The 9-2 Eagles are on the road in Week 13, facing the 8-4 Ravens in Baltimore. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo are expected to call the game for CBS, beginning Sunday at 4:25 p.m.
The game should be a good one. With help from their superstar running backs, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts lead two of the best offenses in football. The Eagles haven't lost since September 29. And the Ravens are right there with the Chiefs and Bills among teams favored to win the AFC.
The Eagles are three-point underdogs at most sportsbooks, and the matchup has the highest over/under of all remaining Week 13 games at 50.5 points. Here's what our On Pattison staffers believe will happen Sunday afternoon.
Tim Kelly
Score: Ravens 24, Eagles 23
Game MVP: Derrick Henry
It's going to be hard for Henry to get into the MVP race because if anyone on the Ravens wins it, it will probably be Lamar Jackson.
But Henry is a big-game player and there's no doubt he'll relish the opportunity to shine with Saquon Barkley on the opposite sideline.
I think this will be a close game that could go either way. But Henry averages over five yards a carry in his career in December, and I've seen him have a few too many 200+ yards a game late in the year to pick against him.
Get your popcorn ready Sunday 🍿
Derrick Henry vs Saquon Barkley pic.twitter.com/SbCHnbO3ja
Anthony SanFilippo
Score: Ravens 23, Eagles 20
Game MVP: Derrick Henry
I've really struggled with picking Eagles games this year, because I never saw MVP Saquon coming. In my mind, he's the MVP at this point, and it shouldn't be that close. But he's been the difference in a few games that the Eagles could have lost and didn't.
That said, I don't see them running the table, which is why I thought they were in trouble the last two weeks, but they still came through thanks to Barkley. But if there's one game left on the schedule that you look at and say, that's a tough matchup - it's this one. And if there's one player who has had a season close to Barkley, it's Derrick Henry.
The Eagles may win out after this one - at least until they are locked into a playoff position - but they have to lose one more this regular season.
Right? Right??
Detroit should've lost today and against Houston. Philly has a real shot at No. 1 seed.#Lions remaining schedule:
vs. Green Bay; vs. Buffalo; at Chicago; at San Francisco; vs. Minnesota.#Eagles
at Baltimore; vs. Carolina; vs. Pittsburgh; at Washington; vs. Dallas; vs. Giants
John Foley
Score: Eagles 27 - Ravens 24
Game MVP: AJ Brown
NFL analysis isn't always complex.
For example:
- The Eagles and Ravens are both top-three in the NFL in offensive yards per game.
- But the Birds have a significant edge on defense, allowing the fewest yards per game in the league.
- I'll take the more complete team.
Simple, no?
Baltimore can stop the run, allowing just 77.9 ypg. But only the Jaguars give up more passing yards than the Ravens. So it's reasonable to expect more of an AJ Brown-centered game than a Saquon Barkley explosion.
A healthy DeVonta Smith would be a huge boost in this one. But I think the Eagles get the W even without him.
Injury Update: WR Johnny Wilson (hamstring) has been downgraded to Out. https://t.co/HAJ1mSVlcb
Austin Krell
Score: Ravens 27, Eagles 23
Game MVP: Lamar Jackson
Just kind of feels like the streak has to end at some point. This is a filthy matchup of titans, though. Henry and Barkley have been nuts. But, Lamar is just super dynamic.
Here’s the play when Lamar Jackson completed the pass and then ran past Zay Flowers trying to throw a block: pic.twitter.com/4DCzdi3zAe https://t.co/CTQyyWyBOR