The Philadelphia Eagles have opened as favorites over the Seattle Seahawks in their Week 15 NFC matchup, despite the fact that they will be playing in Lumen Field, one of the NFL’s most hostile venues, where they will be facing their first losing streak of the year. Quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are either 3.5 or 4 point favorites over coach Pete Carroll’s Seahawks, depending on which sportsbook you check. To be honest, both teams are in desperate need of a victory.
To maintain their lead in the NFC East and to be in the running for the top overall seed in the NFC playoffs—which entails a first-round bye and home-field advantage all through the postseason—the Eagles must end their current two-game losing streak. Meanwhile, Seattle’s dreams of making the playoffs are in jeopardy after suffering four straight losses, dropping them to 6-7. The Seahawks were completely out of the postseason race a month ago, and it appeared more plausible that they would overtake the 49ers and win the NFC West. But even if the season ended today, the division foe Los Angeles Rams (also 6-7) would have tiebreakers over the Seahawks, so they wouldn’t even be the first team out in the NFC playoffs.
Quarterback Geno Smith was sidelined with a groin injury in Week 14 and is questionable to play for the Seahawks in Week 15. It was a highly uneven effort as former second-round pick Drew Lock finished 22 of 31 passes for 269 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in his place. This will be the last game in a brutal schedule of games against playoff-caliber teams for Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and his club since their Week 10 bye. The Eagles have a 2-2 record versus the 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs during the past month. Following their encounter with the Seahawks this week, the Eagles’ final three games of the season should be very simple.
