Skip to content
Eagles
Link copied to clipboard
Link copied to clipboard

Eagles vs. Giants predictions: Rounding up the experts’ picks for Week 18

Most of the Eagles starters will be sitting out on Sunday, which should make for a much more even matchup against the 3-13 Giants.

Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter sacks quarterback Daniel Jones during the team's first matchup. Jones isn't even on the New York Giants anymore.
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter sacks quarterback Daniel Jones during the team's first matchup. Jones isn't even on the New York Giants anymore.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer

The final week of the NFL regular season is here. The Eagles have already clinched the NFC East and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, and Nick Sirianni already shared that he plans to rest many of the starters — including Saquon Barkley — against the New York Giants in Week 18.

With the Eagles digging into their depth chart, the game should still be an intriguing watch for Birds fans to get an extra look at the backups, rookies, and potential future rotation pieces. The Giants are currently in the race for the No. 1 overall draft pick, so you’ll still be in for a competitive matchup. The oddsmakers have the Eagles as three-point home favorites.

Here’s how the Inquirer’s beat writers and other local and national media are predicting Sunday’s game …

Inquirer prediction

Three of the Inquirer’s four beat writers are picking the Giants to win this week. Here’s an excerpt from Jeff McLane’s prediction …

Giants fans would probably prefer the Eagles played Barkley and their first unit, to only hammer home the mistake made in letting him go and to enhance their chances of getting the top pick in April’s draft. But the players showed some heart last week and that coach Brian Daboll may still have their support. A repeat performance should be enough to get the win against second-stringers.
As for the Eagles, they can be content, win or lose, with the extra time off for their starters — most notably Hurts, assuming he’s out of protocol by next week — and avoiding potential injury.
Jeff McLane

Here’s a look at our Eagles writers’ full predictions.

» READ MORE: Eagles vs. Giants predictions: Our writers make their picks for Week 18

National media predictions

Here’s how national media experts are picking Eagles vs. Giants …

  1. ESPN: Even without their starters, every ESPN expert is still backing the Birds on Sunday.

  2. NFL.com: The NFL.com panel is more split, with three of five writers picking the Giants to win after their 45-point performance last Sunday against the Colts.

  3. Bleacher Report: Six of eight Bleacher Report experts are picking the Birds to beat the Giants on Sunday.

  4. Pro Football Talk: Both Mike Florio and Chris Simms are picking the Giants to pull out a win and try to save coach Brian Daboll’s job.

» READ MORE: Saquon Barkley isn’t playing Sunday — but he’s still trolling Giants owner John Mara

  1. CBS Sports: The CBS Sports panel is split right down the middle, with half picking the Eagles and half picking the Giants.

  2. Sporting News: Four of Sporting News’ five panelists are still backing the Birds (although they seemed to have some outdated information, because Barkley won’t be playing Sunday).

  3. Sports Illustrated: Four of Sports Illustrated’s six panelists are picking the Giants.

Local media predictions

Here’s how local beat writers in Philadelphia and New York are predicting Sunday’s game …

  1. PhillyVoice.com: Three of their four writers are picking the Eagles to end the regular season with a win.

  2. NorthJersey.com: Four of NorthJersey.com’s six writers are picking the Eagles to beat the Giants on Sunday.

  3. Delaware Online: Seven of the 12 panelists are picking the Eagles — but not beat writer Martin Frank, who thinks the Giants will win a low-scoring game.

The Eagles play in Week 18 against the New York Giants. Join Eagles beat reporters Olivia Reiner and EJ Smith as they dissect the hottest storylines surrounding the team on Gameday Central, live from Lincoln Financial Field.