The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the easiest schedules in the NFL as the second half of the season begins, yet face a challenging task in the Denver Broncos Sunday. Denver is just a half-game out of the AFC West lead at 5-4 and is coming off a huge victory over the Dallas Cowboys last week. The Broncos are looking to extend their unbeaten record against NFC East teams in 2021 while Philadelphia is seeking to snap its nine-game winless streak against AFC opponents (last win was Week 8 of the 2019 season).
Philadelphia hasn't won in Denver since 1989, making the task to pull off a victory on the road even more difficult. The Eagles are 3-2 on the road while sporting an 0-4 record at home, so this team is no stranger toward winning away from Lincoln Financial Field. Denver is coming off its first 30-point performance of the season and is seeking to continue the offensive momentum against a Philadelphia defense that has allowed 75.5% of its passes to be completed through nine games.
Will the Eagles win their first game in Denver in 32 years? Can the Broncos stay in the AFC West race? Here's a preview of Sunday's matchup.
How to watchDate: Sunday, Nov. 14 | Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: Empower Field at Mile High (Denver)
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)
Follow: CBS Sports App
Odds: Broncos -2.5, O/U 45.5
Denver plays a defense that primarily lines up in man coverage, should the Broncos choose to go that route. The Broncos play just 54% zone coverage, the second-lowest rate in the league. Hurts isn't particularly good against zone coverage, completing just 63% of passes against zone coverage -- 30th out of 33 qualified quarterbacks (only Sam Darnold, Jameis Winston, and Zach Wilson are lower).
Hurts has completed 58.8% of passes against man coverage this year (13th in the NFL) and Denver runs man coverage 40.8% of the time. Here's the trick of the trade: Denver has allowed just a 71.5 rating in man coverage (fifth-best in NFL) and a completion percentage of 50.4% (second-best in NFL).
Denver's pass defense is very good, no matter the coverage it plays. Hurts has a challenge Sunday, even if his 97.2 passer rating against man coverage is 14th in the NFL (although his 7.58 yards per attempt is ninth in the league).
Denver red-zone offense vs. Philadelphia red-zone defenseThe Broncos aren't strong in the red zone, scoring a touchdown on 55% of their red-zone drives (22nd in NFL). Denver is scoring a touchdown on 63% of their goal-to-go situations, fourth-worst in the league -- making the situation even worse. They might have a cure this week against Philadelphia.
The Eagles allow a touchdown on 70% of red-zone drives, the sixth-highest rate in the league. Philadelphia also allows a touchdown on 78% of goal-to-go situations, 11th-highest in the league. If there's any opportunity for the Broncos to convert field goals into touchdowns in the red zone -- it's this week against the Eagles.
PredictionLatest Odds: Denver Broncos -1.5
The Eagles will need to stay away from man coverage in this one, as Teddy Bridgewater leads the NFL in passer rating against man coverage (135.0). Bridgewater also leads the NFL in completion percentage in man coverage (71.6%), so this isn't the week to switch to man if you're defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
For Philadelphia to beat Denver, Gannon needs to run primarily zone coverage and
