The Seattle Seahawks snapped their two-game losing streak, and three-game road playoff losing streak, with a grueling 17-9 victory over the scrappy Philadelphia Eagles. Interestingly enough, when the Seahawks played the Eagles earlier this year they won by a 17-9 score as well.
Seattle overcame brutal injuries and was able to get back on track after being upset by the Cowboys a year ago 24-22 in the wild card round. Now the Seahawks will travel to Green Bay to face off against their old nemesis, the Packers.
The Seahawks earned their fourth road playoff win in franchise history, improved to 6-0 against the Eagles under Pete Carroll, and increased their winning streak in Philadelphia to six wins. Seattle has not lost in the City of Brotherly Love since September of 1989.
As a result, here are three studs and two dudss from Seattle’s defensive slugfest win.
No. 1 stud – DK Metcalf
When these two teams played in Week 12, rookie receiver DK Metcalf landed himself on the duds list for a three-catch, 31-yard performance, along with three brutal drops.
On Sunday night to close out Wild Card Weekend, Metcalf earned plenty of redemption with a monstrous outing. Metcalf finished catching seven receptions on nine targets for 160 yards and a touchdown to lead all Seattle receivers.
The biggest drop for Metcalf in Week 12 was a deep touchdown, which he quickly rectified with a 53-yard score in the postseason.
However, Metcalf’s biggest play of the game came when the Seahawks were trying to salt away the victory. On third and 10, backed against their own goal line, quarterback Russell Wilson heaved a 36-yard dime to Metcalf, which secured the Seahawk win.
No. 1 dud – The rushing game
The Seahawks offensive identity is rooted firmly in their ability to run the ball well, which they failed at spectacularly on Sunday against the Eagles.
As a team, the Seahawks ran the ball 26 times for only 64 yards. However, it’s actually somehow much worse than the stats would indicate. Russell Wilson – more on him later – accounted for 45 of those 64 rushing yards.
Take away Wilson’s contributions on the ground, and the Seahawks are left with 12 yards on 11 carries from Travis Homer and seven yards on six carries from Marshawn Lynch. Yikes.
If there is a silver lining, Marshawn Lynch did score Seattle’s first touchdown of the day, and his first postseason touchdown since Super Bowl XLIX.
No. 2 Stud – Russell Wilson
When a quarterback improves to 5-0 against one team in the NFL and accounts for quite literally 75% of a franchises’ road playoff wins, he tends to make the studs list.
When said quarterback completes 60% of his throws for 325 yards and a touchdown, it cements his position even further. This is, of course, Wilson we are talking about.
Wilson earned his ninth playoff win and sixth trip to the divisional round of the playoffs in a dominating passing performance over the Eagles.
The Seahawks offense may be hurting on the offensive line and run game, but with Wilson, they have a shot to win any matchup they play.
No. 2 dud – Penalties
The Eagles were without several critical players on offense, including their starting quarterback and former MVP candidate, Carson Wentz, who left during the first quarter with a head injury.
By all accounts, this team probably should have been cooked when 40-year-old backup Josh McCown was thrust into action. Instead, it was an eight-point game with a chance to tie it in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.
When it comes to unevenly matched opponents, penalties tend to be a great equalizer, and the Seahawks had them in spades.
Seattle was flagged 11 times for 114 yards, compared to Philadelphia who was only penalized seven times for 45 yards. The Seahawks need to clean things up fast if they want a shot to beat the Packers – who have been on the beneficiary end of questionable calls plenty this year.
No. 3 studs – Pass rush
The Seahawks pass rush has been found! After a long two weeks without it, Seattle’s defensive front came alive and harassed McCown and Wentz mercilessly all afternoon.
The Seahawks brought down the opposing quarterback an astonishing seven times, the most important sack coming on fourth down for the Eagles just after the two-minute warning.
Quinton Jefferson led the team with two sacks on the day, and was accompanied by Bradley McDougald, Jadeveon Clowney, K.J. Wright, Cody Barton and Rasheem Green who earned one apiece themselves.
