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New England at Philadelphia Betting Preview/Week 2 NFL Preseason Picks

NFL Previews

19 August 2021

Week 2 of the NFL Preseason is set to begin on Thursday night, and a pair of recent Super Bowl winners will kick things off. The Philadelphia Eagles are set to host the New England Patriots on Thursday night, and there should be some more regular starters playing in this one.

New England picked up a 22-13 win over the Washington Football Team in Week 1, and the Patriots are looking to build on that momentum. 2020 was not a good season for the Patriots, and this team wants to make a return to the postseason.

Philadelphia is another team that had a rough 2020 season, and things didn’t go very well for them in the preseason opener. The Eagles suffered a 24-16 loss at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 and will be back at home for this game.

The New England Patriots are 1.5-point favorites over the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night, and the betting total is set at 38.5 points.

Patriots Have QB Battle

Cam Newton is the starting quarterback in New England, but Mac Jones could take over that role with a solid effort in the preseason. Both quarterbacks are going to see action in this game, and that should make the Patriots’ offense pretty tough to stop.

Head coach Bill Belichick wants to establish the run in this game and look for the Patriots to do just that on Thursday night. New England also wants to win games with its defense, and that unit played really well in the preseason opener.

The Patriots have spent a ton of money in the offseason to improve this roster, and that should lead to a much better season.

Hurts Running Philly Offense

Jalen Hurts should be the starting quarterback for Philadelphia when the season begins, but don’t expect to see him a ton in the preseason. The Eagles can’t afford to get Hurts injured in the preseason, and there will be plenty of time for other quarterbacks in this game.

Philadelphia struggled to run the football in 2020, which will be a major focus for the Eagles in the preseason. They are facing a great defense on Thursday night, but the Eagles must find a way to establish the run.

The Eagles got some solid play from its defense at times in Week 1 but stopping Cam Newton, and Mac Jones will be a big priority on Thursday night. The run game and defense need to pave the way for an Eagles win in Week 2.

Eagles Defense Does the Job

I don’t expect Philadelphia to be a great offensive team this season, but they have some solid pieces on the defensive end of the field. The Eagles are going to have to get some stops on Thursday night if they want to pick up a win.

The Patriots have two very capable quarterbacks battling it out for the starting job, and that will give that offense a big boost. New England won’t push either quarterback much in this matchup, and they could fall apart a bit in the second half.

Philadelphia needs to get a win to get things back on track, and that is what will happen in this one. Bet the Philadelphia Eagles +1.5 as they find a way to get a victory on Thursday night.

Here are all of the Week 2 NFL Preseason picks from Dunkel:

August 19

New England at Philadelphia
- Time: 7:30 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: New England 119.913; Philadelphia 121.549
- Dunkel Line & Total: Philadelphia by 1 ½; 34
- Vegas Line & Total: New England by 1 ½; 38 ½
- Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (+1 ½); Under

August 20

Kansas City at Arizona
- Time: 8:00 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City 122.625; Arizona 116.116
- Dunkel Line & Total: Kansas City by 6 ½; 47
- Vegas Line & Total: Kansas City by 2 ½; 41
- Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (-2 ½); Over
Cincinnati at Washington
- Time: 8:00 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati 114.676; Washington 122.531
- Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 8; 31
- Vegas Line & Total: Washington by 4 ½; 34 ½
- Dunkel Pick: Washington (-4 ½); Under

August 21

Buffalo at Chicago
- Time: 1:00 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 124.119; Chicago 121.347
- Dunkel Line & Total: Buffalo by 3; 41
- Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 4 ½; 37
- Dunkel Pick: Buffalo (+4 ½); Over
NY Jets at Green Bay
- Time: 4:25 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: NY Jets 115.342; Green Bay 119.604
- Dunkel Line & Total: Green Bay by 4 ½; 29
- Vegas Line & Total: NY Jets by 1 ½; 34
- Dunkel Pick: Green Bay (+1 ½); Under
Baltimore at Carolina
- Time: 7:00 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore 130.703; Carolina 121.192
- Dunkel Line & Total: Baltimore by 9 ½; 32
- Vegas Line & Total: Baltimore by 3; 35 ½
- Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (-3); Under
Atlanta at Miami
- Time: 7:00 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 117.715; Miami 115.639
- Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 2; 31
- Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 5; 37 ½
- Pick: Atlanta (+5); Under
Detroit at Pittsburgh
- Time: 7:30 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 115.185; Pittsburgh 127.181
- Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 12; 33
- Vegas Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 6 ½; 37 ½
- Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-6 ½); Under
Tennessee at Tampa Bay
- Time: 7:30 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee 117.949; Tampa Bay 124.480
- Dunkel Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 6 ½; 29
- Vegas Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 2 ½; 37
- Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-2 ½); Under
Indianapolis at Minnesota
- Time: 8:00 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: Indianapolis 121.402; Minnesota 116.336
- Dunkel Line & Total: Indianapolis by 5; 40
- Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 2 ½; 37
- Dunkel Pick: Indianapolis (+2 ½); Over
Houston at Dallas
- Time: 8:00 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: Houston 113.642; Dallas 123.254
- Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 9 ½; 32
- Vegas Line & Total: Dallas by 4; 37 ½
- Dunkel Pick: Dallas (-4); Under
Denver at Seattle
- Time: 10:00 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: Denver 128.913; Seattle 119.938
- Dunkel Line & Total: Denver by 9; 32
- Vegas Line & Total: Denver by 6; 37
- Dunkel Pick: Denver (-6); Under
Las Vegas at LA Rams
- Time: 10:00 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: Las Vegas 120.695; LA Rams 120.008
- Dunkel Line & Total: Las Vegas by 1; 38
- Vegas Line & Total: Las Vegas by 7; 35
- Dunkel Pick: LA Rams (+7); Over

August 22

NY Giants at Cleveland
- Time: 1:00 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: NY Giants 122.635; Cleveland 120.972
- Dunkel Line & Total: NY Giants by 1 ½; 38
- Vegas Line & Total: Cleveland by 6 ½; 35 ½
- Dunkel Pick: NY Giants (+6 ½); Over
San Francisco at LA Chargers
- Time: 7:30 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco 125.660; LA Chargers 115.240
- Dunkel Line & Total: San Francisco by 10 ½; 39
- Vegas Line & Total: San Francisco by 4 ½; 34
- Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-4 ½); Over
Jacksonville at New Orleans
- Time: 8:00 pm ET
- Dunkel Ratings: Jacksonville 107.002; New Orleans 123.902
- Dunkel Line & Total: New Orleans by 17; 33
- Vegas Line & Total: New Orleans by 4 ½; 38 ½
- Dunkel Pick: New Orleans (-4 ½); Under

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