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2015 NFL Game-By-Game Projection: Eagles 11-5

By Andrew Porter

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --  The Eagles have the 23rd toughest schedule in the NFL, the shortest distance to travel, and an over/under win total of nine and a half games (according to Bovada LV).

After the drastic roster changes Chip Kelly had made in his first offseason with personnel control, is the public down on the Birds? Our friends at Sports Book Review, who projected every Eagles game of the 2015 season, says yes.

Here is a game-by-game projection for the 2015 Philadelphia Eagles, courtesy of SBR.

 

Week 1: vs. Atlanta (road), Monday,  Sept 14 at 7:10 PM
Chip Kelly and the Eagles open the season on the road, on Monday Night Primetime Football. Destination: Atlanta. New head coach Dan Quinn. Are the Falcons and Quinn going to be on the same page by opening night? Hard to say. On the other hand, who will be quarterback for the Eagles? Sam Bradford? Tim Tebow? Mark Sanchez? It's a tossup, really. But if we're to put money down, we'd prefer backing Chip Kelly rather than Quinn on our NFL picks. That's just us.

NFL Pick: Win
Record 1-0

 

Week 2: vs. Dallas (home), Sunday, Sept 20 at 4:25 PM
Dallas were the best road team last season, going 8-0 SU. Although the pair split the series with each side winning on the road, the Dallas Cowboys wrestled the all-important NFC East title from the Eagles down the stretch.

This is the most important game of the early weeks and the Eagles will want to bank on home field advantage. But one wonders if the Eagles made too many roster changes that might not click in time to be competitive with the Cowboys. It's unfortunate that this pivotal rivalry is set to kick off so early in the season. Then again, they have DeMarco Murray now and with an improved defense they might still fancy their chances to take the win at the expense of the Cowboys. Keep in mind the Boys will be under pressure to replicate their road form of last season in this first road game of 2015 and with last season's road from being a bit of an anomaly (they went 4-4 in 2012 and 3-5 in 2013), they're not certain to be as infallible again.

NFL Picks: Win
Record: 2-0

 

Week 3: vs. NY Jets (road), Sunday, Sept 27 at 1 PM
The Eagles descend on the New York Jets in week 3 NFL betting, which should feature a reunion between Chip Kelly and Jets head coach Todd Bowles. This could be a tougher game than most NFL bettors anticipate with Bowles' experience as a defensive coordinator and the addition of Brandon Marshall to the offense that already includes Eric Decker. Where the Jets strike a questionable pose is at quarterback. Will it be Geno Smith or Ryan Fitzpatrick calling the shots?

NFL Picks: Win
Record: 3-0

 

Week 4: vs. Washington (road), Sunday, Oct 4 at 1 PM
The Eagles won 37-34 over the Redskins in week 3 NFL betting last year as Nick Foles threw for 325 yards to lift the Eagles to a 3-0 start in 2014. Obviously, this matchup is going to have a new look about it from the Eagles' perspective with possibly Sam Bradford calling the shots. A lot is going to hinge on RGIII and how well he plays in 2015. Last season, the Redskins struggled behind the starting quarterback and only won one of the seven games he started. Ironically, it was a 27-24 win in the nation's capital over the Eagles in week 16 NFL betting that put a spanner in the works for Chip Kelly and his side's postseason hopes.

The Redskins to show up for divisional rivalries, as evinced by the win over the Eagles. Great as it was for the Redskins to win that game, though, they still don't strike a convincing pose in our books. We'd rather back the Eagles for the road win here on our NFL picks.

NFL Picks: Win
Record: 4-0

 

Week 5: vs. New Orleans (home), Sunday, Oct 11 at 1 PM
The New Orleans Saints arrive in Philly for a week 5 NFL date that could prove a stumbling block for the hosts. All hinges on the Saints' new look for 2015. The Saints struggled abominably last season, prompting a massive overhaul in the offseason. By week 5 NFL betting we should be getting a idea of what to expect from them. Given that Drew Brees is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league that can turn this game into a shootout, we can't write off the Saints entirely. Of course, if all the changes don't significantly improve the Saints in 2015 then he can't do it all alone (last year was case-and-point). And this could be an unmemorable road trip. It's a tossup for our NFL picks.

NFL Picks: Loss
Record 4-1

 

Week 6: vs. NY Giants (home), Monday, Oct 19 at 8:30 PM 
For a second straight week, the Eagles will be at home. Last year, in exactly the same week of the NFL season, they faced off against the Giants and crushed them 27-0 in Philly. That should be a source of optimism for the Eagles. What's more, the Giants aren't vastly improved from last season. One wonders when the organization will decide to call it quits on Tom Coughlin; the last few seasons have been unmemorable to say the least. The only bright star right now on the Giants' roster is Odell Beckham Jr. But he can't throw the ball and catch it himself can he? This could be a big win for the Birds at home on Monday Primetime Football.

NFL Picks: Win
Record: 5-1

 

Week 7: vs. Carolina (road), Sunday, Oct 25 at 8:30 PM
A road trip to Carolina for Sunday Primetime Football is a tough ask, particularly when it's the second Primetime slot in less than a week. The Panthers had a largely forgettable season and the Eagles got the better of them easily in week 10 NFL betting with a 45-21 win on Monday Primetime, a game that marked a second start for Sanchez after Nick Foles went down with an injury two weeks prior. But this season the Panthers figure to be a better team. How much better is the question. Some indications were seen towards the end of 2014, as the Panthers reeled off four consecutive wins to clinch the NFC South title. If anything, it suggests that their week 7 Primetime clash might not be as one-sided. It's a tossup on our NFL picks, but we're leaning towards the hosts in this one.

NFL Picks: Loss
Record: 5-2

 

Week 8: Bye

 

Week 9: vs. Dallas (road), Sunday, Nov 8 at 8:30 PM
In their third consecutive Primetime Football clash, the Eagles face their biggest NFC East rivals the Cowboys. Mark Sanchez and the Eagles took the 33-10 win in Dallas to the surprise of many NFL bettors last season. Can they do it again at the A&T Stadium? They have a bye week to prepare for this pivotal clash, which can only be an advantage. What's more, the Cowboys will be coming off a week 8 date with the Seattle Seahawks and the Legion of Boom. All depends on what conditions the Hawks leave the Cowboys in because any key injuries and the hosts could be in trouble against a well rested and raring to go Eagles. On our Dallas game-by-game predictions, we have the Cowboys winning this game, but it's a tossup admittedly. These two sides are essentially closely matched and divisional rivalries can go either way. For symmetry, we probably should pick the Cowboys, but we're going to push the envelope here and go with the Eagles for the upset.

NFL Picks: Win
Record: 6-2

 

Week 10: vs. Miami (home), Sunday, Nov 15 at 1 PM
The Miami Dolphins descend on the Philadelphia Eagles boasting one of the most formidable defensemen in the game Ndamukong Suh. Ryan Tannehill had some standout performances last season and a few not so great. If they can get it together this season, they could do some damage. Particularly in Philadelphia where the defense is still a question mark.

NFL Picks: Loss
Record: 6-3

 

Week 11: vs. Tampa Bay (home), Sunday, Nov 22 at 1 PM
If you can think of any reason why Tampa Bay Buccaneers can win this, go on? Otherwise, this should be a straightforward affair for Chip Kelly and the Eagles with home field advantage to boot. Few NFL bettors are going to bet against the Eagles on their NFL picks in this game, surely. Not unless the Bucs somehow enjoy a complete personality makeover under NFL draft pick Jameis Winston. Don't hold your breath just yet.

NFL Picks: Win
Record: 7-3

 

Week 12: vs. Detroit (road), Thursday, Nov 26 at 12:30 PM
This is going to be one of the toughest games of the season for the Eagles. While they saw Suh two weeks ago with the visiting Dolphins in Miami, the Detroit Lions' defense still figures to be solid in 2015. Add to that a short week and an early Thanksgiving start on Thursday, the Eagles might be in over their heads with Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson.

NFL Picks: Loss
Record: 7-4

 

Week 13: vs. New England (road), Sunday,  Dec 6 at 4:25 PM 
For a second straight week, the Eagles are on the road. Fortunately, they have a few extra days to recoup and regroup. Unfortunately, they are head to Gillette Stadium in December to take on the defending champions. If we could compare the gap in quality between these two teams to the 3-20 loss at Lambeau last season to Aaron Rogers and the Green Bay Packers, you should get the idea of what we expect from Tom Brady and the New England Patriots here. Need one say more?

NFL Picks: Loss
Record: 7-5

 

Week 14: vs. Buffalo (home), Sunday, Dec 13 at 1 PM
The Eagles begin a three-game home stretch against the Buffalo Bills, an important stretch they'll look to capitalise on. It's the Rex Ryan Bills and a reunion with LeSean McCoy that is on the NFL betting cards. The Bills defense is something to contend with and the Eagles may struggle against them. But the Bills quarterback situation leaves a lot to be desired with EJ Manuel. Eagles should take this one before their home fans, you'd think.

NFL Picks: Win
Record: 8-5

 

Week 15: vs. Arizona (home), Sunday, Dec 20 at 1 PM
The well coached Cardinals come into town in week 15 NFL betting. Will they be as solid as they were last term? Will Carson Palmer be healthy for the entire season to give the Cardinals a chance in the broad spectrum of the regular season, never mind this game. It's all up in the air. In the last two seasons, these sides are split 1-1 with each side winning at home. Foles and the Eagles lost in Arizona last year 24-20. If that trend continues, the Eagles edge a narrow win over the Cardinals at home.

NFL Picks: Win
Record: 9-5

 

Week 16: vs. Washington (home), Saturday, Dec 26 at 8:25 PM
The Eagles close the season at home with a date against Washington. It marks the second season in a row that the Eagles take on the Redskins in week 16 NFL betting. Last year, they lost 27-24 in Washington. If playoff hopes are on the line again, Chip Kelly won't be pleased to lose this game as they did last year. One has to think that the Eagles are the better team on paper and home advantage will be key.

NFL Picks: Win
Record: 10-5

 

Week 17: vs. NY Giants (road), Sunday, Jan 3 at 1 PM
The New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles collide for a second straight season in week 17 NFL betting. Kelly and the Eagles took the 34-26 win in New York last season and completed the series sweep, all the good it did for their postseason hopes. It was a pride win, nothing more. It'll be interesting to see where these two teams are by week 17 NFL in 2015. If things go according to our NFL predictions, this could be a pivotal game towards the NFC East picture. Particularly for the Eagles. The Eagles are 3-1 against the Giants in the last two seasons and 2-0 on the road against them. They've got their number.

NFL Picks: Win
Record: 11-5

 

NFL Betting Verdict
By our overzealous estimations, we have the Eagles going anywhere between a low of 9-7 and a high of 11-5 for the 2015 season (give or take a couple of tossups that could go either way as indicated above). Push comes to shove, we're leaning towards the 11-5 mark. We'd rather trust in Chip Kelly and his track record of success so we're recommending the OVER 9 at -135 for your NFL picks as the Eagles soar to another double-digit season.

 

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