The Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns will face off on Sunday, Aug. 21, for a preseason clash at FirstEnergy Stadium. The showdown will be the second preseason game for each team.
Philadelphia lost their exhibition opener last week to the Jets by a score of 24-21, while the Browns are fresh off a 24-13 victory over the Jaguars.
What should you expect during this Week 2 NFL preseason matchup? Let’s look at current Eagles vs Browns betting lines and determine the best bets to make on Sunday.
Eagles vs Browns Odds
Philadelphia enters this preseason matchup as a 2.5-point road favorite against the Browns. The Eagles have a substantial advantage in the preseason due to their depth at quarterback, but that did not safeguard them against losing to the Jets.
The Over/Under is set at just 36.5 points, making this matchup the lowest game total on the board at most sportsbooks.
Be sure to check out our NFL odds for up-to-date betting lines on NFL preseason action.
Eagles vs Browns Implied Score
Eagles 19.5, Browns 17
Sportsbooks expect a close game between the Eagles and Browns, with Philadelphia expected to win by a field goal or less in a low-scoring contest.
Eagles vs Browns Pick of the Day
Read more on this Eagles vs Browns bet below.
Eagles vs Browns Matchup
Deshaun Watson made his Browns debut on Friday night against the Jaguars, completing 1-of-5 passes for seven yards. It is unlikely we see much more than three series from the former Texan, if he plays at all.
Joshua Dobbs threw for 108 yards and a touchdown in Jacoby Brisset‘s absence last week and is expected to get the bulk of the work under center against the Eagles. The 27-year-old handled 55.6% of the Browns’ dropbacks versus the Jaguars while completing 9-of-11 passes. Josh Rosen is likely to see some snaps as well after completing 6-of-7 passes for 56 yards.
John Kelly and Jerome Ford split backfield duties, with Ford leading the charge with 57 yards and a touchdown on ten carries. The 22-year-old also caught four passes for 45 yards and a score, making him a player to watch.
On the Eagles side, Jalen Hurts started their first preseason game, going a perfect 6-for-6 with 80 yards and a touchdown before giving way to Gardner Minshew and Reid Sinnett. Minshew completed 8-of-12 passes for 81 yards, while Sinnett connected on 9-of-17 for 81 yards and a score. Twelve different receivers caught a ball, with Zach Pascal and Jason Huntley leading the way.
Miles Sanders, Kenneth Gainwell, and Boston Scott did not see much time on the field, with Huntley leading the backfield with 48 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to guess how this group will be used against Cleveland on Sunday.
Eagles vs Browns Prediction
Eagles 21, Browns 20
The Eagles starters looked fantastic against the Jets, but the team fell apart upon their exit, leading to a come-from-behind win for New York. On the other hand, Cleveland seems to show up for preseason games, even if each roster is different, and has a track record of positive trends in their corner as the home team.
I expect the Eagles to leave Cleveland with a victory, but for the Browns to cover.
Eagles vs Browns Bet Tips
The Browns won their previous five preseason games, while the Eagles are 0-4 against the spread in their last four contests in Cleveland. In addition, the home team is 6-0 against the spread in the previous six games between the two teams.
Plenty of data suggests that Cleveland has value as a home underdog.
Eagles vs Browns Best Bets
Over 36.5 Total Points (-110) at FanDuel Sportsbook
I do not have the utmost confidence in either offense, but a 36.5 total is incredibly low, even for a preseason game. The combined total for each offense during their first preseason game was 43, while their opponents’ combined score was 37.
The Eagles are likely to put a touchdown on the board while their starters are in the game, leaving just 29.5 points left for the remainder of the contest, making this our NFL pick of the day.
