On Monday night, the Birds hope to get back on track against the Seahawks.
The Philadelphia Eagles, who had won 10 of their first 11 games, were unquestionably the best team in the NFL for the majority of the season. Nevertheless, the Eagles have lost their last two games against their main rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, as they travel to play them on Monday night in Week 15.
In Week 13, they lost 42-19 at home to the San Francisco 49ers, and the following week, they were defeated 33-13 by the fiercest rival, the Dallas Cowboys. Not only were the Eagles suddenly vulnerable to defeat, but they also dropped from the top seed in the NFC playoff standings to the fifth position.
Although that is undoubtedly a painful development, it is unlikely that panic will spread because the Eagles are a seasoned team that has experienced significant ups and downs over the previous two seasons.
Head coach Nick Sirianni is a steadfast leader who can keep his team concentrated on the task at hand, and quarterback Jalen Hurts appears to perform best in situations where uncertainty is present.
It is expected that the Eagles will bounce back from their four-game losing streak and their injuries-plagued Seattle Seahawks team, and they should be able to add another victory to their record.
Hurts will rush for at least 60 yards and a touchdown in addition to throwing two touchdown passes.
Hurts did not practice on Saturday due to an illness, and he has not played his best football in the losses to the 49ers or the Cowboys. He isn’t even mentioned on the injury report, though.
In the Niners game, the quarterback completed 26 of 45 passes for 298 yards and one touchdown. Against the Cowboys, he completed 18 of 27 passes for 197 yards. In neither of the games, he threw an interception.
Hurts has completed 286 of 430 passes for 3,192 yards this season, with 10 interceptions and 19 touchdowns. Even though his passing statistics are not as impressive as they were in the 2022 campaign, he is still a potent force when he is rushing the ball. He has accumulated 460 yards and 12 touchdowns on 126 carries of the ball.
Hurts is the best quarterback in the league when the Eagles need one yard to punch the ball in the end zone or to get a first down.
Although Hurts lacks the physical prowess of quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Patrick Mahomes, he is a successful player who consistently assumes responsibility for the game’s outcome.
Hurts has to get back to his previous level of production in order for the Seahawks to win this game. He needs to run for one more touchdown and throw for at least two.
A.J. Brown is going to dominate the defensive backs in Seattle.
Hurts and Brown have one of the greatest combinations in the NFL this season. Brown is a strong man who has demonstrated his ability to outmuscle opposition defensive backs and make crucial catches.
Because he can run both through and past defenders after the catch, he poses a threat. He has 90 receptions for 1,258 yards and 7 touchdowns coming into the Week 15 match.
Apart from his exceptional skills, he also facilitates the life of his teammate, wide receiver DeVonta Smith. Smith has caught 69 passes for 907 yards and six touchdowns, but he has been critical of his own recent performances.
I’m playing really bad, Smith admitted. “I have to play better.”
The injured Seahawks should force the Eagles defense to get back on track.
Both the Cowboys and the 49ers thoroughly outplayed the Eagles defense. The Eagles have been exposed to big plays and extended drives, rather than blunting opponents’ offenses with hard hits and crucial takeaways.
According to cornerback Darius Slay, that has to stop.
Slay remarked, “The Eagles are usually known for their defense. We must therefore be recognized for it. We must return to the field and firmly establish our authority.”
Against the Seahawks, expect Haason Reddick to assume a more prominent role. He has 32 tackles, one forced fumble, and a team-high 11.0 sacks. With 80 tackles apiece, inside linebacker Zach Cunningham and free safety Reed Blankenship lead the Eagles.