Eagles at Saints predictions for Week 3 of the NFL season

Predictions for the Eagles vs. Saints game in Week 3 of the NFL season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia.

The Eagles (1-1) travel to New Orleans to face the Saints (2-0) at Caesars Superdome on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Let’s get to the predictions:

Reuben Frank (0-2)

Derek Carr has run 16 drives this year. The Saints have scored on 15 of them — 10 touchdowns and five field goals. And on the one drive they didn’t score, they were up 41-19 against the Cowboys in the fourth quarter. With 47 points against the Panthers and 44 against the Cowboys, the Saints have scored the fourth-most points in NFL history through two games and the second-most since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. That’s what awaits the Eagles on Sunday in the fast lane at the Superdome, where they’ve been 1-5 over the past 20 years and allowed 29 points per game. The Eagles rank bottom six in every major defensive category, and unless they magically find a way to stop the run, pressure the quarterback, and make routine tackles, it will be impossible to slow down Carr, Alvin Kamara, Rashid Shaheed, Chris Olave, and company. I don’t think the Saints will score 40 points against the Eagles. They have a lot more talent than the Panthers and won’t give up like the Cowboys did. But I don’t think – probably still without AJ Brown – they can score enough points to come out of New Orleans with a win.

Saints 31, Eagles 24

Dave Zangaro (1-1)

If the Eagles were at their best in this game, I’d probably pick them. The Saints have looked great the last two weeks, but I’m just not ready to crown them. The sample size is too small. While it’s tempting to pick the Eagles, the absence of AJ Brown and CJ Gardner-Johnson has me deciding against it. This is a tough game. The Saints offense has looked really good running the football, and the Eagles just can’t stop the run right now, and I’m not very confident they’ll suddenly figure it out this week. Those out-of-zone runs are what bothered the Eagles in Week 2, and the Saints will run them a lot in this game.

The Eagles could score some points against the Saints. This defense is really solid, but doesn’t have a lot of top-tier talent outside of a few key players. Demario Davis is an excellent linebacker and can decide a game. But the Eagles should be able to compete. I just think there’s too much going against them in this game.

Saints 27, Eagles 24

Barrett Brooks (0-2)

Anyone using these columns to bet, just keep scrolling. Again, I’m going with my heart and intuition. Yes, the Birds’ defense looked terrible last week. Yes, they couldn’t stop the Falcons from scoring a winning touchdown, and it only took 1:05. And what’s worse, the defense is giving up over 6.0 yards per carry on the ground. But my glass is still half full. I’m imagining Vic Fangio telling everyone that it’s either quit or shut up! From now on, only players who play well will take the field. No favoritism, how long you’ve been on the team or what round you were drafted in. The productive players will play, no matter how much they make or how much experience they have in the league. I’m now assuming that the hungry dogs will get a chance to eat and still turn this thing around.

Offensively, the Eagles will be in a good position. Jalen Hurts will continue to improve and the offense will also develop as he incorporates more of Kellen Moore’s plays into his game plan. It will be a big day for Dallas Goedert. And Saquon Barkley will be the lead bull of this offense.

Eagles 28, Saints 24

Mike Mulhern (1-1)

The Saints have been the epitome of predicament in the post-Drew Brees era. They languished around .500 and never made the playoffs, but they continued to push for victory with a roster that didn’t seem ready to win right now. It seems like a switch finally flipped when Klint Kubiak replaced longtime offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. The Shanahan system fits Derek Carr like a glove, especially when they run so much. That will likely continue on Sunday against an Eagles run defense that has already conceded 6.4 yards per carry. That will give Carr plenty of chances to make long throws down the field after plays. Plus, the quarterback is 6-2 with a 103.9 passer rating in eight career matchups against Vic Fangio.

I expect the Eagles offense to have a better game plan on Sunday without AJ. Brown than it did on Monday night. His hamstring injury late in the week made it harder to adjust on the fly against the Falcons. But being without their star wideout for an entire week allows them to use Dallas Goedert more often and make heavy use of both Saquon Barkley and planned runs by Jalen Hurts. Everyone seems ready to anoint the Saints and bury the Eagles. The matchups favor New Orleans and they’re on a winning streak. The Eagles are just coming off an epic collapse on a short week on the road in a hostile environment. There’s no reason to pick on them, but the NFL is a league that lives week to week. I zig while everyone else zigs.

Eagles 27, Saints 24

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