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NFL Mid-Week Movement: Sharps Push Football Team to a Key Number vs. Eagles

By Ben Heisler

The Washington Football Team hosts the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17, just two weeks after both teams met up in Philadelphia in Week 15 on a Tuesday.
The Washington Football Team hosts the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17, just two weeks after both teams met up in Philadelphia in Week 15 on a Tuesday. / Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
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Recency bias might impact the minds of public bettors, but the sharps are speaking up midway through the week about the line in this week's Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Football Team matchup.

Despite coming off three consecutive losses, all within the NFC East division to nearly eliminate themselves from playoff contention, the line at WynnBET has moved a full point from Eagles -4 down to the key number of -3.

The Football Team has struggled all season long covering against the spread (ATS), going just 5-9-1 over the season. Only the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars have been worse. Meanwhile, the Eagles have gone 8-6-1, covering just over 57% of the time this season ATS.

The move away from the Eagles may seem like a surprise to much of the betting public. After a stunning road loss to the New York Giants in Week 12, Philadelphia has won three straight and also had a bye in Week 14 to recover before the final stretch of the season.

Here's Why the Line Has Moved in Favor of Washington vs. Philadelphia

The Eagles defeated the Football Team 27-17 just two weeks ago in Week 15 as the matchup in Philadelphia got postponed from Sunday to Tuesday due to a major COVID-19 outbreak on Washington.

Their third string quarterback, Garrett Gilbert, started and performed admirably in the loss; going 20-31 for 194 yards and no turnovers. It's even more impressive when you consider that he was signed off the Patriots' practice squad just days before the game!

Washington was also without seven assistant coaches along with more than 1/4 of their active roster on the reserve-COVID-19 list in their game, and that was with several players returning due to the extra time.

Considering the Football team built up a 10-0 lead and found themselves tied with Philadelphia at the half despite being seriously out-manned felt like a as close to a moral victory as one can take. Eventually, the Eagles rallied and scored 17 in the second half, but still never put Washington away.

Even coming off a blowout loss on the road to the Cowboys in Week 16, sharp bettors expect a far healthier and more focused Washington squad this week against an Eagles team that's beaten up mostly on doormat teams during their late season winning streak.

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