The Eagles are still struggling to score touchdowns in the first half, but Matt Patricia’s revamped defensive unit did enough, as the road team jumped out to a 10-3 first-half lead.
Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts started despite flu-like symptoms and finished the first half 9 of 15 passing, for 79 yards.
Hurts also had six carries for 29 yards and the lone touchdown of the game, his 13th on the season, tying his own Eagles single-season record for quarterbacks.
With the second half underway, here are takeaways and highlights from the first half.
Eagles get all three RB's nvolved early
All three tailbacks – D’Andre Swift, Kenneth Gainwell, and Boston Scott – saw the field on the opening drive.
Swift led the charge with 10 carries for 36 yards in the first half, while Gainwell logged 5 carries for 18 yards.
Dallas Goedert
The Eagles tight end had two catches for 23 yards in the first half, while A.J. Brown led all pass catchers with 3 receptions for 30 yards.
Eagles using motion
Looking to shake things up, Philadelphia use a ton of motion and formation shift in the first half.
Eagles first drive
After three weeks of not supporting their defense, the Eagles offense went 4-4 on third down attempts, and Jalen Hurts led Philadelphia on a 15 plays, 75 yard drive, that ate up 8:29 and ended with the 13th rushing touchdown for the All-Pro.
Jalen Hurts goes 5-of-5 passing with a rushing TD in the opening drive!
📺: #PHIvsSEA on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/bbJNB6yPkz pic.twitter.com/NElY6pfOaY— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2023
Matt Patricia starts with a three and out
Seattle went three and out on their first offensive drive, and Patricia did a good job of anticipating run on second down, and inserting Bradley Roby on DK Metcalf to stop a third down conversion.
#Eagles D did have a few differences in the first series under Matt Patricia:
– Sydney Brown was lined up a dime linebacker on the first play of the game (he came off after the false start)
-Bradley Roby in at NB on third down
-Eagles went with a 5-man front on second-and-13.— EJ Smith (@EJSmith94) December 19, 2023
Seattle ran 9 plays for 35 yards on their first 2 series, and in the first half, the Birds allowed 82 yards on 20 offensive plays.
Josh Sweat playing at a high level
Sweat had 1 tackle, 1 tackle for loss and several pressures in the first half.
Josh Sweat with a boom in the backfield 💥
📺: #PHIvsSEA on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/bbJNB6yPkz pic.twitter.com/YrTjS2awSL— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2023
Brian Johnson run-pass ratio
Philadelphia ran 37 plays in the first half, as Brian Johnson called 22 rushing plays, and 15 pass plays in a first half where the Eagles dominated the time of possession early on.
3rd downs
The Eagles are 5-of-9 on 3rd down and 1-for-1 on 4th down, playing efficient football that hasn’t translated to touchdown.
In four possessions, Philadelphia has 10 points.
Ball control offese
The best remedy for a struggling defense is long scoring drives, and Philadelphia had two drives of 15 and 16 plays in the first half.
At one point, the Eagles held a 33-9 advantage in offensive plays run at Lumen Field.
Brian Johnson’s offense controlled the clock and line of scrimmage, holding the ball for eight minutes more than the Sehawks (18:14-10:23).
Eagles 3rd down defense
In the first half with Matt Patricia calling the defensive plays, Philadelphia allowed 3 points, 5 first downs and 82 total yards.
