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Eagles vs. Patriots predictions: Expert picks from local and national media

Will the Birds start the 2023 season off with a win and spoil Tom Brady Day in New England — or will the former Pats QB get the last laugh?

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is trailed by television cameras as he exits the players' tunnel before the Eagles play a playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field. Their quest to return to the Super Bowl begins Sunday.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is trailed by television cameras as he exits the players' tunnel before the Eagles play a playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field. Their quest to return to the Super Bowl begins Sunday.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer

The Eagles offseason was a little shorter than usual with the team making it all the way to the Super Bowl in February. But it probably didn’t feel that way to Birds fans, who have been champing at the bit for the season to arrive — not just because they want a shot at redemption and their second title since 2018, but also because the expectations for this team are as high as they could possibly be: Super Bowl or bust.

Inquirer beat writer predictions
National media predictions
Local media predictions

In fact, one Sports Illustrated columnist believes the Eagles will go undefeated this season:

Bold prediction: The Eagles will not lose. Not a regular-season game, not a playoff game, not the Super Bowl. This is a team that barely lost last year, and it is even more stacked this year. The Eagles have the top offensive line in the NFL and one of the top two or three defensive lines. They have an established star (A.J. Brown) and a rising star (DeVonta Smith) at wide receiver. They have the MVP runner-up at quarterback, who is only getting better. There is no one on the Eagle’s schedule, or any schedule, that matches their talent. And there will be no slippery field to thwart their pass rush in this year’s Super Bowl. Yes, undefeated. And I don’t think that’s a bold prediction.
Andrew Brandt, SI.com

Bold prediction aside, many Eagles fans just want the team to have a chance to play for another Super Bowl. And that mission starts in Foxborough, Mass., where the Birds will visit Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots at 4:25 p.m. Sunday, the day the Pats are set to honor Tom Brady.

The Eagles are currently four-point favorites, according to several outlets (BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings). And while the public appears to be backing the Birds, recent history suggests — at least when it comes to betting the spread — that the home dogs might be the better play.

We know who Andrew Brandt thinks will win on Sunday, but what about the rest of the media? Who do the experts, both locally and nationally, think will pick up the Week 1 victory? Here’s how they see Sunday playing out for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles ...

» READ MORE: Eagles game-by-game predictions for 2023

Inquirer beat writer predictions

While all four of our Eagles writers — Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, EJ Smith, and Josh Tolentino — have the Birds starting the season 1-0, only two of them have them winning by a touchdown or more. Here’s more from Smith, who is one of the writers picking Philly to win by at least one score.

The Eagles go into this game as four-point favorites on the road, which is probably reflective of their sluggish start in Detroit last year. This game could stay close longer than it should, but the Eagles should have enough firepower on both sides to ruin Brady’s return to Foxborough.
Prediction: Eagles 28, Patriots 21
EJ Smith

For the rest of Smith’s prediction and a look at how the other three see this one playing out, check out their full predictions here.

» READ MORE: 2023 NFL season predictions: Eagles could return to the Super Bowl, but which team will win it all?

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni talks with wide receiver DeVonta Smith while wearing a "Slim Reaper" t-shirt.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni talks with wide receiver DeVonta Smith while wearing a "Slim Reaper" t-shirt.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer

National media predictions

  1. Here’s a look at what those around the country have to say about this week’s Eagles-Patriots game ...

  2. ESPN.com: Eight of nine experts are picking the Eagles to win on Sunday.

  3. NFL.com: All five of their NFL editors are taking the Birds to not only win, but also to cover the four-point spread.

  4. CBS Sports: Six prognosticators are picking Philly, while two are going with the Patriots. The same goes when it comes to picking against the spread.

  5. Sports Illustrated: Five of the MMQB’s seven football writers have the Eagles winning.

» READ MORE: Playlist: All the songs the Eagles listen to during practice

  1. The Ringer: The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia only makes picks against the spread, but that doesn’t matter much for our purposes — he’s picking the Birds to win and cover.

  2. Yahoo! Sports: Frank Schwab also only picks against the spread, but he’s taking the Patriots.

  3. The Athletic: It’s not totally unanimous, but it’s pretty one-sided. Eleven of The Athletic’s 12 football writers think the Eagles beat the Pats.

  4. USA TODAY: All eight of their writers are backing the Birds on Sunday.

» READ MORE: Eagles outraged (again) as Jonathan Gannon lies, deflects blame, and touts himself as the Birds’ savior | Marcus Hayes

  1. Pro Football Talk: Mike Florio and Chris Simms are picking the Eagles.

  2. Bleacher Report: All seven of their experts have the Birds both winning and covering the spread.

  3. Sporting News: Bill Bender of SN has the Birds knocking off New England.

  4. The 33rd Team: Ryan Reynolds — no, not that one — has Philly winning in a close one.

Cornerback Darius Slay is once again one of the Eagles team captains.
Cornerback Darius Slay is once again one of the Eagles team captains.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer

Local media predictions

Who knows a team better than the writers who follow them day in and day out? Let’s take a look at who the local writers for both teams are predicting ...

  1. The Boston Globe: All six of their experts are picking the Eagles to win and cover the four-point spread.

  2. CBS Boston: Reporter Michael Hurley thinks the Eagles win and cover.

  3. NBC Sports Boston: Tom Curran has the Eagles beating the Pats by a touchdown.

» READ MORE: Is the fix in for the Eagles? A stacked 2024 draft class makes you wonder about an NFL in the tank. | David Murphy

  1. Patriots.com: All of their writers are picking ... the Eagles? Weird, I’d expect at least one homer on the team’s own website.

  2. PhillyVoice: Beat writer Jimmy Kempski has the Birds winning.

  3. Bleeding Green Nation: All nine of their writers are picking the Eagles.

  4. Delaware Online: Ten of their 11 staffers think the Eagles pick up the victory.