The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off a much-needed bye week after a mixed start to the season, and they host the Cleveland Browns in Week 6.
The Eagles are 2-2 but have been going up against some strong opposition. The Browns don't currently fit that description and will arrive at Lincoln Financial Field with a shocking 1-4 record.
Nick Sirianni's team have been made heavy favorites for a home win despite losing 33-16 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their latest outing in Week 4.
The Browns made the playoffs last season after Joe Flacco took over for the injured Deshaun Watson, but they have looked worse almost by the week this time around with Watson healthy. With another loss, they could sink deeper into crisis mode considering last week's 34-13 road loss to the Washington Commanders.
Both teams are coming off a loss, but it's hard to argue that the Eagles should not be strong favorites given the weak performances of the Browns this season.
Pundits have been pointing the finger of blame squarely at Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson but the team's problems run much deeper than that with basic mistakes constantly being made on both sides of the ball.
The Browns' offensive line has been one of the best in the league over the past few seasons but it has been a disaster this year, allowing Watson to be sacked 26 times in five games while also failing to give their running backs any worthwhile support.
Offensive penalties have wiped out big offensive plays and taken touchdowns off the board. Receivers have been poor, too, and while Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy could have complaints about Watson, Cooper has nine drops - almost double the second-placed receiver - and Jeudy has three drops.
In short, the Browns need to show a general increase in all-around competence before they can be trusted to live up to their potential.
The Eagles have been lacking their best offensive weapons in recent games but could receive a major boost after their week off with wide receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith both aiming to return for this game.
Philadelphia lost the teams' latest meeting 22-17 in Cleveland in 2020, but had won the teams' previous five encounters.
The Eagles are yet to win by more than five points this season but they look capable of their biggest success so far coming off their bye and with offensive reinforcements likely.
Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert has really raised his game over the past couple of weeks to offset the loss of his teams' leading wide receivers.
AJ Brown has been missing since Week 1 and DeVonta Smith was unavailable for the trip to Tampa Bay in Week 4.
Goedert, who was third on the team in receiving yards last year, leads the team this year with 301 yards at 75.3 per game. But that doesn't tell the full story.
He made a quiet start, with only seven total catches for 69 yards in the first two games combined. He has exploded since, with 10 receptions for 170 yards against a strong Saints defense and a further 62 yards on seven catches against the Buccaneers.
The Browns have not had any particular problems guarding tight ends this season, although Brenton Strange of the Jaguars had 65 receiving yards against them, but Goedert should prove tough for them to handle.
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Cleveland Browns | +350 ML |
Philadelphia Eagles | -450 ML |
Spread | Eagles -9.5 |
Total Points | O/U 42.5 |
Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) | -188 |
Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) | +100 |
AJ Brown (Philadelphia Eagles) | +125 |
Jerome Ford (Cleveland Browns) | +200 |
Amari Cooper (Cleveland Browns) | +260 |
D'Onta Foreman (Cleveland Browns) | +275 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.