3 Stats Eagles Fans Need to Know for Week 1 Matchup vs. Patriots

2. Eagles Consistently Cover the Spread vs. Patriots

Betting odds don’t always reveal how a game will unfold, but they do give us an indication of who the likely winner is. For instance, the Eagles have been favored in this game ever since Week 1 odds were released.

Covering the spread on the road can be tough, but it’s just another day at the office for Philadelphia. In the 11 Eagles-Patriots matchups since 1984, the Birds have covered the spread eight times, including four of the last six meetings.

The modern Patriots just aren’t good at keeping games close. They only covered the spread in 43.8% of their outings last season (T-No. 23) and went 0-3 against the spread (ATS) in their final three home games while being outscored by an average of five points.

Even though the Eagles struggled to cover on the road last year, the situation isn’t as bad as some make it out to be.

Is a 2-6 ATS record on the road ideal? No, but that had more to do with oddsmakers setting lofty expectations for the league’s best offense. Despite the issues covering, Philly still impressed with a plus-7.5 average point margin away from home (No. 3).

New England, meanwhile, wasn’t anything special with a plus-1.6 rate at home (T-No. 17).

With their history of covering against the Patriots and their elite ability to create separation on the road, the Eagles are in a great spot to win big this weekend.