Yes, Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles may be struggling one year after winning the first Super Bowl in franchise history. Still, though, Philadelphia looks like a team that is in much better shape than the Jacksonville Jaguars with both teams getting set for their Week 8 matchup on Sunday.
You see, while the Birds aren’t playing anywhere like the offensively-explosive team that stunned everyone last season, at least they have a franchise quarterback in the gifted Wentz. Jacksonville doesn’t even know who its starting quarterback will be in Week 8 after benching the perpetually pedestrian Blake Bortles after another turnover-prone performance last weekend.
If you’re looking for betting value on the Week 8 schedule, especially on the NFL International Series; then look no further.
Royal Guard. #FlyEaglesFly
Illustration by @ChrisBMurray pic.twitter.com/YBVhslHMQr
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 24, 2018
NFL International Series: Philadelphia Eagles at Jacksonville Jaguars
Game Information
🏈: NFL International Series: Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4)
⏰: Sun. Oct 28, 2018, 9:30 AM ET
🏟️: Wembley Stadium, London, GB
📺: NFL, DTV: 212
🎰: Philadelphia Eagles: -3 -120 | -160 | O 42 -110
Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)
The Eagles came into the 2018 season with high hopes of repeating as Super Bowl champs after upgrading their roster even more from last season’s Super Bowl-winning team. Unfortunately, Philadelphia has struggled all season long to score, just as they did in their crushing 21-17 Week 7 home loss against Carolina on Sunday while failing to cover the chalk as a 5-point favorite.
Carson Wentz had a fine game by completing 30 of 37 passes for 310 yards with two touchdown and no interceptions, but Philadelphia was limited to just 58 rushing yards in the loss while giving up three fourth quarter touchdowns to lose after shutting the Panthers out for three quarters.
“I’ve got so much confidence in this football team and this coaching staff that we’re going to get this fixed,” head coach Doug Pederson said.
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4)
The Jaguars lost their third straight game by falling to Houston 20-7 at home on Sunday as starting quarterback Blake Bortles was benched after losing two costly fumbles against the Texans. Unfortunately, things didn’t get any better after head coach Doug Marrone inserted veteran backup Cody Kessler, who came in and lost one fumble and threw one interception. After the loss, Marrone said the quarterback job is up for grabs.
“We’ve got to do something, but the first thing we’ve got to do is stop turning the damn ball over. Period,” Marrone said.
Ironically, Jacksonville signed Bortles to a three-year, $54 million deal in February. Bortles has looked incompetent at best in throwing just two TD passes while committing a whopping eight turnovers in Jacksonville’s last three games.
“It’s obviously not what you want to hear as a quarterback,” Bortles said. “Those aren’t the words you want the head coach to say to you.”
Marrone also benched Bortles in the 2017 preseason, only to give him the starting job back nine days later.
Expert Pick and Prediction
I know Philadelphia has lost three of four, but the Birds have been competitive in suffering each defeat by four points or less. Jacksonville has been awful offensively lately in scoring 14 points or less in losing three straight and four of their last five games while getting held to seven points or less in two straight games and three of their last five games overall.
Philadelphia has the big edge at quarterback and Jacksonville looks completely lost right now. The Eagles are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games in the month of October while Jacksonville has gone 2-6 ATS in their last eight games in October and 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall. Carson Wentz and the Eagles are the pick in this one people!
Predicted Score: Eagles 27 Jaguars 13
