Is there any chance the Eagles lose this one?
Well, the weather is not looking pretty and the opponent is better than its record indicates.
Still, the Eagles are an NFL-best 6-1 and at home, welcoming the 0-7 San Francisco 49ers on Sunday (1 p.m./FOX).
Let's get into our expert predictions for Week 8:
Reuben Frank (7-0)
Last time the Eagles were favored by this many points, Joe Webb came to town. And we all know the rest of the story. There are no locks in the NFL, and it's up to this Eagles team to do what that 2010 team failed to do against the Vikings on a freezing Tuesday night at the Linc — choke off an inferior team, take away its hope and make sure it's not still in the game midway through the third quarter.
The Eagles should annihilate this 49ers team, and I think they will. This is an extremely focused team, and things like trap games, winless opponents and huge point spreads don't seem to affect them.
I expect the Eagles to jump out on top early and ride another exceptional game from Carson Wentz and a big rushing performance from LeGarrette Blount, Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement to blow out a winless 49ers team that wants no part of a 6-1 Eagles team playing at 10 a.m. their time after a five-hour flight.
NFL
The Eagles haven't scored 40 in a while. Not since a 43-24 win over the Titans at the Linc in 2014. They do Monday.
And bring on the Broncos!
Eagles 40, 49ers 6
Dave Zangaro (5-2)
Earlier this week, I began to wonder what percentage of Eagles on the roster could name the 49ers' quarterback.
I never actually got an answer to that question but the fact I could ask it and really wonder kind of tells you all you need to know about the winless 49ers. If you care, his name is C.J. Beathard (BETH-urd) and he's a third-round pick from Iowa who took over for Brian Hoyer.
Wentz said this week that the Niners don't look like an 0-7 team but I guess that depends on what game he was watching. Because five of their seven losses have come by three or fewer points but the other two have been complete blowouts, including last week's 40-10 drubbing at the hands of the Cowboys.
This week will give us a sense of just how focused the Eagles actually are. I think they'll be plenty focused in this one, even against a winless team in the rain.
They ain't losing to "what's his name."
Eagles 34, 49ers 13
Derrick Gunn (6-1)
Losing both future Hall of Famer LT Jason Peters and LB Jordan Hicks for the season are big blows, but the Eagles have become used to the next-man-up mentality. Each week, the legend of Wentz continues to grow. In comes a 49ers squad still in search of its first win of the year. Prior to getting blown out by Dallas, the Niners had set an NFL record for losing five consecutive games by three points or less. Last Sunday, the Cowboys attacked a porous Niners' run defense (29th, allowing 134.6 yards per game) by running the ball 43 times for 265 yards, including 26 by Dak Prescott.
The Eagles must do the same ground and pound and put the Niners away early. San Fran rookie QB Beathard has potential, but he's not ready for what Jim Schwartz will throw at him. It should be an interesting game for at least a half, but the team with the best record in the league should eventually pull away.
Eagles 31, 49ers 10
Ray Didinger (6-1)
The Eagles are adjusting to life without Peters and Hicks, both major losses, but the good news is this week they play the winless San Francisco 49ers, so if there are a few glitches, they shouldn't be too costly. The 49ers are in a total rebuild and while they are playing hard — five of their losses are by three points or less — they aren't very good. They were no match for Dallas (40-10) last week.
Rookie head coach Kyle Shanahan is going with another rookie, Beathard, at quarterback and the kid looks overmatched. The Dallas defense sacked him five times and he fumbled twice. The Eagles have a better pass rush than the Cowboys, so this looks like a big game for Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham and Derrick Barnett, who got two sacks Monday night against Washington.
Eagles 30, 49ers 13
Andrew Kulp (6-1)
It's going to take an epic meltdown by the Eagles to lose this game. The 49ers have managed to play some close games this year, but the list of teams that have experienced scares includes the Cardinals, Colts and Washington. I don't believe the Eagles are in that category.
The 49ers also took a step back last week, losing 40-10 to Dallas with first-time starter Beathard at the helm, so I'm going to go ahead and guess things are going to get worse before they get better. Wentz continues to roll, and the Eagles win with ease.
Eagles 41, 49ers 6
Corey Seidman (4-3)
Literally, the only chance the 49ers have to win this game is with multiple return TDs — one in the kicking game, one on defense. Other than that, how is this offense supposed to keep up with the Eagles? How is this defense supposed to contain Wentz, even in the rain?
This should be a pretty easy win. The Eagles are 12- to 14-point favorites and I fully expect them to cover.
Eagles 27, 49ers 6
Andy Schwartz (6-1)
The Eagles are rolling.
The Niners are winless.
After losing five straight by a combined 13 points (all two or three points, including two in OT), the 49ers got blitzed by Dallas on Sunday by 30. And that was at home.
Now they come across the country to face the Eagles. I know about any given Sunday and all that, but San Fran's first W isn't happening here. Maybe next week at home against banged-up Arizona.
Eagles 31, 49ers 20