The National Football League completes their four day holiday schedule with three games today beginning at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Las Vegas Raiders. The afternoon contest, which starts at 1:30 p.m., will kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field with the Philadelphia Eagles entertaining the New York Giants. The late game finds a possible preview of Super Bowl LVIII when the San Francisco 49ers host the Baltimore Ravens.
In some households, the Christmas schedule is like the Grinch who stole Christmas. You know there is going to be some tension in homes where some want family members to focus on family activities and some family members would like their ten hours of watching NFL games without distraction.
From my desk, I’m here to distract with a pair of picks on this holiday.
In addition to this unique schedule for Christmas, a rarity takes place in Philadelphia when Nick Sirianni’s Eagles meet Brian Daboll’s Giants. Since the NFL and American Football League merged into the American and National Conferences in 1970, only six previous times has a team on a three game losing streak been favored by 13 points or more.
The Eagles have lost their last three games to the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks. They haven’t covered a point spread since a mid November victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. And yet, against the Giants today, they become the seventh team in 53 years to be favored by two touchdowns or more while riding a three game losing streak
So, how have the first six teams that were big favorites off three losses done?