On Pattison Picks: Can Eagles Take Care of Business Against Panthers?

The 10-2 Eagles face the 3-9 Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday. The Birds are enormous favorites (-12.5 at most sportsbooks).

Can the Panthers pull off a stunner? Here's what our On Pattison staffers believe will happen Sunday afternoon:

Tim Kelly

Score: Eagles 30 - Panthers 14

Game MVP: Saquon Barkley

I've actually been impressed by the job Dave Canales has done in his first year with the Panthers, as his early-season benching of Bryce Young allowed the former No. 1 overall pick to take a step back. In recent weeks, he's looked much more prepared, to the point where there's a real shot he will be the starter again in 2025, which seemed unthinkable six weeks ago.

With that said, there's still a talent gap here. Perhaps there's some risk of a trap game, but I'm not going to predict that. I think Saquon Barkley will rush for at least 109 yards, which would allow him to break LeSean McCoy's single-season franchise rushing record. That will lead the Eagles to their ninth win in a row, and keep them nipping at the heels of the Detroit Lions for the No. 1 seed.

Saquon is just 109 yards away from breaking the Eagles' single-season rushing record.

1,607 — LeSean McCoy
1,499 — Saquon Barkley

The question isn't if he'll break it, but when. pic.twitter.com/dWtFuhpVcG

— StatMuse Football (@statmusefb) December 6, 2024

Anthony SanFilippo

Score: Eagles 27 - Panthers 13

Game MVP: Jalen Carter

Carolina has been a scrappy team the last few weeks and there’s nothing to tell you that won’t be different this week. They are a young team that is trying to show a little spunk and they may surprise you by hanging around in this one for a little bit.

But the Eagles are the far superior team and the defense is going to overwhelm Carolina eventually - likely in the second half as the Panthers try to come from behind. That’s when Carter and company will be at their best. Carolina does run block well - as evidenced by Chuba Hubbard’s fine season running the ball, but they aren’t great against a stout pass rush, and Carter has been one of the sport’s most disruptive forces. He’ll be in Bryce Young’s face a lot, and the Eagles will slowly pull away from Carolina and win going away because of it.

JALEN CARTER IN A BLINK OF AN EYE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/C1y17CQ1Oj

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 1, 2024

John Foley

Score: Eagles 41 - Panthers 10

Game MVP: Saquon Barkley

There are no free wins in the National Football League. But this game comes pretty close.

I can be as much of a Negadelphian as anybody else. But it's really hard to find a way for the Panthers to hang close in this one. An Eagles offense that averages a league-high 189 yards/game on the ground is up against a Panthers defense that allows an NFL-high 167 rush yards/game.

That's what we call a mismatch.

Saquon Barkley will run wild early and the Birds will go up big. The Panthers will abandon their run game and try to put the game in the hands of Bryce Young. And that will be bad news for the second-year QB.

I expect the Eagles to force a couple turnovers. They will probably also have some fun with a few deep balls to AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. I wouldn't bet $3.1 million on the outcome, but I can certainly understand why someone did.

A bettor in Kentucky is backing the Philadelphia Eagles to defeat the Carolina Panthers on Sunday with a $3.1 million wager, one of the largest bets ever reported on an NFL regular-season game.

Story via @DougGreenberg and @DavidPurdum:https://t.co/03ABGSo3Gn

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 7, 2024

Austin Krell

Score: Eagles 31 - Panthers 10

Game MVP: Jalen Hurts

As long as the Eagles don’t get stuck in traffic on the way to the Linc, it’s damn near impossible to mess this up.