After a week off to regroup, the Eagles (3-3) host the Falcons and hope to get back in the playoff race with a win over the NFL's last undefeated team. And with that, off we go…"
ESPN: Andy Reid's success coming of a bye week must've really resonated with ESPN's experts (either that or firing Juan Castillo -- even though the defense wasn't really the problem). Fifty-eight percent of them like Philly to win, including Accuscore, which simulates the game thousands of times before settling on a favorite.
CBSSports.com: The CBS folks are almost as bullish -- 50 percent like the Eagles. In addition to Reid's bye-week mastery, this has the makings of a trap game for the Falcons. That said, CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco isn't on the Philly's bandwagon. "Both teams are coming off a bye, and the Eagles are very good doing that under Andy Reid, going 13-0. The Eagles have a new defensive coordinator in Todd Bowles and his first game is a tough one against a really good offense. The Falcons haven't played well at Philadelphia under Mike Smith, but that changes in this one. The Falcons stay undefeated, 27-23."
Yahoo Sports: More Eagles love. Mike Silver and Jason Cole like Philly; Les Carpenter is taking the Falcons.
What Vegas is saying: The Eagles are favored by 1 point and the total points scored is 45. More via OddsShark.com: "Philadelphia is a perfect 13-0 straight up coming off of a bye week over the last 13 years. Atlanta is the NFL's only remaining undefeated team at 6-0 straight up and 4-2 against the spread. The Falcons are 2-8 straight up and 2-7-1 against the spread in their last 10 games against the Eagles."
Me (3-3): The Falcons have to lose sometime and this weekend is as good as any. Reid's stellar record coming out of the bye, a reinvigorated defense and Atlanta finally coming back to Earth will be enough to get Philly back in the mix in the NFC East. Eagles win, 20-17.
