Should you bet on Washington to upset Philly in Week 15?

FanSided is partnering with The Action Network to bring you expert sports betting information and analysis.

Eagles at Redskins Betting Odds

• Odds: Eagles -4.5
• Over/Under: 39
• Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
• TV Channel: FOX

This season can’t seem to end soon enough for the Redskins, who have struggled all year. They host a resilient Eagles squad at FedEx Field where they are just 1-5 this season, averaging 13.1 points per game. Nearly 70% of bettors have taken the under in this game as of Thursday.

Will either team have enough offense to push this total over?

Our experts preview the game, featuring their picks and analysis of the biggest matchups.

Eagles-Redskins Injury Report

Which team is healthier? Redskins

Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (calf) has been ruled out, which is good news for Carson Wentz since Kerrigan is one of the Redskins’ best pass-rushers. Cornerback Quinton Dunbar (hamstring) missed practice Wednesday and is worth monitoring given he’s Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 overall cornerback this season.

Paul Richardson (hamstring) has returned to limited practice after being out the last few weeks. Meanwhile, Trey Quinn (concussion) was downgraded to no practice on Thursday after getting in a limited session on Wednesday.

The Eagles will be without Alshon Jeffery (foot) for the remainder of the season, and Nelson Agholor (knee) still isn’t practicing. If Agholor were to miss this game, the Eagles would trot out JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Greg Ward and Robert Davis, who was recently called up from the practice squad. — Justin Bailey

Note: Info as of Thursday. See our Injury Report for daily practice participation and game statuses up until kickoff.

Biggest Mismatch

Redskins WR Terry McLaurin vs. Eagles CB Ronald Darby

Amid a sorry 3-10 campaign, McLaurin is Washington’s most promising future building block.

The rookie third-round pick out of Ohio State burst on the scene with 60-plus yards and a touchdown in four of his first five games and currently ranks top-20 league-wide in yards per reception (15.6) and touchdown grabs (6).

At 6-feet, 208 pounds, the 23-year-old already looks the part of a complete receiver, combining wicked route-running prowess with 98th-percentile speed and the ability to make plays on the ball (he ranks second among wide receivers with a 68.4% contested catch rate, per Player Profiler). His stellar play has earned him a grade of 82.4 receiving grade from Pro Football Focus, the 11th-best mark among 120 qualified wide receivers.

A fifth-year former second-round pick by the Bills, Darby is only 25, but has seen better days. He has been targeted 6.6 times per game this season and isn’t making opposing QBs regret their choice, surrendering 37-of-59 (62.9%) completions for 612 yards — an outlandish 10.4 yards per target and 16.5 yards per reception.

Darby has given up at least one completion of 20 or more yards in seven of nine games, and his 2.04 yards allowed per snap in coverage ranks 129th of 131 qualified cornerbacks, per PFF.

With all of that said — and to the delight of under bettors everywhere — McLaurin has by no means been a lock to exploit this type of situation as of late. Since interim coach Bill Callahan took the reins in Week 6, Washington has thrown on a paltry 53% of its offensive plays, fifth-fewest in the league over that span.

And then there’s the issue of his former Ohio State teammate and current Redskins starting quarterback, Dwayne Haskins:

• McLaurin with Case Keenum/Colt McCoy at QB: 28 receptions on 45 targets (62.2%) | 458 yards (10.2 YPT, 16.4 YPR) | 5 TD, 24 first downs
• McLaurin with Haskins at QB: 19 receptions on 35 targets (54.3%) | 248 yards (7.1 YPT, 13.1 YPR) | 1 TD, 13 first downs

Haskins’ failure to fully take advantage of his top weapon is a primary reason the under is 4-1 in his five career starts. — Chris Raybon

Sean Koerner’s Projected Odds

• Projected Spread: Eagles -4.5
• Projected Total: 40

My projections are right in line with this market.

The Eagles should be closer to -6 here, but with a cluster injury at wide receiver, it’s enough to move their power rating down 1 to 1.5 points. Lane Johnson is also likely to miss this game, which means they may have a tougher time stopping the Redskins’ solid defensive line — which generates pressure at the third-highest rate — from getting to Wentz.

Given the lack of talent the Eagles will have available at wide receiver, it may allow the Redskins to focus on trying to take away his safety valves in tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. Sharps are likely thinking a similar outcome. The market opened at Eagles -4.5, which has drawn 65% of the tickets and 83% of the money (see live public betting data here), yet the line is dropping to -4 at the sharper books.

I’m certain sharps are leaning Redskins, but I’ll be waiting until we have more clarity on Johnson’s or Agholor’s status before betting money on a Dwayne Haskins-quarterbacked team. — Sean Koerner

Expert Pick

Raybon: Under 40

As I mentioned above, the under is 4-1 in Haskins’ five career starts, and his inconsistent connection with McLaurin could potentially thwart the best means this game has of finding its way over the total.

Someone needs to tell Haskins that he doesn’t need to physically drop to execute a dropback. He’s been sacked on an absurd 14.0% of dropbacks, most in the NFL. That has led to a league-worst 4.23 net yards per pass attempt average, just the type of offensive ineptitude we look for when betting unders.

The Redskins will also be without second-year running back Derrius Guice, who accounted for nearly 40% of the team’s touchdowns since Week 7, despite the fact he wasn’t even activated from the injured reserve until Week 11.

But it’s injuries on the Philly side that figure to have the greatest impact on the total. Lane Johnson — PFF’s No. 1 graded tackle this season — will miss this game with a high-ankle sprain sustained on Monday Night Football. The Eagles also lost Jeffery while Agholor could sit out for a second week in a row with a knee injury.

Aside from inconsistent rookie running back Miles Sanders, the offense has no explosion. Wentz’s 6.5 yards per pass attempt ranks 30th, and the Eagles haven’t produced scoring play of over 25 yards on offense since Week 8.

Instead, they have to rely on long drives like the back-to-back 10-play, 58-yard and 14-play, 80-yard touchdown drives that chewed up five minutes, 17 seconds and six minutes, 39 seconds, respectively, in their comeback effort against the Giants last Monday.

Raybon is 180-132-10 (57.7%) overall betting on the NFL. You can follow him in our free app.