An interesting stat came up during the Monday Night Football broadcast. Apparently, the Philadelphia hasn’t defeated Seattle since Pete Carroll became head coach.
The unfortunate streak continues as Drew Lock and the Seahawks completed a 92-yard game-winning drive in the game’s final minute. The victory keeps Seattle’s playoff hopes alive. Conversely, it raises more questions about the Eagles’ capability to compete against better teams.
Jalen Hurts: proceed with caution
Starting Jalen Hurts on your fantasy football roster is a massive gamble, especially with the playoffs upcoming. He gets points off the running game, as shown by his two rushing touchdowns. Credit the Eagles offensive line for putting him in goal-line situations.
However, it’s difficult to trust Hurts the passer. An argument can be made that unfavorable weather conditions led him to underthrow several passes against the Seahawks. But there is a deeper concern, considering his completion percentage went below 60 percent in two of their last three games.
Both of Hurts’ interceptions versus Seattle did not have enough air behind it. There might be a problem with his mechanics, or that he isn’t 100 percent due to an illness. Sadly, he’s not playing like a quarterback worthy of a five-year, $255 million extension. Hurts has become a liability to the Eagles offense, turning him from a can’t-miss to borderline fantasy starter.
Drew Lock had luck on his side
It’s been over 1,100 days since Drew Lock had a game-winning drive. That speaks volumes on how his NFL career has progressed. If he can’t even beat Geno Smith to become the Seahawks starter, it’s hard to be optimistic about Seattle’s chances when he started in Week 15.
No wonder he let his emotions win over him during the post-game interview. He doesn’t know when he will get an opportunity like this. However, give credit where it’s due because Lock kept them in the game by mixing things up. He pushed the right buttons that allowed them to steal the victory.
Leading the Seahawks through the 92-yard game-winning drive is the stuff of legends. But is this the resurgence of his career like what happened to Smith? It’s too early to tell. The perception on him of being nothing but a game manager will change if he can string more performances like these.
Despite the win, Lock just played Seattle’s game plan to perfection. They scored enough points while taking care of the ball and the defense did the rest. Therefore, it’s tough to bet on Lock having a repeat performance next week, if he gets the start.
Great things happen when Kenneth Walker gets the ball
Carroll’s Seahawks live and die with the run. It helps them shorten the game, limiting their opponent’s chances. Seattle remembered their core being by giving Walker more carries. After have 12 carries in their two previous games, he had 19 against the Eagles.
As a result, he scored his first touchdown in seven games. Maintaining this usage rate makes him an every-down back who will give Lock or Smith much relief in running the offense. Walker III has an opportunity to finish the season strongly because their last three regular season opponents (Tennessee, Pittsburgh, Arizona) are ranked 17th, 22nd, and 31st in rushing yards allowed.
Benching Tariq Woolen worked for the Seahawks
While Woolen had a Pro Bowl rookie season, he is suffering a massive sophomore slump. He has missed tackles and has struggled on defense, especially in stopping the run. Carroll made adjustments by having Mike Jackson start and it worked.
While the San Francisco 49ers gained 543 yards against Seattle, Jackson allowed only one catch out of three targets for 25 yards, Carroll stayed with the hot hand and it worked. That minor adjustment could bring stability to a Seahawks secondary battered by injuries to Tre Brown, Artie Burns, and Devon Witherspoon.
Philadelphia’s woes in stopping the pass continues
Could it be that the Eagles pass defense do not have the personnel to prevent big plays from happening? James Bradberry looked old and beaten and Sydney Brown missed several tackles. Their weak personnel allowed DK Metcalf to dominate in the final drive, leading to the winning score.
Likewise, it’s puzzling that defensive play-caller Matt Patricia dialed a one-on-one matchup on Jaxon Smith-Njigba while protecting a 4-point lead. That decision highlights the fact that the Eagles are a mess in stopping the pass.
Even Lock, a quarterback who lost his starting role with the Broncos, looked sharp by completing 67 percent of his passes. This game, and their three-game losing streak, points out the troubling reality that their secondary could be their downfall.
—Lance Fernandez