Monday night's game in Philadelphia marks the sixth meeting between the Seahawks and Eagles since 2014. Seattle has won the previous five games, including a regular season matchup in 2019 and a wild card game. These key matchups could help the Seahawks extend their winning streak against the Eagles.
Seattle Pass Pro vs. Graham and Cox
It's tempting to overlook a team with a 3-6-1 record, but it would be a mistake to underestimate the Eagles front four and Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox in particular. Those defensive stalwarts are a big reason the Eagles rank second in the league in sacks with 34. Graham leads Philadelphia with seven. The Eagles have the fourth best pressure rate in the league but don't need to blitz to get home. In fact, they blitz just 24.1% of the time (compared to Seattle's 34.2% blitz rate) but they successfully pressure quarterbacks on 25.5% of dropbacks.
"I think Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham are some of the best players to ever play this game at the defensive line position," quarterback Russell Wilson said. "They know how to get to the quarterback. They're so intelligent. They make plays. They do some things that other guys just can't do. They're some of the top rushers to ever play this game."
All that is to say, it's going to be a battle up front.
The Seahawks benefit from the return of center Ethan Pocic which allows rookie Damien Lewis to slide back to his natural position at right guard, but right tackle Brandon Shell has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Cedric Ogbuehi takes over for Shell and will be making his first start since 2017.
If the Seahawks can keep Wilson clean, there's an opportunity to take advantage of an Eagles secondary that's managed just three interceptions this season and couldn't keep DK Metcalf bottled up in the Seattle's wild card win in January. Metcalf set a franchise and NFL rookie record with 160 receiving yards in the game.
Hyde/Carson and company vs. Eagles run D
A solid running game from the Seahawks will help keep the Eagles defense honest and alleviate some of that pressure up front. On the surface it appears the Eagles run defense is susceptible to giving up a lot of yards. The 133.4 rushing yards allowed per game ranks 25th in the league, but the 4.2 yards per rushing attempt ranks 11th.
Here's where history is on the side of the Seahawks. When these teams met last November Rashaad Penny rushed for a career high 129 yards on 14 carries, proving the Seahawks know how to get yards on the ground against the Eagles tough defensive front. However, neither Penny nor Chris Carson were available in the wild card game in which Seattle managed 64 total yards of rushing. Wilson led all rushers with 45 yards.
Last week against Arizona the Seahawks ran for 165 yards on 31 attempts. The second-highest rushing total of the year coincided with the return of Carlos Hyde who missed three games with a hamstring injury. Russell Wilson's 10 rushing attempts were the most by the quarterback this season. His passing numbers have garnered a lot of attention this season but being able to run the ball keeps all the options on the table.
"In the running game we've done some great things, too, and to have our running backs healthy we want to have everybody out there," Wilson said. "We want to have all our best players out there and get the ball facilitated whether it's running it, throwing it, all that stuff."
The return of Chris Carson adds another powerful runner to the mix. He was averaging 4.9 yards per carry before spraining in his foot in Week 7.
Seahawks pressure packages vs. Carson Wentz
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is taking a lot of heat from fans in Philadelphia and has been feeling the heat from opposing defenses all season. He's been sacked 40 times, the most in the NFL. He's also thrown a league-high 14 interceptions and accounted for 18 turnovers.
Those numbers could easily increase this week thanks to Seattle's increasingly effective pass rush. The Seahawks have tallied the second-most sacks since Week 8 when safety Jamal Adams returned from injury and defensive end Carlos Dunlap was added via trade. It's not just the talent they bring, but the mindset.
"Execution, effort and a want-to," Adams said. "I think that's what it's all about when it comes to blitzing. Obviously there's different techniques as far as getting a jump on the ball or knowing the formation, but I think for us it's just executing and having that want-to attitude."
The impact of that attitude and pressure permeates the entire defense. As defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said this week, there's a confidence in knowing big plays can be made in crucial moments.
"It really lifts up your group it really lifts up the secondary because they know the offensive quarterback doesn't have one, two or three reads across the board," Norton said. "He's getting one read and getting off the spot. So it allows everybody to take chances and be confident and not feel like they have to cover the guy for the entire five, six, seven seconds during the play."
The Hawks will look to force Wentz into bad situations like they did when generating five turnovers in the Week 12 matchup last year. That means forcing him to throw the ball more, especially since the Eagles average just 4.99 yards per passing play, second worst in the league. Limited effectiveness in the passing game has led to problems across the board for the Philadelphia offense. They're just 2-21 on third down tries in the last two games and among the lowest scoring teams in the league, averaging 22 points a game.
The Seahawks and Eagles face off on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. Kickoff is set for 5:15 p.m. PT. Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the Eagles.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver secures this 23-yard pass from quarterback Dave Krieg pass for his 98th career touchdown in the opening game of the 1989 season in Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PA.
Seahawks quarterback Dave Krieg gets off a pass during loss to the Eagles in Philadelphia, Sept. 10, 1989. (AP Photo)
Herschel Walker (34) of the Philadelphia Eagles tries to avoid Tyrone Rodgers (91) and Jeff Bryant (77) of he Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter of their NFL game in Seattle, Dec. 14, 1992. (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
Quarterback Randell Cunningham (12) of the Philadelphia Eagles is unable to avoid the rush of Cortez Kennedy (99) of the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter of NFL game in Seattle, Dec. 13, 1992. (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Rodney Peete (9) changes the play at the line as he looks at the Seattle Seahawks defense in the third quarter of Sunday's, Dec. 3, 1995 game in Seattle. Seattle won the game 26-14. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Quarterback Randell Cunningham (12) of the Philadelphia Eagles is unable to avoid the rush of Cortez Kennedy (99) of the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter of NFL game in Seattle, Dec. 13, 1992. (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
JOHN RANDLE RUSHES DONOVAN MCNABB
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) runs for a first down as Philadelphia Eagles' Shawn Barber gives chase in the first quarter Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Jerramy Stevens catches an 11-yard pass in the endzone for a touchdown with Philadelphia Eagles' Brian Dawkins defending with 49 seconds left in the game in Seattle Sunday Sunday Dec. 8, 2002. The Eagles won 27-20. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu uses the goalpost pad as a punching bag after returning a second quarter interception from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mike McMahon for a touchdown Monday night Dec. 5, 2005 in Philadelphia.(AP Photo/Miles Kennedy)
Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, left, keeps Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander (37) from the endzone on a first quarter sweep Monday night Dec. 5, 2005 in Philadelphia. The run set up Seattle's first score, a pass to Seattle's Bobby Engram.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Seattle Seahawks D.J. Hackett (18) pulls down the pass to setup a touchdown from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in the closing minutes of the first half as the Eagles's Michael Lewis,left, and Sheldon Brown, center, defend Monday, Dec. 5, 2005, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)
Seattle Seahawks' Deon Grant, left, tips the ball away from Philadelphia Eagles' Greg Lewis during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, in Philadelphia. The Seahawks won 28-24. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
Seattle Seahawks' Julian Peterson (59) meets Philadelphia Eagles' Brian Westbrook at the top of the pile to keep him from scoring from the 1-yard-line during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
Seattle Seahawks' Maurice Morris goes by Philadelphia Eagles' Sheldon Brown for a 45-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, in Philadelphia. The Seahawks won 28-24. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace (15) pitches off to running back Maurice Morris, right, with Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Trevor Laws closing in on the left during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, in Seattle. The Eagles won 26-7. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Deon Grant, left, intercepts in the end zone in front of Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson and Seahawks' Marcus Trufant in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 2: DeSean Jackson #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles is hit by Leroy Hill #56 of the Seattle Seahawks as he returns a punt at Qwest Field on November 2, 2008 in Seattle, Washington. The Eagles defeated the Seahawks 26-7. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch, center, runs for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson under pressure from the Philadelphia Eagles defense in the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles free safety Malcolm Jenkins (27) and defensive end Fletcher Cox (91) during an NFL football game at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, December 7, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Seattle won 24-14. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tharold Simon (27) runs the ball after an interception during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, December 7, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Seattle won 24-14. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse (15) catches a pass in front of Philadelphia Eagles free safety Malcolm Jenkins (27) during an NFL football game at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, December 7, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Seattle won 24-14. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) tries to avoid a tackle by Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Marcus Smith, right, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz fumbles as he is hit by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril in the second half of an NFL football game in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer, File)
Seattle Seahawks running back J.D. McKissic (21) catches touchdown pass during an NFL game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles , Sunday, December 3, 2017, in Seattle. (Tom Hauck via AP)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) prepares for the snap under center during a week 13 NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 in Seattle. Seattle won 24-10. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) catches a touchdown pass during an NFL game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles , Sunday, December 3, 2017, in Seattle. (Tom Hauck via AP)
Seattle Seahawks' DK Metcalf (14) leaps past Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Mills (31) and Ronald Darby (21) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
Seattle Seahawks' Bradley McDougald (30) celebrates after intercepting a Philadelphia Eagles' pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Seattle Seahawks defensive players celebrate during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
