NFL Week 9 odds: Eagles open as near-touchdown favorites against Doug Pederson’s Jaguars

The Philadelphia Eagles opened as 6.5-point home favorites in their Week 9 game against Doug Pederson’s Jacksonville Jaguars, according to FanDuel.

This matchup was originally scheduled to take place on Sunday Night Football but the start time recently got moved up to 4:05 PM Eastern. The Eagles were likely flexed out of prime-time in no small part due to the Jags’ struggles.

Simply put, Jacksonville is not a very good football team. They’re 2-6 with the NFL’s sixth-worst point differential at -52. The only five teams below them: the Miami Dolphins, the Las Vegas Raiders, the New England Patriots, the Tennessee Titans, and the Carolina Panthers.

Here’s an overview of the Jags’ resume thus far:

• Week 1 at Miami Dolphins: 20 to 17, LOSS
• Week 2 vs. Cleveland Browns: 18 to 13, LOSS
• Week 3 at Buffalo Bills: 47 to 10, LOSS
• Week 4 at Houston Texans: 24 to 20, LOSS
• Week 5 vs. Indianapolis Colts: 37 to 34, WIN
• Week 6 vs. Chicago Bears (London): 35 to 16, LOSS
• Week 7 vs. New England Patriots (London): 32 to 16, WIN
• Week 8 vs. Green Bay Packers: 30 to 27, LOSS

The Jags’ two wins have come against 39-year-old Joe Flacco and rookie 22-year-old Drake Maye.

A big reason for Jacksonville’s struggles? Their defense stinks. Only two teams have allowed more offensive points per game this season: the aforementioned Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys. No team is allowing a higher average passer rating (113.7). There’s reason to believe Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense can keep humming after an impressive performance against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Jags’ offense is more middling. Trevor Lawrence hasn’t made the leap to being a top-tier quarterback. It might not help that Press Taylor is his offensive coordinator. Old friend Doug Pederson doesn’t appear to have great answers, either.

Speaking of Super Bowl LII winner Dougie P, this will mark his second return to Lincoln Financial Field since being fired by the Eagles and hired by the Jags. He lost in his previous trip during the 2022 season. A loss to the Eagles on Sunday could push him closer to an in-season firing, which kind of feels inevitable at this point. Shame after it looked like he had the Jags turned around in his first season in Jacksonville.

The feeling here is that the Eagles will win and cover. They’ve finally earned some benefit of the doubt.

What say you?