Seahawks hang on for 17-9 win over Eagles to open playoffs

The Eagles’ quarterback was different, but the outcome in the Seahawks’ second trip of the season to Philadelphia turned out a lot like the first.

Stats: Hawks win | Reaction | SEA vs GB | DK’s big day | 3 stars | Stats

Seattle never trailed but also never took a commanding lead, and they left the City of Brotherly Love with a 17-9 victory – just like the Seahawks did when they beat the Eagles 17-9 on Nov. 24. This one is even more important, however, as it came in the Wild Card round of the NFC playoffs and sets up a meeting with the second-seeded Green Bay Packers next week for the Seahawks.

Carson Wentz, the Eagles’ starting quarterback, didn’t make it through the first quarter after he suffered a potential concussion, most likely coming from a tackle by Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney where Clowney’s helmet made contact with Wentz’s on the way down to the ground. That left Philadelphia’s offense in the hands of 40-year-old backup Josh McCown, who had never appeared in a playoff game entering Sunday.

McCown did a commendable job but couldn’t get the Eagles into the end zone, as all of Philadelphia’s points came on field goals.

DK Metcalf caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch had a tough 5-yard TD run for Seattle. Metcalf added a 36-yard catch near midfield late in the fourth quarter to seal the Seahawks win and give him 160 yards on seven receptions on the day.

The Seahawks sacked McCown six times, including on fourth-and-7 from the Seattle 10 inside the two-minute warning, and Wentz once. Wilson was sacked just once by the Eagles and finished with 325 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions on 18 for 30 passing.

Quinton Jefferson had two of Seattle’s seven sacks.

Here’s a quarter-by-quarter look at Seattle’s win.

First quarter

Seahawks 3, Eagles 0

The Seahawks took a 3-0 lead late in the quarter on a 49-yard field goal by Jason Myers, but that wasn’t the most important development for Seattle. Instead it was what happened at Philadelphia’s quarterback position: Wentz was replaced by the 40-year-old McCown right after Myers’ field goal as Wentz went to the locker room under concussion protocol. Wentz presumably suffered the head injury after Clowney’s helmet hit his as both were coming down to the ground on a tackle.

Seattle nearly took that 3-0 lead earlier in the game, as it reached the Eagles’ 17-yard line on its second drive of the day. Wilson had a big 22-yard run and Travis Homer followed up with a 12-yard rush to get the Seahawks into the red zone. But a third-and-9 pass attempt fell untouched in the end zone as Tyler Lockett was tripped up on his route, and a 35-yard Myers field goal attempt was blocked by Duke Riley to keep the game scoreless.

The Seahawks’ defense had a strong quarter, however, allowing just 28 yards, with safety Bradley McDougald coming up with a sack of Wentz.

Seattle set up its go-ahead field goal with Wilson completions to Metcalf (24 yards) and Lockett (13 yards).

Flex on ‘em, @dkm14. #Seahawks@DangeRussWilson escapes pressure and hits D.K Metcalf on 3rd & 11! #NFLPlayoffs

📺: #SEAvsPHI on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/NEt2BwLKa5 pic.twitter.com/3xBQpjCJTz

— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2020

SEA – Jason Myers 49 FG (SEA 3-0), 1:29

Second quarter

Seahawks 10, Eagles 3

Here’s something you definitely didn’t expect to hear this weekend: McCown led the Eagles on a game-tying drive that included him outrunning Seattle’s defensive line for an 11-yard rush. McCown’s Eagles put together a 13-play, 64-yard drive that set up a 46-yard field goal by Jake Elliott to tie things up 3-3 with 2:53 to go before halftime.

Not only did that happen, but even worse, a neck stinger to Ziggy Ansah forced Seattle’s defensive end out of the game following the 11-yard McCown run.

Seattle missed a chance to build on its earlier lead. Wilson and Lockett connected on an incredible 29-yard pass that was reversed after an initial incompletion call, and the Seahawks punted six plays later as they stalled at their own 48.

Wow! 👀 @TDLockett12 with a catch of the year candidate 👌 #Seahawks #SEAvsPHI #Highlight pic.twitter.com/r9gKSwPvJu

— NFL Canada (@NFLCanada) January 5, 2020

Following Elliott’s field goal, however, the Seahawks quickly got into Eagles territory and threatened to take back the lead before having to kick off to Philadelphia in the third quarter.

While Lockett dropped some jaws with how he was able to make a catch, David Moore did the same by showing what he can do after he makes one. Moore put Seattle on the Eagles’ 5 after coming back to haul in a pass from Wilson, then turned it into a 38-yard gain as he took a big turn before turning his way up the sidelines.

Let's go @DMoeSwagg23!

He picks up 3️⃣8️⃣ yards.#GoHawks x #SEAvsPHI pic.twitter.com/whIYj6yKXc

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 5, 2020

Them it was time for some vintage Marshawn Lynch.

The Eagles couldn’t bring down the man known as Beast Mode, and he capped off a nine-play, 82-yard drive with a bruising 5-yard touchdown run where he was stood up near the goal line but kept on pushing.

BEASTMODE ‼️ @MoneyLynch #Seahawks extend their lead, 10-3. #NFLPlayoffs

📺: #SEAvsPHI on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/NEt2BwLKa5 pic.twitter.com/H77bwkX4wZ

— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2020

The Seahawks went into the locker room on a Jefferson sack, Seattle’s second of the day, on the final play of the half. Eagles running back Miles Sanders was down on the ground grabbing at his leg after the play.

PHI – Jake Elliott 46 FG (3-3), 2:53
SEA – Marshawn Lynch 5 run (Myers kick, 10-3 SEA), 1:06

Third quarter

Seahawks 17, Eagles 9

The Seahawks’ defense didn’t necessarily look great in the third quarter, but it came up with stops when it needed to hold the Eagles to a pair of field goals. And when you add that to what Seattle’s offense did, the Seahawks’ lead grew by a point going into the final frame.

The second half started with the news coming out that Wentz was officially ruled out for the rest of the game with the head injury Philadelphia’s starting quarterback suffered in the first quarter, meaning it was McCown’s team the rest of the way. McCown led the Eagles’ offense into Seattle territory to start the third, too, but a huge sack by K.J. Wright on third down forced Philadelphia to settle for a field goal, cutting the Hawks’ led to 10-6.

Seattle’s offense had a big third down play up its sleeve, too. Wilson faked a handoff to Lynch, then passed to an open Lynch for a 20-yard gain down the sideline. Then Wilson uncorked a long bomb to Metcalf, who would not be stopped until he had a 53-yard playoff touchdown to his credit.

The throw 🙌
The grab 🙌
The @dkm14 TD! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/rI0CMakqry

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 5, 2020

The Eagles once again drove down into Seattle territory, but this time it was a key tackle by Clowney on third down that made Philadelphia have to call upon Elliott again for a 38-yard field goal. While that was a victory for the Seahawks’ defense, it is worth noting that the field goal brought the Eagles within one score shortly before the fourth quarter began.

PHI – Elliott 26 FG (10-6 SEA), 10:36
SEA – DK Metcalf 53 pass from Russell Wilson (Myers kick, 17-6 SEA), 8:46
PHI – Elliott 38 FG (17-9 SEA), 2:49

Fourth quarter

Seahawks 17,  Eagles 9

With an eight-point lead, the Seahawks couldn’t afford to let the Eagles find the end zone for the first time of the day in the fourth quarter.

They didn’t.

Seattle twice stopped Philadelphia on fourth down in Seahawks territory, including a sack of McCown inside the two-minute warning, and a 36-yard pass from Wilson to Metcalf on third-and-10 from the Eagles’ 11 sealed the win for Seattle.

No scoring.

Carroll: Lynch showing he’s ‘dead serious about helping’ Hawks

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