Eagles-Raiders Game Preview: Who Will Win in Week 15?
The Philadelphia Eagles have lost three consecutive games and appear to be heading down the same path that they went down in 2023. Yet the Eagles could be facing the “get right” opponent that they’ve been waiting for in Week 15, as Philadelphia will host the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders have lost seven consecutive games and are tied for the worst record in the NFL at 2-11. While the Eagles are 11.5-point favorites against the Raiders, they can’t afford to sleep on a struggling team like they did against the Arizona Cardinals back in 2023.
Here’s my full game preview for a must-win matchup in Week 15.
Three Storylines To Follow
Bounce Back Opportunity for Jalen Hurts
It’s no secret that Jalen Hurts is coming off the worst performance of his NFL career. Hurts had a career-high five turnovers against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14. Now Hurts will try to get back on track against the Raiders.
Luckily for Hurts, Las Vegas’ defense is incredibly average and Philadelphia’s offense should have plenty of opportunities to make plays. The Eagles shifted towards a more aggressive, downfield passing attack against the Chargers last week.
While Hurts struggled with turnovers following the change in philosophy, the Raiders should provide the Eagles with more favorable looks. Las Vegas loves to play their base defense and load the box with 8+ defenders, which should allow Hurts to attack the Raiders over the top.
Another Big Game for A.J. Brown
In recent years, DeVonta Smith has served as Philadelphia’s “zone beater” when opponents opted to play a ton of zone coverage. Yet that hasn’t been the case since Philadelphia’s bye week, as A.J. Brown has now shifted into that role for the Eagles.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Brown has hauled in 27 of 35 targets against zone coverage since Week 9. Guess which team plays the second-highest rate of zone coverage in the NFL? The Las Vegas Raiders.
Therefore, it seems like Brown is slated to have another massive performance for the Eagles. While Brown’s increase in production hasn’t led to wins over the last three weeks, he should feast against the Raiders on Sunday.
Eagles Can’t Sleep on Kenny Pickett
The Raiders are expected to start former Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett in his return to his old stomping grounds on Sunday. While Pickett might not be a household name, the Eagles still can’t afford to sleep on him.
Pickett is slated to hit unrestricted free agency following this season and will be auditioning for the rest of the NFL. After replacing Geno Smith against the Denver Broncos last week, Pickett was able to move the ball effectively against one of the best defenses in the NFL.
While Philadelphia’s defense should have a clear advantage against Las Vegas’ offense, they shouldn’t take Pickett lightly. The Raiders have plenty of intriguing playmakers like Brock Bowers, Tyler Lockett, Michael Mayer, Tre Tucker, Ashton Jeanty and another rookie to watch for…
Two Underrated Players To Watch For
Jack Bech
The Raiders selected wide receiver Jack Bech in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. While Bech has just 16 receptions for 164 receiving yards during his rookie season, there are two reasons to keep an eye on him against the Eagles in Week 15.
Bech is coming off the best game of his NFL career, as he hauled in all six of his targets for 50 yards against the Broncos. It seemed like Pickett has a strong connection with Bech that they’ll be looking to build on in Philadelphia.
Tiger Bech, Jack’s brother, was tragically killed during an attack in New Orleans. Tiger was a fan of the Eagles and attended games with his friend Ryan Quigley, who survived the attack. The Eagles have helped both families since the attack and it’ll surely be emotional to watch Jack play at Lincoln Financial Field.
Byron Young
Byron Young was drafted by the Raiders in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He was unceremoniously waived during final roster cuts in 2024 and claimed by the Eagles. After developing for a year in Philadelphia, Young has grown into a rotation piece for the Eagles.
Young is coming off the best game of his NFL career against the Chargers last week. The 25-year-old defensive tackle recorded 8 total tackles, including 1.5 sacks in Los Angeles, despite the loss.
Now Young will look to build on his strong performance against the Chargers with another big opportunity against his former team. The Eagles will be without Jalen Carter for the second consecutive week and will surely rely on Young to step-up once again.
One Key Matchup To Monitor
Eagles DL vs. Raiders OL
Similar to last week, Philadelphia’s defensive front will be going against a battered offensive line. Since Las Vegas’ bye week in Week 8, the Raiders have started eight different offensive linemen and utilized 10 different offensive line combinations.
The Raiders have also struggled mightily to run the ball all season, as Las Vegas has averaged just 2.7 yards per carry on designed runs. Therefore, the Eagles should be able to pin their ears back and go after Kenny Pickett.
The Raiders have allowed 50 sacks this season, the most in the NFL. After recording a season-high seven sacks against the Chargers last week, Philadelphia’s pass rush could have even more success in Week 15.
Underdog Pick’em Plays for Eagles-Raiders
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Final Score Predictions
Josh’s Pick: Eagles 24, Raiders 13
Another week and another “get right” opportunity for the Eagles. Yet despite being favored by 11.5 points and an extreme disparity of talent between the two sides, Philly hasn’t proven enough to believe they can cover the spread. I do think Fangio’s defense does enough for the win though, and at least the offense takes a step in the right direction this week (small victory).
Anthony’s Pick: Eagles 27, Raiders 17
The Eagles have lost three consecutive games and are heading into must-win territory against the Raiders in Week 15. While it’s hard to have much confidence in Philadelphia’s offense right now, Las Vegas is bad enough that it’s going to be hard for the Eagles to lose this one. It won’t look pretty but the Eagles will get a much-needed win on Sunday.