The Philadelphia Eagles opened up as a 9.5-point favorite at FanDuel over the Cleveland Browns in a Week 6 contest with the Over/Under total in this game set at 43.5. A few chips have come in on Cleveland and the line has ticked down to -8.5. The O/U has also ticked down from 43.5 to 42.5.
These teams have not played since 2020 in Cleveland. In that matchup, the Browns (-2) squeezed out a 22-17 victory and the total which was posted at 46.5 was an easy UNDER
And if look-aheads are part of your handicapping homework, the Eagles are gonna hop on the bus for a short trip up to New Jersey to fight against their NFC East rival, the New York Giants. The Browns are back home for a division tussle with the Bengals.
Cleveland Browns vs. Philadelphia Eagles Odds Week 6
Odds as of Oct. 9 at FanDuel
Browns vs. Eagles Picks Week 6
Eagles -8.5 (-110)
Gotta start with the elephant in the room and that's Deshaun Watson. Not gonna get into the history of all his trouble off the field, so lemme just throw these numbers at you. Here are Watson's stats since being traded to the Browns. In 2022, he had 7 TDs and 5 INTs. In 2023, he had 7 TDs and 4 INTs. In 2024, he has 5 TDs and 3 INTs. So, Deshaun has thrown a total of 19 touchdown passes since coming to Cleveland, and he has settled 23 lawsuits. Not getting into the guilty or innocent part of the equation, but you know this has to be a GINORMOUS problem in the locker room.
Now for his work on the field and you're probably gonna wanna hold your nose. The Browns are 1-4 straight up and against the spread and Watsons's numbers are really weak. Last week against the Commanders, he was just 15 for 28 (53.6%) and only 125 yards. His overall pass completion percentage this season is just 60%, while Jameis Winston is sitting with a 100% perfecto. Of course he is only 1/1 in mop up duty but we have seen Winston perform in Tampa and New Orleans for nine years with the occasional flash of lightning. On the other hand, Jameis is gonna give some back as his 99 career INTs will tell you.
UGLY is the word here, on both sides of the field, but Philly is not as ugly as Cleveland. The Eagles are sitting at 2-2 and coming off the bye week. And 2024 has been a struggle for the talented Jalen Hurts.
Last season, Hurts was solid early, winning 10 of the first 11, then slumped late, losing six of the last seven down the stretch. Two weeks ago against the Bucs, Jalen was kinda mid, hitting on 18 of 39 for 158 yards with 1 TD and no INTs. But, and it's a YUGE but, two of his main weapons, WRs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith were not on the field. Between the two of them last year, we're talking 187 receptions for 2,522 yards. Think they were missed?
And just as important, OT Lane Johnson, an All-Pro and key cog in the Eagles offensive line was out. Think he was missed? Johnson set an NFL record back in 2022 for not allowing a sack in 26 consecutive games. YEA, he was MISSED! All three are ready to go on Sunday and if you noticed that Hurts was smiling from ear-to-ear at the press conference, now you know why.
The final piece of this puzzle is all bout the bye week. Doug Pederson coached the Birds for five years and he was 0-3 coming off the bye in his last three seasons. Nick Sirianni took over in 2021 and he has pitched a PERFECTO the last three seasons after the bye. In 2021, the Eagles beat Washington 27-17, in 2022, they whacked Pittsburgh 35-13 and last year, they slipped past the Chiefs in Kansas City as a 2.5 point dog, 21-17.
Expecting another big day for the Green Birds and a sizable green deposit in the Bank of Benj.
Cleveland vs Philadelphia Prop Picks
Jalen Hurts OVER 1.5 passing TDs (+126)
Maybe my BEST BET of the season so far. Hurts has struggled early, but he was missing his two dynamic weapons, WRs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Both are back and we would not be surprised if Jalen had a TD hat trick!