NFL Wild Card weekend preview and predictions: The year of road warriors
By Ian Higgins
Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, January 5th, 4:40 PM
– Key Matchup: PHI running game vs SEA front-seven
– X-Factors: D.K. Metcalf & Zach Ertz
The final matchup of wild card weekend, the NFC West second-best Seahawks arrive in Philadelphia to a more than disappointing NFC East winning Eagles team. Seattle is the heavy favorite on the road, and for good reason with the inconsistencies of the Eagles throughout the year.
With late losses of running backs Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny, Seattle needs to rely on the arm of Wilson and his targets. D.K. Metcalf dropped in the draft despite a dominating combine performance and can prove America wrong with a signature playoff performance against a heavily-injured Eagles secondary.
Philadelphia has had its share of injury issues, including almost every reliable receiving target and running back. Running back Boston Scott has emerged as a big-hearted ball carrier to give this offense life, but the bloodline of the Eagles still runs through Carson Wentz and Zach Ertz.
Health is just as important as his performance Sunday after having rib issues leading into the week. If Philadelphia is to succeed, they need Ertz to fill the safety blanket role he has for Wentz throughout the years.
With the health of running backs Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard up in the air for Sunday, Philadelphia may need to rely on upstart Boston Scott as their ball carrier. Against a respectable Seattle front-seven including athletic freak Jadeveon Clowney, Philly needs to settle down and run the ball to win this football game.
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Wentz simply does not have the targets in good health to beat this Seattle secondary with Shaquill Griffin, Quandre Diggs, and a collection of quality coverage linebackers.