with Washington is a bad bet: Daniels hasn't won any of his last eight starts, and the Commanders have failed to cover four straight as favorites. Philadelphia's 1-6 record against the spread is ugly, but a low total and a run-first game plan make a one-score finish the most likely result. Everygame has the cheapest price on +6.

Best Bet

Our best bet is Barkley Over 47.5 Rushing Yards (-113) at Lucky Rebel, because losing Payne and Kinlaw leaves the middle of Washington's defense open to the one part of Philadelphia's offense that still works.