Carolina Panthers (2-8 SU, 4-6 ATS) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (3-7 SU, 1-8-1 ATS)
NFL Week 12
Date/Time: Monday Night Football, November 26th, 2012, 8:30 p.m. EST
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa.
TV: ESPN/DirecTV 206
by Badger, Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: Car. -2.4/Phil. +2.5
Over/Under Total: 40.5
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Probably the two most disappointing teams in the NFC, and maybe even the entire NFL, will face off in primetime on Monday Night Football when the Carolina Panthers and the Philadelphia Eagles strap it up at Lincoln Financial Field in Philly for some week 12 action on ESPN.
If the Panthers-Eagles game wasn’t the only one on T.V. on Monday I’m pretty sure nobody outside of those two markets would watch it. Now we’re left with a game that the folks at ESPN obviously thought would be determining NFC playoff position, but instead it will be deciding who gets the chance to draft in the top five of next year’s draft.
If the Eagles haven’t reached the pinnacle of embarrassment yet this season, last week’s, 31-6, loss at the hands of the rival Washington Redskins should put them there. It’s safe to say that rookie QB Nick Foles is NOT the savior everyone in Philly hoped he would be, and for the first time in 10 games this season it looks like the Eagles defense has quit too, just like their offensive line has quit, as they were gutted and bombed to death by Skins rookie QB Robert Griffin III time and time again in a game that thankfully wasn’t played in Philly.
Unlike the implosion that is happening in Philly this season at least the Panthers still look like a team that’s putting forth 100 percent effort, they are just snake bitten and can’t seem to catch a break. Last Sunday’s, 27-21, overtime loss to Tampa Bay is a perfect example of their bad luck. The Panthers played a strong game and looked to be on the verge of a big win, only to watch Tampa drive the length of the field to tie it with 12 seconds remaining in regulation, then win it with an 80-yard drive on the first possession of OT to walk away with the win.
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Since there has yet to be an announcement from Andy Reid and the Eagles about whether it will be Foles or Michael Vick at QB on Monday, oddsmakers are still sitting on their hands and have yet to release a point spread or a total for the MNF contest (if you can call it a contest).
Regardless of who plays QB for the Eagles, I can say this with all honesty that I’m glad its not me. The Eagles have been racked with injury along the offensive line and the patch-work unit they have going up front these days seems to be intent on decapitating whomever stands behind them. Foles got first-hand experience at what Vick has been going through all season as he was sacked four times, threw two interceptions under duress, and also fumbled three times from blindside hits that he had no chance at preventing.
The Eagles offense is stuck in reverse because of their line issues, and for the first time this season it appears like the Eagles defense is ready to join the offense in setting up tee times and planning their offseason vacations once they play out the final string of seven more regular season games. The offense will likely continue to struggle as work-horse RB LeSean McCoy is doubtful with a concussion.
Carolina will no doubt seek to take advantage of the same things other teams have been done against the Eagles, and you can bet the mortgage that Cam Newton watched how RGIII tossed bomb after bomb against an Eagle secondary that forgot that they’re supposed to be deeper than the deepest and covering to the whistle.
These two teams haven’t met since the 2009 season when they Eagles traveled to Charlotte and drilled the Panthers, 38-10. But that was then, and this is now, and any comparisons to the days of old are long gone.
Historically the Eagles play well against the Panthers, winning three in a row and five of the seven meetings since 1996, including going 3-1 SU in the four games played in Philly. Philly is also 7-3 ATS in the last 10 games on Monday Night Football.
Badger’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: I’ve been taking the Eagles every week thinking that they’re going to “get it together.” Needless to say, that proposition has been a bankroll killer. Despite Vick and McCoy not playing Monday night, I’m going to side with these guys one more time, expecting the team to rally in front of a national audience.
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