The Philadelphia Eagles secured a spot in the playoffs on Sunday, but their recent performance has raised questions about their status as a postseason favorite. After suffering their third consecutive loss to an NFC opponent, the Eagles are facing some challenges as they prepare for the postseason. In their most recent game, Philadelphia allowed 17 points in the second half, squandered a late lead, and ultimately allowed Drew Lock to drive 92 yards for a game-winning touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba with less than a minute remaining. Jalen Hurts was intercepted twice in the game, and the Eagles now have a 10-4 record with just three games left in the regular season.
With a game against the Giants on the horizon, let’s take a closer look at the standout and disappointing performances from the game against the Seahawks.
D’Andre Swift put on an impressive performance, logging his highest number of carries since Week 9 and finishing with 82 yards on 18 rushes. Although Hurts was dealing with an illness, his performance left much to be desired as he was outplayed by Seahawks backup QB Drew Lock. Hurts was intercepted twice and missed several open targets by opting to pursue deep balls to A.J. Brown. Meanwhile, Sammy Watkins played more snaps than Julio Jones and Olamide Zaccheaus combined but ended the game with zero catches on two targets, contributing to a lackluster performance on offense.
On defense, cornerback James Bradberry allowed the game-winning 29-yard touchdown to rookie receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks strategically targeted Bradberry, who struggled after Darius Slay was sidelined due to knee surgery. Even with Matt Patricia calling plays on defense, the pass rush allowed the Seahawks to have success, only registering two sacks on the night and failing to generate enough pressure. Additionally, the Eagles’ offense struggled to find its rhythm, particularly in the second half, when the team opted to chase big plays in the passing game instead of capitalizing on opportunities presented by the Seahawks’ defense.
Looking ahead, the Eagles will need to address these issues if they hope to make a strong playoff run. With just three games remaining in the regular season, Philadelphia will need to make adjustments to improve their performance on both offense and defense. As they prepare to face the Giants, the Eagles will need to take a closer look at their strategy and execution to secure a spot in the playoffs and position themselves as a contender for the postseason.
