After watching the NFL Wild Card Round, the focus in the Jalen Hurts vs. Daniel Jones matchup will be on each quarterback's rushing ability.
As it should. Jones carved up the Vikings using his impressive legs and size, and now he gets a matchup against Hurts, who will look to use a similar skill set after getting a week off.
Using Sean Koerner and Chris Raybon's expert projections, which are only available on Action Labs, here's a bet and a lean for the starting QBs while making your Eagles vs. Giants player prop picks.
Jalen Hurts
Under 247.5 Passing Yards (DraftKings)
In 15 starts this season, Hurts went over this total only five times. In his two matchups against the Giants, he registered 217 and 229 passing yards. Koerner and Raybon project Hurts for 232.5 passing yards.
It’s not like the Eagles are a below-average passing unit (ninth in Football Outsiders’ DVOA), but the ground game is what makes them an offensive force. Philadelphia ranked first in Rush DVOA during the regular season and faces the 32nd-ranked rush defense in the Giants.
That’s right: The best run game in the NFL is facing the worst run defense.
Philadelphia’s offensive identity starts with Hurts’ rushing ability, but Miles Sanders has thrived all season, as well. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith won’t be phased out and ignored, but the focus will be on Hurts and Sanders thriving on the ground.
Philly is favored in this game, so it’s unlikely it will face a negative game script. If the Eagles control the ball and game, it’ll be through the run, not Hurts’ right arm.
Daniel Jones
Lean: Under 216.5 Passing Yards (BetMGM)
This projection isn’t as strong, as Koerner and Raybon only have a nine-yard difference in their combined projection for Jones. His total is 216.5 at BetMGM, and they’ve pegged him for 207.5.
Jones has gone under this total in four of his last six games, and he’s gone over it just five times in 17 games this season, including 201 last week against the Vikings.
Jones was sensational against Minnesota, throwing for 301 yards and running for another 78. He had 17 rush attempts, which is a crazy amount for a quarterback.
Jones only faced the Eagles once this season, throwing for 169 yards and running for 26 in a blowout loss at home.
There’s no clear edge for Jones here, but the projections do say under on his passing yards.
