It’s a battle between birds when the Eagles host the Seahawks for an NFC wild-card playoff game Sunday afternoon in Philly. The Eagles stumbled through most of this season but got hot at the end, won four in a row, and with some help from Dallas, won the NFC East. Seattle, on the other hand, lost three of its last four games. And for some reason, the Seahawks are favored for this one. Who do we like here for our free NFL pick?
NFL Playoffs Betting Odds
NFL playoff betting odds opened Seattle at -1.5 over Philadelphia, with an over/under of right around 46, and both those figures were holding steady in the early betting action.
NFL Playoff Betting Preview
Seattle played 11-5 this season, good for the No. 5 spot on the NFC playoff bracket. In doing so, the Seahawks played over their regular-season wins betting over/under, which was only 8.5. Seattle started 10-2 this season, with wins over San Francisco, these Eagles, and Minnesota, the only losses coming against the best team in the League, Baltimore, and another pretty good outfit in New Orleans. But the Seahawks then lost three of its last four games. Crucially, they fell at home to an inferior Arizona team in Week 16, then lost their finale previous week to the 49ers by less than the length of a football, which cost them a wild-card bye.
Still, Seattle is back in the playoffs for the second straight season.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, only played 9-7 this season, but it was good enough to win a weak NFC East. It was not good enough, however, to play over the Eagles’ wins O/U of 9.5. Philly started 5-7 this season, with wins over Green Bay and Buffalo but losses to teams like Atlanta, Detroit, and Miami. The Eagles then won ugly over the Giants and Washington, looked good in a crucial victory over Dallas, then beat the Giants again last week to win the NFC East in come-from-behind fashion.
So Philadelphia is back in the playoffs for the third straight season.
By the numbers Seattle ranked eighth in the league this season in total offense, averaging 374 yards per game, fourth in rushing at 138 YPG and seventh in “time of possession” at 31:26 minutes per game. But the Seahawks had to sign the retired Marshawn Lynch last week because its running backs corps got wiped out by injuries. Also, Seattle ranked just 26th in total defense, giving up 382 YPG.
Philadelphia ranked 14th in total offense at 361 YPG, 10th in total defense, holding foes to 332 YPG, and No. 2 in time of possession at 33:06.
These teams just met six weeks ago, also in Philly, a 17-9 Seahawks victory. The Eagles kicked an early field goal, but Seattle scored the next 17 points of the game and held on from there, covering as a one-point road favorite.
The Seahawks out-gained Philadelphia that day 348-344 and won the turnover battle 5-2.
Also, that game played way under its total of 46 points.
NFL Playoff Betting Trends
- Seattle is 7-1 SU, 5-2-1 ATS on the road this season.
- Seattle is 3-3 both SU and ATS this season against teams that made the playoffs.
- Philadelphia is 5-3 SU but only 3-5 ATS at home this season.
- Philadelphia is 2-3 both SU and ATS against teams that made the playoffs.
- Division champions/home teams are just 10-10 SU and 7-12-1 ATS over the past five NFL wild-card weekends.
Totals Report
- Overs are 8-7-1 in Seahawks games this season, which are averaging 50 total points.
- Totals are split 8-8 in Eagles games this season, which are averaging 46 points.
- Unders are 13-6-1 over the past five NFL wild-card weekends.
Common Opponents
These teams played two common opponents this season; Seattle beat Atlanta 27-20 and Minnesota 37-30, while Philadelphia lost to the Falcons 24-20 and to the Vikings 38-20.
- Get more details: Seahawks at Eagles NFL Wild Card Match up
