The weather promises to be a little more hospitable to the participants when the Eagles host the Denver Broncos to Lincoln Financial Field Sunday at 1 p.m. in an NFL inter-conference game.

After last week’s win over San Francisco that was played in a driving rain storm, the Eagles will be grateful to play a game where they can at least stay dry.

These two teams are going in opposite directions. The Eagles are atop the NFC East with a 7-1 record and two-and-a-half games ahead of Dallas (4-3).  They have a six-game winning streak on the line and for the second week in a row are at least a touchdown favorite.The Cowboys host Kansas City in the ninth week’s only other inter-conference matchup.

Meanwhile, the Broncos are in free fall. They are between quarterbacks. Trevor Siemian is out and Brock Osweiler is back in.

Siemian threw three interceptions in the 29-19 loss to Kansas City on Monday night. After starting the season 2-0, the Broncos (3-4) have lost four of their last five and three straight. Staying alive in the AFC West race is getting more difficult for them with each game.

This is a return for Osweiler. He played for the Broncos a couple of years ago and then signed with the Houston Texans. From Houston he went to Cleveland. He didn’t play all that well for either team and is now hoping to bring the Broncos back to life before their season is a lost cause.

The Broncos strength is their defense. Their best player on defense is All-Pro outside linebacker Von Miller. Lining up opposite Miller will be left tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who is playing for Jason Peters, lost for the season in the Washington game two weeks ago. Vaitai has an almost impossible task ahead of him in attempting to keep Von Miller from pressuring second year quarterback Carson Wentz. Since he won’t be able to do that, he will have to try with all his might to keep Miller from sacking Wentz.

If he can do that, the Eagles should control the ball and the clock. If they can do those things and also not turn the ball over, the Broncos will have a long field ahead of them whenever they take over possession. With their quarterback situation the way it is, the Eagles defense probably will play one of their better games. They have given up an average of 19.5 points per game which is fifth in the conference.

There have been 29 inter-conference games played this season, the NFC has won 17, the AFC 12 and no ties. The NFC has scored to 691 points in those games compared to the AFC’s 623.