The Philadelphia Eagles lost 24-7 to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL Preseason. Quarterbacks Andy Dalton, Tanner McKee, and Cole Payton struggled to get anything going in that game.
The New England Patriots tied 13-13 against the Indianapolis Colts in their preseason opener. Backup quarterback Tommy DeVito looked sharp in that one, completing 13-of-22 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown.
This should be an interesting matchup, but we’re unlikely to see too many starters. To that end, let’s dive into NFL prediction markets to see where we can find value.
The Eagles are priced at 56 cents to win this game. This is a bit surprising considering that Jalen Hurts and other key starters are not expected to suit up, since they got action during joint practices against the Patriots throughout the week. The market is showing confidence in Philadelphia’s quarterback depth with Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee.
At this time, it’s unclear if Drake Maye will play for the Patriots, but this also feels like an unlikely outcome, leaving Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton to once again handle the reps at quarterback. That gives the Eagles the edge, since Dalton has starting experience, while McKee is considered a competent backup.
I’m most interested to watch Kayshon Boutte for the Patriots. The wide receiver has fallen behind A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, and DeMario Douglas on the depth chart. There’s a chance that he can be showcased for a trade, since his name has popped up in rumors throughout the offseason.
With uncertainty on which starters will see reps in this game, I’m going to stay away from choosing a side in this one. Instead, I’ll ride with Over 36.5 points: No at 51 cents. With backups dominating action against two good defenses with a lot of depth throughout the roster, this feels like a low-scoring game.
We just saw the Eagles combine for 31 against the Ravens and the Patriots combine for 26 vs. the Colts, so even though 36.5 looks low, it’s a number that each side has stayed under in their preseason openers.
While it’s below the key number of 37, where a common score line of 20-17 results in a loss, I’m still willing to take a shot because in preseason, ties are possible. This game can easily finish 17-17, getting us the win.
Eagles’ rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon returned to joint practice this week, showing some positive signs in his recovery from a hamstring injury.
Top wideout DeVonta Smith is also on the mend, returning to a limited practice as he deals with a hamstring injury.
Patriots’ wide receiver A.J. Brown was reportedly dominating during joint practices, specifically during red-zone drills.
The Patriots recently brought in veteran guard Greg Van Roten to add depth to their offensive line.
There hasn’t been much market movement for this game. The Eagles have fluctuated between 55-56% for this matchup. The market favors Philadelphia because they have a bit of a more well-rounded roster, but this projects as a close game that could come down to the wire. The safer play looks like Under 36.5 points.
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