Playoff Preview: Eagles Host Seahawks

Playoff Preview: Eagles Host Seahawks

Sunday, January 5 at Lincoln Financial Field, Seahawks 1.5-point favorites

After capturing the NFC East in a blowout victory over the Giants, the Philadelphia Eagles are set to face the Seattle Seahawks for an NFC Wildcard matchup on Sunday at 4:40 PM.

Injury Report:

Philadelphia

OUT: WR Nelson Agholor (knee)

QUESTIONABLE: TE Zach Ertz (ribs, back), T Lane Johnson (ankle)

Seattle

OUT: T Duane Brown (knee/biceps), LB Mychal Kendricks (knee), WR Malik Turner (concussion)

QUESTIONABLE: WR Jaron Brown (knee), G Mike Iupati (neck)

For Philadelphia, WR Nelson Agholor remains out with a knee injury. The Eagles will move forward with Greg Ward, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, and their other reserves at WR. Zach Ertz was cleared for contact after suffering a nasty injury two weeks ago. He’s expected to play. Johnson, while questionable, is more likely to return next week if Philadelphia can handle Seattle. Seattle has two offensive linemen on the injury report, not ideal for an already weak group of pass blockers. Former Eagle Mychal Kendricks is out for the season after tearing his ACL, but the return of safety Quandre Diggs will bolster Seattle’s defense.

Analysis:

With Miles Sanders set to play, Jordan Howard a week removed from his return, and the ascension of Boston “Philly” Scott, the Eagles need to run the football down Seattle’s throat. Over the last three games, Seattle is 30th in run defense, allowing an abysmal 175.3 yards per game on the ground. With Matt Pryor and Big V set to start for Philadelphia, consistent pass protection may not be a luxury for Carson Wentz to enjoy. Establishing the run game early will lead to play-action opportunities and more importantly will keep the ball out of the hands of Russell Wilson.

Speaking of Wilson, the second-team All-Pro has slowed down considerably in recent weeks. It doesn’t help to lose your top three running backs for the season, but he didn’t play well in losses to the Rams and Cardinals that sunk Seattle’s chances at a bye. Even in the first matchup against Philadelphia, Wilson completed just 52% of his passes and threw an interception. Wilson remains one of the most dangerous players in the NFL and can turn it on at any time, but this isn’t as bad of a matchup for the Eagles defense as people may think. Ronald Darby being out for the year may be addition by subtraction. Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham are set to feast against this weak offensive line. Marshawn Lynch has only played one game in the past year-plus and current starting RB Travis Homer only has 18 career rushes.

History may be in Seattle’s favor as they’ve won the last five matchups against Philadelphia dating back to 2011, but none of that actually matters. Here we see two teams trending in opposite directions since their last matchup and two quarterbacks trending in opposite directions as well. Over their last five, the Eagles have gone 4-1 (albeit against a weak schedule) while Seattle has gone 2-3. The Eagles are led by the best motivational coach in the business and are once again embracing the same underdog, next-man-up mentality that took them to a championship in 2017. Logic may say Seattle prevails, but my gut says otherwise.
Prediction: Eagles 23, Seahawks 17

-By: Micah Jimoh

Writer/Interviewer