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The Seattle Seahawks were less than a yard from winning the NFC West. Instead, they came up that short against the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday, and now face an uphill battle as they suddenly have a road game on Wild Card weekend.
By most measures, the Philadelphia Eagles represent a trap game for the Seahawks. They ranked 13th in the NFL in sacks and boast one of the stingiest run defenses in the game. Seattle, meanwhile, ranks towards the bottom of the NFL in total defense and also tied for the ninth-most sacks allowed.
Still, there are reasons to be optimistic. The Seahawks beat the Eagles 17-9 in Philly back in Week 12 in a game where they harassed Carson Wentz all night and had four total takeaways. Can they replicate that success this Sunday in Philadelphia?
Here are four reasons why the Seattle Seahawks will defeat the Eagles in the Wild Card.
4. Travis Homer
The storyline heading into Week 17 was Seattle's decision to bring back Marshawn Lynch. But Homer might be the most important figure in the Seahawks' backfield.
Homer rushed 10 times for 62 yards against the Niners, and he represents a shiftier runner in comparison to Beast Mode's downhill style. Not to mention, he can catch passes out of the backfield.
Whereas Lynch is not much of a route runner, Homer caught all five of his targets and had multiple big gains out of the flat. The Seahawks might struggle to get the ground game going even if Lynch has more success, but Homer's mere presence will force Philadelphia to be more vigilant when he enters the game because of his duality and speed.
3. Road dominance
Despite Seattle's “12th Man” repeatedly being hailed as one of the most raucous crowds in the NFL, the Seahawks were only 4-4 at home. It was a different story on the road, however.
The Seahawks went 7-1 on the road, including a marquee victory over the Niners in overtime and the aforementioned win over the Eagles. Pete Carroll's team may not always win pretty, but they win all the same.
Seattle's success on the road cannot be understated. Philly is also one of the harshest environments, but the Seahawks have proven time and again that they can be successful away from CenturyLink Field.
2. Zach Ertz
Ertz has not yet been ruled out for this Sunday's matchup, but his status is in serious question following reports that he suffered a lacerated kidney during Philly's win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16. Even if Ertz suits up, there is no way he can be nearly as effective as he normally is when healthy.
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This is awful news for an Eagles receiving corps that have (rightfully) been chastised for poor performances and drops throughout the course of the season. Granted, Dallas Goedert is extremely talented and capable of putting up numbers, but he is still not Ertz.
Wentz did a nice job of spreading the ball around during Philly's win over the New York Giants in Week 17 even as Ertz sat due to injury. Nevertheless, this is a totally different atmosphere.
For one, playoff football is vastly different. Secondly, the Seahawks' secondary may not be that much better than New York's, but they still have more impact players capable of forcing turnovers.
The Eagles are already heading into this week with the understanding that Nelson Agholor might also be unavailable come Sunday, which puts them at a further disadvantage. If Ertz is also unable to go, Wentz might be hard-pressed to find reliable receiving options in the passing game.
1. Russell Wilson
Wilson's MVP candidacy sure faded in a hurry.
Wilson had a fine game against the 49ers, but he also had poor showings against the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals as the Seahawks lost three of their last four. Nevertheless, it would be “DangeRuss” (as corny as it sounds) to underestimate Wilson's impeccable desire and credibility as a winner.
This is a guy who has repeatedly orchestrated game-winning drives throughout the season and throughout his whole career. He can make things happen with his arm and his legs, and his ability to extend plays should prove vital against Philly's pass rush.
The Eagles' secondary is not quite as much of a concern as it was earlier in the year, but they also had the luxury of playing the Giants (twice) and Washington Redskins down the stretch.
There is no question that Russ will have his guys fully prepared for a tough battle in Philadelphia.
