Mike Sliwinski

I need you all to take a deep breath and say this with me. The Eagles still have the best record in football. Although they are now tied with others in having that record and only control their destiny for the 2nd seed, it will be ok. The toughest stretch is over and despite this being a slightly difficult game, it does not compare to the gauntlet they faced over the past 6 games prior. The lost to the other 2 clear Superbowl favorites, albeit neither game was particularly close, when both had much longer rests than the Birds.

The home game against SF was not good. They were dominated. Last week was different. I am not going to say they should have won, but they keep it close and the game plays out a lot differently if the Eagles don’t shoot themselves I the foot. Three turnovers and another turnover on downs all inside their own 30 followed by a few penalties on 3rd down on both sides of the ball that killed drives for them and extended it for Dallas would be impossible to overcome against a mediocre team. Against a good one, you get blown out.

This is a new week. The Eagles have a full week plus before facing Seattle, in a tough place to play. Early reports are that Seahawks starting QB will play, but he is banged up. RB Kenneth Walker was back last week, so they are getting healthy. Metcalf has been on a tear of late and other WRs Lockett and Smith-Njigba are hot and cold but can burn teams. Still against a still good and now angry defense, I see them only being mildly effective this game.

The Seahawks have given up 31, 41, and 28 points, the first and last being blowouts, the last 3 weeks. Like the Eagles the defense is leaking oil a bit. This should allow Hurts and the high-powered offense to get back on track.

After the last 2 weeks and some players calling out both first year coordinators for being predictable, call me crazy but I think they reestablish themselves as an elite team and take advantage of a team that lost their last 4 with a get right game, even in a hostile environment.

Eagles 34 Seahawks 24

Pat Mulranen

There are no easy wins in the NFL

The Eagles are 3-11 in their last 14 games against the Seahawks since 1995, including a seven-game losing streak and nine losses in their last 10. Seattle hasn’t traveled to Philadelphia and lost since 1989.

If history is any indication, then this is not good for the Birds. But, hey, the Jets had never lost to the Eagles in their franchise history and they broke that streak.  

The Eagles will be desperate after back-to-back losses and losing the top seed in the NFC. The Seahawks are also desperate and hanging on to their playoff hopes, so this will be a battle.

The Eagles defense has been absolutely atrocious the last few games. But more so their third down defense. The Eagles have given up more conversions on third down (87) than any other team in the league, which needs to change… and fast.

The Eagles pass defense has been getting progressively worse, and they will be without Darius Slay. With guys like DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and rookie Jaxon Smith- Njigba, trouble could be brewing. Seattle has a young offensive line, so hopefully the Eagles will bring some pressure (please!) and disrupt the passing game. 

But off third downs… the Eagles offense has the worst

third-down conversion percentage (48.1%) in the NFL. It’s crazy the amount of times they are either punting or getting near the end zone and having to settle for a fired goal. That’s an area that I need to see improve, but a lot of that falls in Brian Johnson’s calls. Some make no sense, especially on third-down situations.

Again, this is a game that both teams need to win. The Eagles have the better matchup, it’s just they have not instilled much confidence the last few weeks. A win— or maybe even a dominant win, for once—  could change that. The Seahawks have lost four straight. They have been falling off, and the Eagles are the better team with better veteran players. I think the Eagles get back in the win column, but I don  to see a comfortable win, either. 

Eagles 28, Seahawks 23