Eagles vs Browns Preseason Picks and Predictions: Minshew Magic Leads Philly

The preseason rolls on as the Cleveland Browns host the Philadelphia Eagles for Week 2.

With only a few short weeks left before the return of meaningful football games, fans must get by on preseason action alone. The Eagles and Browns will face off as the lone afternoon game on Sunday, so the game figures to draw plenty of viewers.

Cleveland beat the Jaguars 24-13 in Week 1, while Philadelphia fell to the Jets by a score of 24-21.

Check out our NFL picks and predictions for the Eagles and Browns on Sunday, August 20. 

Eagles vs Browns odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Browns opened +3 at home. Currently, they can be had for either +2.5 or +3 depending on the book. The total has seen a lot of line movement, moving from 41 at open to 35.5 at current.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until kickoff and be sure to check out the full NFL odds before placing your bets.

Eagles vs Browns predictions

• Prediction: Eagles -2.5 (-120)
• Prediction: Under 35.5 (-105)
• Best bet: Under 35.5 (-105)

Predictions made on 8/20/2022 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Eagles vs Browns game info

• Location: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH
• Date: Sunday, August 21, 2022
• Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
• TV: NFL Network

Eagles at Browns betting preview

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Betting trend to know

The Under is 3-0-1 in the last four meetings between these teams. Find more NFL betting trends for Eagles vs. Browns.

Eagles vs Browns picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Spread analysis

There is genuine excitement surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles heading into 2022. Following a 9-8 season, Nick Sirianni’s club added receiver A.J. Brown to provide quarterback Jalen Hurts with another dangerous weapon to pair with DeVonta Smith. If Hurts continues to improve heading into his third season, this offense should be more dynamic than it was a year ago, and anything short of a playoff appearance would be a disappointment.

Sirianni has been tight-lipped this week about his plans for the second preseason game. Cleveland hosted joint practices this week, and typically we’ve seen coaches opt to play the starters plenty during the practices and then rest them during the preseason game when that is the case. I wouldn’t expect an alteration from that trend on Sunday. 

Gardner Minshew and Reid Sinnett handled the majority of snaps against the Jets. Minshew is a veteran option who will look to prove himself after an up and down training camp, while Sinnett needs a strong showing to create separation from Carson Strong. Both have incentives to perform well on Sunday. 

The Browns received the news this week that quarterback Deshaun Watson will be suspended for 11 games. He will not see the field for the remaining preseason games. 

In his place will be Jacoby Brissett, who has started 37 games in his career, completing 60.2% of his passes for 6.4 yards per attempt. Head coach Kevin Stefanski stated that he will rest most of his starters for the second preseason game, so expect to see plenty of Joshua Dobbs and Josh Rosen under center. Both averaged over 8.0 yards per attempt in the first preseason game.

There’s a lot of positive momentum surrounding the Eagles, while the Browns have been buried in negative press. Reading the tea leaves, it seems as though Philadelphia got the better of the scrimmages this week as well. I believe the Eagles are the justified favorite.

Prediction: Eagles -2.5 (-120 at FanDuel)

Over/Under analysis

The first week of preseason saw an offensive explosion, as teams combined to go 11-4 to the Over. That prompted a rise in totals for Week 2, as bookmakers knew that money would come in in that direction. 

For this game, the total opened at 41, but bettors thought that was a steep overreaction, pouring money on the Under until the total dipped all the way down to 35.5 at current.

Totals haven’t been on the same run in Week 2 of the preseason, going just 1-3 to the Over during Thursday and Friday’s games. The one game that has gone Over this far was the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams, who needed a 17-point fourth quarter to hit that mark. 

What does this tell us about the Week 1 Over craze? It’s a little too early to tell, but that was most likely an aberration. Congrats if you got in on the Under at 41, because the current line of 35.5 is much more accurate. 

Minshew and Sinnett could both use a good performance on Sunday for the Eagles. Still, neither inspire a ton of confidence in putting on an offensive show.

It’s unlikely Brissett sees much action for the Browns, but both Dobbs and Rosen averaged over 8 yards per attempt against the Jaguars and are capable options. 

I think the early money that came in on the Under was on the correct side. There’s not much of an angle left, but Unders should be in for a run in the second week of the preseason due to an overcorrection in the market. 

I side with the Under still at the current price.

Prediction: Under 35.5 (-105 at FanDuel)

Best bet

The best of this total is long gone, but I agree with the sentiment that caused a massive shift in the total from the opener to the current number. 

Both teams saw each other in practice this week and are not expected to give the starts much, if any, playing time. Nothing we saw from either side in the first preseason game leads me to expect an offensive explosion this time around.

After an 11-4 run to the Over in Week 1, I’m anticipating that Week 2 looks a lot different. 

Getting the worst of the number never feels good, but I still believe it is the strongest read on this game. D-fence!

Pick: Under 35.5 (-105 at FanDuel)

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