This was supposed to be one of the toughest matchups of the season when the schedule was announced. Seattle would host the defending NFC champions after gauntlet of games against the 49ers and Cowboys. It certainly did not look any easier when the Eagles started 10-1, with their latest will coming in a 37-34 comeback against the Buffalo Bills. That, after beating the Cowboys and winning on the road in Kansas City. They even took an early 6-0 lead against the 49ers in a titanic matchup. Since that moment, they were outscored 75-19 in two games and lost to a Seahawks team that had lost four straight and was playing without their starting quarterback or best player on defense. Gravity is looking at the Eagles rate of descent and saying, “Chill.”
Drew Lock and the Seahawks pulled off an improbable comeback victory that may wind up having an even more improbable impact on the NFC playoffs. The Seahawks will be favored in their final three games, and should they win them all, have a decent shot to make the playoffs. If they make it that far, which NFC team outside of San Francisco has proven they are better than Seattle?
The Seahawks went toe-to-toe with the Cowboys and should have won that game if not for some truly awful officiating. They just beat the Eagles while missing key players. They’ve already beat the Lions in Detroit while missing both starting tackles. The only NFC team Seattle would not have a good chance to beat is down in Santa Clara.
That does not mean the Seahawks are good. It means the NFL, and NFC, are really awful this season.
The Seahawks offense scuffled almost the whole night against one of the worst defenses in that very bad NFL. The Eagles defense entered this game statistically worse than the Seahawks wretched defense in a long list of key measures including: points allowed, 3rd down defense, passer rating against, explosive passes allowed, and many others. They were missing one of their starting cornerbacks and a starting linebacker.
Seattle had one drive for 67 yards in the first half, and gained just 13 yards on their other three. The second half was a little better, but the passing game had totalled just 106 yards passing before their final drive with a little under two minutes left in the game.
This was an anemic outing on that side of the ball, including an especially brutal 3-and-out immediately following the first of Julian Love’s clutch interceptions.
Then, football happened.
Sporting just 13 points and 205 yards of total offense, Lock directed a 92-yard touchdown drive in the rain that could have huge cascading implications for this season, for players, and for an embattled head coach.
It almost ended before it began. Lock’s first throw to Noah Fant caromed off the tight end’s hands and hung precariously in the air before falling harmlessly to the ground. Lock then got introduced to the new and improved D.K. Metcalf.
This version of the hulking receiver comes to life in clutch moments and makes contested catches. His first grab on the drive was for 18 yards to get Seattle out of the shadow of their endzone. After a short pass to Fant, Metcalf made an improbable grab for a first down. Then he ran a gorgeous “go” route down the right sideline, where he left 3-4 yards of cushion between him and the sideline to give Lock a comfortable target to drop the ball into and made another tough catch for 34 yards.
Metcalf has played some of his best ball after a rough stretch early in the year when he caught just 10 passes in 27 targets against Cincy, Cleveland and Baltimore. Since then, he has had more than 75 yards receiving in four of six games and five touchdowns. He also had the clutch block to clear the way for Jaxon Smith-Njigba on his game-winning catch against the Commanders. This is the type of play expected of someone with Metcalf’s talents. He is on pace to finish with over 1,100 yards receiving and has a shot at 10 touchdowns.
His rookie partner, Smith-Njigba, has been finding his own footing after a slow start. He had less than 40 yards receiving in each of his first four games, and had only one game with 4+ receptions. Since then, he has had either 40+ yards or 4+ receptions in nine of his last 10 games. There still has not been the breakout game where he piles up eye-popping numbers (Dallas could have been that game if not for a tough replay that went against him), but he’s been a factor in just about every contest.
The catch he made to win the game was worthy of framing. It was raining. It was 3rd and 10. He, like his QB, saved his best for last. He had just 19 yards receiving before reeling in that 29-yard pass for the game-winning score.
Give embattled offensive coordinator Shane Waldron some credit. He was in Lock’s ear before that play, telling him to look for 1v1 coverage on JSN. They got it. Lock put the ball in a place his receiver could showcase his considerable skills. JSN made the catch. It is worth noting the pass protection was excellent on that play, as it had been for most of the night.
There will be plenty of Seahawks fans who will tell you they believed the whole time. I can tell you that the reaction in the stadium told a very different story. There was no sense of anticipation when the final drive unfolded. There was no electricity. Even after Metcalf’s big reception to put the team in scoring range, there was more a sense of resignation than enthusiasm. The sound that erupted after the touchdown was one of surprise more than exuberance. It was a, “did that just happen?” vibe.
That is understandable given the way this team has played the last couple of months (even before the 4-game losing streak), and the way they had performed in this game. This group has been boring and uninspired. Their best game of their last nine, by far, was a loss to the Cowboys. Squeaking by the Commanders and Browns and Cardinals was not inspiring.
Whether due to injury, coaching, or talent, this Seahawks team has been hard to get excited about. That final drive opens the door, just a crack, to find meaning in a season that has been teetering toward meaningless.
None of it would have been possible without a defense that held one of the best offenses in the NFL to just 17 points, and held Philly without a point on their final four possessions.
The Eagles answered the Seahawks opening drive touchdown of the second half with one of their own to go up 17-10. They would not score another point.
Maybe the most impressive was the Seahawks managing to hold Philly after the depressing 3-and-out immediately after the Love interception. That drive should have ended the game. The defense had risen up and made a miraculous play to breathe life into the team, only to have the offense let everyone down. That is when championship teams step on their opponents throats.
The Eagles could muster just 25 yards and had to punt from their 50-yard line. Leonard Williams had a key stop on that drive, as he did throughout the night. This is a guy who has done exactly what the Seahawks hoped for when they acquired him. He is an impact defensive tackle. Had the team spent the money on him that they spent on Dre’Mont Jones, we would feel quite happy about that addition. The finish to this season could determine whether he is open to sticking around.
His former Giants teammate, Love, was equally magnificent in this one. The absence of Jamal Adams was noticeable. Love made plays that required range and ball skills. He prevented deep shots and explosive plays. That is what safeties are meant to do. Both interceptions were gorgeous.
Quandre Diggs appeared to play better in this one as well. Adams should not be back on the field until he can run full speed. If that is next season, so be it. He is doing nobody any good, including himself, by playing when he can’t move like an NFL player.
Michael Jackson brought some physicality to the secondary while playing in place of Riq Woolen. Woolen still played a fair amount and will get plenty of chances to earn his starting role back. The secondary played well, without any of the obvious breakdowns we have seen in recent weeks.
Seattle is basically playing without any edge pass rush. Boye Mafe has disappeared. Although, this looked like his best game in weeks by my eye. Darrell Taylor is a complete nothing out there. The loss of Uchenna Nwosu continues to haunt this team.
Still, they held this Eagles offense to fewer yards (321) and fewer points than the 49ers did two weeks ago. That is worth feeling good about for a unit that has had trouble stopping anyone.
The schedule now turns. The health of Geno Smith and Devon Witherspoon looms large for the stretch run. As thrilling as it was for Lock to lead that drive, this team is clearly more dangerous with Smith at the helm. As heartening as this performance by the defense was against the Eagles, they are considerably less dynamic without Witherspoon on the field. The hope would be that they can both return and this Seahawks offensive line can get stronger, both in pass protection and run blocking, that can be the foundation for a more dynamic and explosive offense. If they can play half as well as they did against the Cowboys, they will win out and have a real chance to advance in the playoffs.
That is tomorrow. Today, a plucky backup quarterback led a game-winning 92-yard drive with under two minutes to play. Today, your first round pick at receiver made glorious catch to win it. Today, the Seahawks beat the NFC Champs. Enjoy today. Tomorrow can wait.