The 2019-20 NFL season hasn’t gotten off to a great start for Philadelphia fans. The Eagles Week 4 odds expect that start to spill over into the second quarter of the season.
Despite the fact that Philadelphia faces one of the least productive offenses in the league and the Eagles defense has been pedestrian thus far, New Jersey sportsbooks favor the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. The biggest reason is Green Bay’s defense.
Background for the Eagles Week 4 odds
The Packers defense has been stingy so far this season. Green Bay is undefeated through three games because of their absolute refusal to allow its opponents points.
It’s a classic case of “bend but don’t break” defense. While the Packers aren’t among the stingiest in terms of allowing opponents to accumulate yardage, no team in the NFC has allowed fewer points per game than Green Bay.
When the 1-2 Eagles descend on Green Bay Thursday night, they will bring an offense that matches the Packers strength to strength, however. While Philadelphia is just 13th in total offense, the Eagles rank ninth in scoring offense.
This side of the game could turn a bit in the Eagles’ favor when some injury news is taken into account. Philadelphia wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey will return while Green Bay edge rusher Za’Darius Smith is out.
The difference in this game could very well hinge upon who wins the battles when Green Bay has the ball. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers against the Philly defense is what will decide this contest.
Because of where the Eagles sit in the NFC standings, Philadelphia needs its defense to win that game within the game.
Why Philly needs this win so badly
The NFL regular season blows by at a breakneck rate. After Thursday night, both teams will have already played 1/4 of their scheduled games.
Philadelphia already sits two games behind the Dallas Cowboys for the lead in the NFC East division. The Eagles also trail teams like the Seattle Seahawks and the rest of the NFC North division besides the Packers in the race for an NFC wild-card spot.
Falling to 1-3 obviously would increase those deficits. It would also give Green Bay a head-to-head advantage for a potential tiebreaker scenario.
On the flip side, going on the road and facing down the Packers’ stingy defense could create a lot of confidence. The Eagles could begin to soar upon the wind of that momentum.
Sportsbooks Like DraftKings and Fanduel aren’t high on the odds of that happening, however.
Breaking down the Eagles Week 4 odds
At sportsbooks in New Jersey like DraftKings and FanDuel, Green Bay is a slight favorite. Both books favor the Packers by four points.
FanDuel moneyline on Philadelphia, offering up +172
DraftKings moneyline currently at +170
Both books have a point total of 46 on the game, though neither has positive odds on the over or under. If bettors believe the return of Jeffrey makes a difference and the Eagles can frustrate Rodgers, that moneyline is attractive.
Even with Jeffrey, penetrating the Green Bay end zone will be tough.
It’s exactly what Philadelphia needs to avoid a lost season, however.
