NFL Week 12 Betting Preview: Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 12 features a battle of the birds, as the Seattle Seahawks (8-2, 2nd NFC West) visit the Philadelphia Eagles (5-5, 2nd NFC West). Seattle comes in as winners of their last three games, the most-recent being a thrilling overtime win against the 49ers back in Week 10. Meanwhile, Philadelphia dropped their last game, a 17-10 loss at home to the Patriots.

Here is a preview for Sunday’s game between the Seahawks and Eagles, along with odds and a pick.

By the Numbers

We’ll start with Seattle, who led by MVP-candidate Russell Wilson has one of the league’s top offenses. The Seahawks are fourth in total yards with 389.1 and seventh with 27.5 points per game. They are one of the more balanced teams in the NFL, ranking in the top-10 in both rushing yards with 133.2 (sixth) and passing yards with 255.9 (10th).

It’s a good thing the offense is as good as it’s been, as the defense is a far cry from the Super Bowl teams earlier this decade. The Seahawks are allowing 25.4 points per game and 372.9 yards per game, the 10th-most and eighth-most respectively. While they’ve been okay against the run, Seattle has been gashed in the passing game, allowing the fourth-most passing yards with 271.8.

As for Philadelphia, they’re a team who isn’t awful in any particular area, but also not elite in one ether. The Eagles are averaging 23.4 points per game, 14th in the NFL, but doing so with the 10th-fewest yards at 337.8. Led by Carson Wentz, they’re not throwing for a ton of yards per game (215.1, 24th in NFL) but have the 11th-most rushing yards at 122.7.

Philly has fared better on defense this season despite the overwhelming amount of injuries they had to open up the year. Although they’re still 19th in points allowed with 23.0, the Eagles allow the ninth-fewest yards at 323.5. And even though they’re fairly average against the pass, they’re one of the best run-stopping teams in the league, ranking fourth with 86.0 rushing yards allowed.

Key Storylines

1. Can Wilson deliver another MVP performance? It has been a special season for the former Super Bowl champion quarterback. Through 10 games, Wilson has thrown for 2,737 yards on 68.5 percent passing, along with 23 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He has also ran for 256 yards, adding in three more touchdowns with his legs. Going against a team in Philadelphia that has an average-at-best secondary should be enough for Wilson to have another great performance.

2. Will Eagles get healthy? In last weekend’s loss to New England, the Eagles were without their lead running back and both of their top wide receivers. While Desean Jackson is out for the year, Philadelphia could get both Jordan Howard and Alshon Jeffery back this Sunday. In his first season in Philly, Howard has 525 rushing yards and six touchdowns, while Jeffery has 353 yards and three touchdowns. Their statuses will be carefully monitored leading up to Sunday, but either or both of them playing will help this offense that put up just 10 points last week.

3. Will Hawks get to Wentz? In their last game, the Seahawks put on a phenomenal pass-rushing display. Led by Jadeveon Clowney, Seattle sacked 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo five times. Clowney was personally sensational, registering five tackles, five quarterback hits, one sack, one forced fumble, and even a touchdown. We’ll see if him, Jarran Reed and company can break through a pretty solid Eagles O-line, but one that may be without stud right tackle Lane Johnson.

Injuries

All eyes will be on the Eagles injury report before the game kicks off on Sunday. As mentioned earlier, Howard and Jeffery could possibly return, as each has been limited in practice all this week. Left tackle Jason Peters has also been limited, with his status currently questionable. The biggest “DNPs” are Johnson and receiver Nelson Agholor, with Johnson’s potential absence being a huge loss for Philadelphia.

The Seahawks have a ton of names on their injury report, but most of the players listed have been full participants in practice all week. The biggest ones to watch are Clowney and Reed, Seattle’s two best pass rushers, each of whom did not practice on Thursday. Wide receiver Tyler Lockett and linebacker K.J. Wright are among the main players who have been limited on the practice field as well.

Odds and Pick

Despite being a .500 team and hosting an 8-2 club, the Eagles are slight favorites in this game at -1.5. But I love the Seahawks on Sunday. Besides Seattle being the overall better team with the better QB, the potential that Philadelphia may be without both of their elite tackles, as well as Howard or Jeffery, leads me to believe the Seattle defense will have an impressive game once again. All that, plus being rested after the bye week, have me picking the Seahawks +1.5 to win this game outright in the City of Brotherly Love.