On Pattison Picks: Will Eagles charge to victory against Los Angeles?

Well, here we are again.

After another mini-bye week, the Philadelphia Eagles are back in action at SoFi Stadium on Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. The two teams enter the game with matching 8-4 records, but the vibes are very different. The Eagles have lost their last two games and are scrambling to prevent a collapse of 2023 proportions. The Chargers have won four of their last five games – although, granted, those victories came against Minnesota, Tennessee, Pittsburgh and Las Vegas. Not exactly a gauntlet. 

FanDuel Sportsbook has the Eagles listed as slight 1.5-point favorites to defeat the Chargers. Here's how our staff thinks this game will go.

Anthony SanFilippo (5-7)

Score: Eagles 23 - Chargers 19

Game MVP: The element of surprise

Look, I don't feel comfortable making this pick at all. There's not a whole heck of a lot to like about the Eagles right now. But, the Chargers have a lot of issues themselves, especially on both lines. That, and the fact that Justin Herbert is going to play with a fractured hand (non-throwing, but still), has me thinking the Chargers' situation right now might be as rocky as the Eagles'. 

The one thing that scares me about LA is that they can run the ball, and the Bears gave everyone a blueprint on how to do it against the Eagles last week. Highly-touted rookie running back Omarion Hampton is back this week after missing a couple months with injury, and the Eagles are without Jalen Carter.

So, why am I picking the Eagles? Because I think Nick Sirianni is going to wise up and bring back some RPO's that once made the offense click. That, and a little up-tempo offense as well, which the Chargers won't handle well. That'll be just enough to secure the win and chase away the notion of this being a 2023 redux; however, it won't make everyone feel any better about their prospects for next month once the playoffs begin.

Grace Del Pizzo (6-6)

Score: Eagles 26 - Chargers 24

Game MVP: Jordan Davis

The Eagles are in free fall right now. They've obviously lost their last two games, and since a 4-0 start to the season, the Birds have gone 4-4. The offense can't get it going, and the defense can't carry it forever. 

So why pick the Eagles, even if they've given me nothing to be confident about? Because even with Philadelphia's middling offense, the Chargers offense might be in a similar boat this week, especially with Justin Herbert's fractured non-throwing hand. Herbert has faced a lot of pressure this season because of his leaky offensive line. Key injuries have led to revolving doors at both tackle positions. Through 12 games, the Chargers have been forced to use 19 offensive line combinations. That instability bodes well for the Eagles' defensive line to get after the quarterback, even without Jalen Carter on the field. 

It'll be close (isn't it always?), but I think Nick Sirianni's increased involvement in the offensive preparations for this week will lead to greater success on that side of the ball. Jalen Hurts will use his legs more, Saquon Barkley might have some runs that aren't just "run it up the middle and pray," and they'll do just enough to eke out a win over a solid Chargers squad.

Tim Kelly (6-6)

Score: Chargers 23 - Eagles 19

Game MVP: James P. Sullivan

Justin Herbert is about as tough of a quarterback as there is in the NFL right now, as evidenced by the fact that he's playing the same week he had surgery on his non-throwing hand.

Herbert – set to be represented to by "Sully" in the Monsters, Inc. alternate broadcast – will be rewarded by getting his star rookie running back Omarion Hampton back from IR.

The Chargers aren't a perfect team, and might have to use a silent count at home with the Eagles in town. But Jim Harbaugh always builds tough teams, and right now, the Eagles are teetering on disaster. So I'll go with the Chargers.

Real ones know how I arrived at this final score.