Eagles vs Washington Week 1 picks and predictions

With Zach Ertz in a contract dispute and Alshon Jeffrey injured, tight end Dallas Goedert could have a big Week 1 against the Washington Football Team

Josh Inglis - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Josh Inglis • Betting Analyst
Sep 9, 2020 • 03:07 ET

Week 1 NFL betting action in the NFC East is highlighted by the 2019 division-winning Philadelphia Eagles taking on the Washington Football Team, who will be led by new head coach Ron Rivera. 

Washington is projected to finish in the basement of the NFC East again, after posting a 3-13 record last year. Philadelphia took both games against Washington last season and is looking to improve on its 9-7 record in 2019. 

Here are our NFL free picks and predictions for Eagles vs. Washington on September 13. **video

Philadelphia Eagles vs Washington Football Team betting preview

Weather

It will be partly cloudy with temperatures in the upper-70's on Sunday in D.C. There will be a 20 percent chance of light precipitation. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NFL weather info.

Injuries

Eagles: Javon Hargrave DT (Out), Miles Sanders RB (Out), Alshon Jeffrey WR (Out), Lane Johnson OT (Probable), Jalen Reagor WR (Probable)
Washington: Kendall Fuller CB (Out), Thomas Davis LB (Out), Reuben Foster LB (Out), Alex Smith QB (Out), Chase Young DE (Probable)
Find our latest NFL injury reports.

Betting trend to know

Over the last seven meetings between the Eagles and Washington, the road team is 5-2 ATS. Find more NFL betting trends for Eagles vs. Washington.

Against the spread (ATS) pick

Currently, only the Jacksonville Jaguars have higher odds to win the Super Bowl this year than Washington, as the team yet to be named is projected to finish last in its division and last in the NFC. The Washington running game is a complete unknown heading into Week 1 after the recent release of RB Adrian Peterson. Washington will roll with rookie Antonio Gibson, plus veterans Peyton Barber and J.D. McKissic with sophomore Bryce Love gaining more snaps as the season progresses.

If QB Dwayne Haskins Jr. and Co. fall behind early, it could be a long day for Washington playing catchup with such a lack of skilled players and a defense that gave up 69 points to the Eagles over two games last season. The Eagles will also have new corner Darius Slay keeping Washington’s best player, WR Terry McLaurin, in check.

Washington finished the 2019 season 6-10 ATS (2-6 ATS at home), is 4-9-1 ATS in its last 14 home openers and has dropped six straight matches to the Eagles by an average score of 12.8 points. We like taking this number early as it has hit -6 (and even -6.5) at some books.

PREDICTION: Philadelphia -5.5 (-110)

 

Over/Under pick

Philly had the most man-games missed in 2018 and lost games due to injury to its Top 3 receivers, No.1 tight end and four of its top running backs in 2019. This year they are heading into Week 1 with injuries to QB Carson Wentz (day-to-day but will suit up), WR Alshon Jeffrey and are dealing with a lot of question marks with the offensive line. The O-line is the biggest concern and could be the difference in Philadelphia putting up a lot of points against Washington’s bottom-six defense.

Wentz dominated Washington last year, throwing for 579 yards and six TDs (0 INT) in two games as Philly scored a combined 69 points. Wentz and the passing game will also not have to deal with Washington corner Quinton Dunbar, as Pro Football Focus' third-best rated cover corner has moved onto Seattle.

If the Washington running game sputters with all the new parts and Philly gets up early, Haskins could have to force the ball McLaurin, which could mean trouble with Slay likely drawing the coverage. We can see Washington struggling to do its part of the scoring to reach the total, and it won’t get any help with weather that is supposed to be windy and wet.

PREDICTION: Under 42.5 (-110)

Player prop pick

Over the Eagles’ last seven games of the season, Dallas Goedert became a very important part of the offense. The third-year tight end averaged 8.14 targets per game from Week 10 into the playoffs and parlayed those looks into 60.4 yards on 5.9 receptions per game. With fellow tight end Zach Ertz in the middle of a contract situation with the club, Goedert could find himself with an even more prominent role in the passing game to begin the season — especially with Jeffrey on the shelf.

The Eagles offensive line won’t be the best unit in the league this year, as departures and injuries have the Eagles juggling positions heading into Week 1. The usually-stable line could have some growing pains in 2020, which could force Wentz to take the shorter routes and target his tight ends even more than usual. 

PREDICTION: Dallas Goedert Over 3.5 receptions (-120)

Eagles vs Washington betting card

  • Philadelphia -6 (-110)
  • Under 43 (-110)
  • Dallas Goedert Over 3.5 receptions (-120)
NFL Parlays

Did you know that if you parlayed this week’s NFL Eagles vs. Washington picks, you could win $56.82 on a $10 bet?

Use our NFL parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.

Where can I bet on the NFL?

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Josh Inglis - Covers
Betting Analyst

Josh Inglis is a rising star in the sports betting content space, specializing in MLB, NHL, and NFL markets. Since joining Covers in 2018, Josh has focused his betting expertise on player props and derivative markets, finding them easier for beating the closing line compared to sides and totals. His engaging analysis and content have been showcased on major networks such as TSN and NBC. Josh is a prolific bettor, tracking over 2,500 bets annually and he consistently shares his results through monthly transparency reports. At Covers, he is renowned for his MLB release shows and NHL Puck Props, which are integral parts of the site's live content lineup.

Before his tenure at Covers, Josh spent a decade teaching while pursuing sports media on the side. He has also contributed to live global senior-level broadcasts for the WBSC.

Josh advocates for sports bettors to bet early, emphasizing the importance of securing better numbers by beating the public to the market. He also advises having multiple sportsbook accounts to ensure access to the best possible odds. His preferred sportsbook is bet365, which he favors for its extensive range of player prop markets and live betting options.

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