Two 8-4 squads collide for Week 14’s edition of Monday Night Football. The Philadelphia Eagles carry a comfortable 2.5-game lead atop the NFC East, while the Los Angeles Chargers currently hold the AFC’s top Wild Card spot. Postseason stakes are on the line for Monday’s 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, which will be televised by ESPN.
Both teams lean on exceptional defenses while ranking in the top five for the most seconds per play on offense. While PrizePicks Team Picks features a 41.5 total, each offense still has its stars. Let’s dive into our PrizePicks projections and Eagles vs. Chargers Monday Night Football picks.
Eagles vs. Chargers Monday Night Football Picks for PrizePicks
It's not unfair to theorize that Monday night could be a low-scoring bout, however, both offenses still feature notable pieces. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and Chargers QB Justin Herbert have become two faces of the league and throw to well-rounded receiving corps.
The injury report features two key players: Philadelphia DT Jalen Carter (shoulder) will be out, and Los Angeles RB Omarion Hampton (ankle) is making his first start since Week 5. How does the news impact Eagles vs. Chargers picks? Let’s dig in.
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Chargers RB Omarion Hampton vs. Eagles Projection: 43.5 Rush Yards
The Eagles’ rush defense has struggled at times, allowing 4.5 yards per carry (23rd) and 128.9 rushing yards per game (24th). According to SumerSports, Philly also ranks 19th in expected points added (EPA) per rushing attempt allowed.
Stopping the run is already a potential flaw of this defense, and that’s been even more glaring when Carter’s out. Over his absences in Week 1 and 6, opponents averaged 4.8 yards per carry and 145.5 rushing yards per contest.
Over five appearances, Hampton totaled 13.2 rushing attempts, 62.8 rushing yards, and 4.8 yards per carry. When he left Week 5’s contest from injury with a 58.2% snap share, the rookie still totaled 44 rushing yards. The former Tar Heel has reached 44 rushing yards in four of five appearances.
Pro Football Focus has Hampton racking up 3.79 yards after contact per carry. That’s in company with some of the league’s best backs, among them Falcons RB Bijan Robinson (3.82) and Dolphins RB De’Von Achane (3.90).
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts vs. Chargers Projection: 0.5 Rushing + Receiving Touchdowns
According to Pro Football Reference, Hurts has accounted for 73.3% of the Eagles’ rushing attempts from the 5-yard line (sixth). This has led to 8 rushing touchdowns for the season, including 3 over his last three games.
Meanwhile, the Chargers are tied for the eighth-most rushing touchdowns allowed against quarterbacks. Furthermore, Los Angeles cedes 1.2 rushing touchdowns per game (23rd). The Bolts’ rush D as a whole has been underwhelming, allowing 4.5 yards per carry (24th) and ranked 18th in EPA per rushing attempt allowed.
As usual, Hurts is bound to see some red zone work. PlayerProfiler has Hurts totaling 1.9 red zone carries per game (second among QBs).
Chargers TE Oronde Gadsden vs. Eagles Projection: 38.5 Receiving Yards
Hampton isn’t the only Bolts rookie turning heads. After posting snap shares under 54.0% in his first three appearances, Los Angeles TE Oronde Gadsden has emerged as a productive starter with snap rates surpassing 70.0% in six of the last seven games.
He dominated from Week 6 to 9, averaging 6.0 receptions and 94.3 receiving yards per game. Gadsden’s production has taken a step back over the previous three games, posting only 2.0 catches and 27.0 receiving yards per contest. Even his volume dipped to 2 targets in Week 13, the rookie’s lowest mark since becoming a starter.
As one of the NFL’s top pass defenses, the Eagles could be Gadsden’s toughest matchup yet. Philadelphia has surrendered the second-fewest receiving yards to tight ends. It also features man coverage at the 14th-highest rate, per Sharp Football Analysis. Gadsden touts a 55.2 receiving grade against man coverage compared to 86.2 when seeing zone, via Pro Football Focus.
Gadsden has a tough task ahead as he looks to climb out of a cold streak.
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The Eagles could add to their lead in the NFC East, and the Chargers are looking to stack another win in their pursuit of the Broncos in the AFC West. Monday Night Football’s matchup has true playoff stakes.
The return of Hampton from injury and Jalen Carter’s absence are two stories leading this highly anticipated matchup. How could these factors impact Monday night’s meeting?
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