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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Week 13 NFL underdog report: No respect for defending NFC champs

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 11/29/23

Oddsmakers aren’t showing the Philadelphia Eagles much love against the 49ers this week, but Panthers owner David Tepper showed his head coach even less. (For the latest odds, go to oddschecker.)

San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles (+2.5)

On offense, the 49ers gain more yards per game than Philadelphia. Defensively, they allow fewer yards and points per game than the Eagles. Their quarterback, Brock Purdy, has more yards and touchdowns than Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts and no running back has more rushing yards than the 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey.

In other words, there’s plenty of statistical reasons for San Francisco to be favored in a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship Game. Then again, Philadelphia’s league-best 10-1 record should count for something. Comeback wins against the Chiefs and Bills don’t happen by accident.

Eagles players haven’t forgotten the negative chatter from players like San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel and they’re keenly aware of their underdog status and their reputation of “winning ugly.” With bulletin board material coming in from all sides, head coach Nick Sirianni won’t have any trouble motivating his team.

San Francisco 49ers Deebo Samuel on why they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game.

"We lost because we played with 10 people" pic.twitter.com/f9miTT801x
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) May 5, 2023

With wins against the Bills, Chiefs, Cowboys and Dolphins already under their belt, Philadelphia has every reason to believe it can beat San Francisco this week.

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2.5)

In finance, the phrase “dead cat bounce” describes a brief recovery in the price of a declining stock. Some call it a “sucker rally.” The same concept applies to team sports, especially the NFL. When a team fires its head coach, players often take it as a wake-up call and rally around the interim coach.

After firing head coach Josh McDaniel in Week 8, the Las Vegas Raiders responded by beating the Giants and Jets in Weeks 9 and 10. They’ve lost every game since, but for a short time the team played well.

Fed up with four straight losses and a 1-10 record, Carolina fired head coach Frank Reich, assistant head coach Duce Staley and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown this week. Special teams coach Chris Tabor will take over for Reich against division rival Tampa Bay.

The Buccaneers have lost six of their last seven games. Only the Chargers give up more passing yards per game than Tampa Bay (267.8), which could be just what rookie Panthers’ quarterback Bryce Young needs.

Carolina’s offense has been awful all season, but their defense has played well under the circumstances. The Panthers give up the third-most points per game (26.5) but the sixth-fewest yards (304.5). If Tabor can get anything out of the offense, the Panthers could have enough bounce to beat the Bucs

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