The Patriots won their preseason opener with a 22-13 home victory over the Washington Football Team. The Eagles, meanwhile, dropped their first preseason game last Thursday at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 24-16 final.
Mac Jones Making Strides for Patriots
First-round pick Mac Jones had a nice debut for the Patriots last Thursday in relief of starting quarterback Cam Newton. Jones took over in the first quarter and went 13-of-19 for 87 yards as he played into the third quarter. Belichick got Jones some work on the two-minute drill in his final drive before Brian Hoyer finished the game at quarterback.
Expect all three to play again on Thursday, with Newton and Jones getting the majority of the work. Newton was 4-for-7 for 49 yards against Washington, and he did not run the ball.
The Patriots got a lot of work out of running back Rhamondre Stevenson on Thursday. A fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma, Stevenson ran 10 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns in the win. The Pats have Sony Michel, Damien Harris, and James White at running back as well in a very heated competition for playing time.
Keep an eye on how those backfield carries are handed out on Thursday as the Patriots balance the running attack with Newton and Jones. Wideouts Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers, and Nelson Agholor will spread out the defense, especially with tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith injured.
Hurts Leads Eagles
Sirianni hasn’t officially named second-year quarterback Jalen Huts as his week one starter just yet. However, the former Alabama and Oklahoma star has taken all of the first-team reps in practice, and he started over Joe Flacco last week against the Steelers.
Hurts finished 3-of-7 for 54 yards on the night against Pittsburgh while playing in two series. He completed a 34-yard pass to healthy tight end Zach Ertz and also ran one time for four yards.
Flacco played two quarters and completed 10-of-17 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown. He gave way to Nick Mullens for the final quarter, but the former 49ers quarterback was just 1-for-5 for four-yard while throwing two interceptions.
Except for injured first-round pick DeVonta Smith, the top Eagles pass catchers played in week one and should be on the field again Thursday night. Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Jalen Reagor, Greg Ward, Quez Watkins, and Travis Fulgham are battling for targets while also building chemistry with Hurts and Flacco.
Starting running back Miles Sanders didn’t play against the Steelers, and Sirianni said it wasn’t an injury issue. He just didn’t want to risk his star bak. Boston Scott, Jordan Howard, Kenneth Gainwell. Jason Huntley, and Kerryon Johnson all got carries as they battle for the backup spot. That will likely be the scenario against the Patriots as well, with Sirianni holding back Sanders for the games that count.
Betting Analysis
- Eagles +1.5 (-110) +105 Moneyline
- Patriots -1.5 (-110) -125 Moneyline
- Total: 38.5 points. O -110, U -110
The middle of the three preseason games tends to be the one where the starters see the most time. Neither team lit up the scoreboard last week, and the trend with preseason games has been very low scoring. Keep in mind that backups will still get plenty of action, and points will likely be at a premium.
FREE PICK: Under 38.5 points (-110)