Philadelphia Eagles will host New England Patriots at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday, August 19, in their penultimate NFL preseason match. The Eagles last met with the Patriots in July 2019, when they lost 10-17, marking their second consecutive head-to-head loss and their third since August 2014.
Philadelphia Eagles vs New England Patriots
When: Thursday, August 19 – 19:30 EDT
Where: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 28°C
Don’t expect to see too many superstars on the field tonight, as both teams will probably want to keep their key men protected from injuries. Instead, the coaches will likely give some youngsters a chance to show how good they are and compete for a spot in the starting lineup in the regular season which starts in September.
Nevertheless, we expect an interesting duel at Lincoln Financial Field, the same as the clashes between these two have always been. The Pats won their previous two contests, while the Eagles last won against the Patriots in February 2018 in the Super Bowl finals.
Another Philly Special?
When they beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl more than three years ago, Philadelphia Eagles had a better team than what they have entering the 2021 season. However, they were weaker than the Patriots in 2018, who then had Tom Brady as their quarterback.
What took the Eagles to the historic win was their brilliant offensive strategy, which involved one of the greatest plays in the history of the NFL – dubbed as the “Philly Special” by the media.
They will have to focus on tactic once again if they wish to win this preseason game. Even with their starters playing against the Pats, the Eagles would still be considered as underdogs. However, the Eagles starters aren’t going to play tonight; instead, this team will be packed with rookies.
The good news is that the Eagles’ youngsters are really good. Their first-round draft pick (10th overall), DeVonta Smith, is one of the players who seems to have a very bright future ahead. The young wide receiver didn’t play in Philadelphia’s first game of the preseason due to a knee injury but could make his debut tonight.
The Eagles are also expected to give playing time to all of their quarterbacks, including the newcomer Joe Flacco, who’s expected to be their starting quarterback in the regular season.
New England’s Cam Newton vs Mac Jones Battle
Last season, Cam Newton wasn’t able to fill the gap left in the New England Patriots’ quarterback position after Tom Brady moved to Tampa. As a result, the Pats chose a quarterback as their first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The man in question is Mac Jones, who’s made his debut in the Pats’ first preseason game.
New England beat Washington 22-13 in said game, with Jones going 13-of-19 for 87 passing yards. Meanwhile, Newton went 4-of-7 for 49 yards. Neither QB made a touchdown pass. In fact, both TDs the Pats scored in that game were the work of running back Rhamondre Stevenson.
Philadelphia Eagles vs New England Patriots Betting Pick
We expect a close game, no doubt about that. Even though the Pats have a stronger roster, their coach Belichick might decide to rotate the squad and try out different tactics. The coach probably won’t care much whether his team wins or loses.
Meanwhile, the Eagles will want to grab a win in front of their own crowd. This will be the first game with Philly’s stadium operating at full capacity since 2019, so anything less than a victory will be considered a disappointment.
Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles – 2.04 at Matchbook
Don’t forget to check out our free betting preview for the Europa League qualifiers match between Omonia and Antwerp. For more betting tips and predictions, join our membership and start betting with us on football, esports, tennis, golf, horse racing, and more!
