Despite being in the midst of a three-game losing streak, the 8-5 defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles still lead the NFC East and will look to extend that advantage with a win over the 2-11 Las Vegas Raiders.
Pete Carroll’s crew has dropped seven consecutive games and appears poised to make it eight, entering this matchup as double-digit underdogs against a desperate Eagles team. Let’s break down the matchup in my Philadelphia Eagles vs. Las Vegas Raiders preview.
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Philadelphia Eagles vs Las Vegas Raiders Preview & Prop Bet
Can Jalen Hurts limit the turnover damage this week against Las Vegas?
Eagles vs Raiders Preview
Jalen Hurts made history in his last outing, but for all the wrong reasons. In the midst of a five-turnover performance, Hurts committed both an interception and a fumble on the same play, something we’d never seen before.
NFL HISTORY
Jalen Hurts first player EVER to throw an interception AND fumble on the same play pic.twitter.com/K3qguAjsN9
— BettrNation (@BettrNation) December 9, 2025
It was the worst performance of his career, yet the Eagles still found themselves in position to win. That changed when Hurts threw a game-ending interception in overtime, sealing a 22-19 loss to the Chargers on Monday Night Football.
A bounce-back effort feels imminent given the matchup. Las Vegas’ defense is allowing 25.5 points per game (24th) and 325.8 yards per game (16th). Digging deeper into the metrics, the Raiders rank 23rd in both EPA per play and success rate allowed.
Philadelphia’s defense is coming off a seven-sack performance against the Chargers and should be in position to replicate that success against one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Geno Smith has been sacked a league-high 3.8 times per game, a number that has increased to 6.3 over his past three starts.
However, Smith is unlikely to play due to a right shoulder injury, which would elevate Kenny Pickett into the starting role. The former Philadelphia Eagle stepped in last week, completing eight of 11 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. In his limited action, he looked noticeably more composed than Smith.
Even so, Pickett figures to face an uphill battle against an Eagles defense that ranks top-10 in both EPA/play and success rate, especially in conditions calling for snow and double-digit winds – a stark contrast from playing indoors in Las Vegas.
Philadelphia opened as high as a 12.5-point favorite, but the line has since dipped slightly into the -11.5 to -12 range. The total has also come down, sliding from 39.5 to 38.5.
Eagles vs Raiders Prop Bet
One area that has been a bright spot for Las Vegas this season is its front seven. Led by Maxx Crosby, the unit has limited opposing running backs to just 3.9 yards per carry (T-5th).
However, that success hasn’t carried over into the red zone. While the Raiders do a solid job containing tailbacks between the 20s, they’ve been extremely vulnerable near the goal line. They’re allowing the second-most rushing touchdowns per game at 1.4, and that figure has climbed to 2.0 over their last three contests.
Given the nature of the Eagles’ offense, the matchup, and the expected weather conditions, Saquon Barkley should see plenty of opportunities close to the goal line.
There’s always some hesitation when betting Barkley to score, considering how frequently Philadelphia has relied on the tush push with Jalen Hurts. However, the Eagles have notably strayed away from that approach. Ever since Hurts was stripped while running the tush push against the Bears a few weeks ago, the play has largely been shelved.
Against the Chargers, Philadelphia had first-and-goal at the two-yard line and surprisingly avoided their most successful short-yardage play. Instead, they handed it off to Barkley for no gain, followed by a holding penalty, an incomplete pass, and then a sack. The decision not to use the tush push left many, myself included, scratching their heads.
Could the Eagles go back to it this Sunday against the Raiders? Absolutely. But there may not be much reason to do so against one of the weaker red-zone run defenses in the league. It’s also worth noting that Lane Johnson is expected to miss his fourth straight game, which could be another factor in dialing back that play.
Barkley has looked much sharper over his last two outings, averaging 4.3 yards per carry against Chicago and then 6.1 per attempt versus Los Angeles, totaling 122 rushing yards and a touchdown on Monday night. Philadelphia should feel confident leaning on him near the goal line, potentially easing the strain on both their offensive line and Hurts rather than forcing the tush push back into the game plan.
Best Bet:
NFL Record: 80-63-1 (+7.22 units)
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