NFL Week 13 preview: Purdy to run the show against Hurts’ Eagles

Last weekend was filled with treats both on and off the field as Thanksgiving football took centre stage. This week returns to normality, but there are still some seriously exciting encounters across the league.

With the red-hot Broncos travelling to Houston, and an enticing clash between the 49ers and Eagles, this week is sure to provide some electric football.

We preview two marquee matchups from Week 13 below.

Denver Broncos @ Houston Texans, Sunday 18:00

The last team Houston will have wanted to see on the fixture list this week is the Denver Broncos, who made it five wins in a row last weekend as they defeated the Cleveland Browns by 29 points to 12.

The Broncos will make the 1,000 mile journey to Houston’s NRG Stadium on Sunday, travelling there as the underdogs at 33/20. The underdog status is unlikely to waver the Broncos’ confidence with the Texans winning just two from six when defending on home soil.

The Texans were on a similar run, winning three on the bounce, but this weekend’s 20/37 favourites had their streak ended by the Jacksonville Jaguars who spoiled their Thanksgiving celebrations, putting up 24 points to the Texans 21.

This game will see two top-quality quarterbacks going head-to-head, but CJ Stroud is the pick of the pair. The 22-year-old threw for over 300 yards for the fourth successive time last weekend and is showing no signs of slowing down.

When it comes to picking between Stroud and Broncos QB Russell Wilson, we’re siding with Stroud to get the better of his opposite number and throw over 1.5 touchdowns (8/13),  whilst passing for more than 263.5 yards (5/6).

San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday 21:25

With the way these two sides have played so far this season, this game could potentially be a first look at this season’s NFC Championship Game. Both of these sides are set for the playoffs with the two teams 1/14 (Eagles) and 1/33 (49ers) to win their respective divisions.

Neither of these sides are in any sort of bad form, but it is the Eagles who reign supreme as far as winning streaks are concerned. However, five consecutive wins for Nick Sirianni’s side are not enough to make them favourites as they head into this contest as the 5/4 underdogs – although a loss here would be just their second of the season.

On the other hand, the 49ers have lost just once in five matches at home this season, and they will be confident of justifying their 20/29 favouritism, after trouncing the Seattle Seahawks on the road last weekend.

Unsurprisingly, this one is yet another game that will be billed as a battle of the pockets, with two of the league’s best quarterbacks on show in Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy.

After a tough outing against the Chiefs, where he threw for just 150 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception, Jalen Hurts bounced back in style last week. Although the Eagles’ star man only threw 200 yards, it was quality over quantity for Hurts as he threw for three touchdowns.

Hurts’ greatest yardage in the past three weeks has been just 207, but we can see him letting the arm loose here and throwing for over 242.5 yards at 5/6. Meanwhile, Purdy has thrown a touchdown in all but one game this season and we don’t expect him to let Hurts run the show on his own turf, with Purdy 4/5 to throw over 1.5 touchdowns our pick of the bets.