Week 15 MNF Recap

    Written by: William Petersen

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    The final game of week 15 pitted a sliding Philadelphia Eagles on the road against a Seattle Seahawks team that was on a four game losing streak and desperately trying to keep themselves in the NFC playoff mix. Questions around who would be starting at quarterback for both teams dominated the pregame conversations as Jalen Hurts had to fly to Seattle separately from the team due to an illness and Pete Carroll made it a game time decision on whether Geno Smith or Drew Lock would be under center. Hurts did take the field and found the endzone twice but also threw two crucial interceptions to Julian Love who would ice the game and give the Seahawks a 20-17 win on Monday Night Football. Drew Lock set up Love’s game-ending interception by leading the Seahawks on a 10 play 92 yard drive with under two minutes left, throwing a 29 yard touchdown pass to rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a wild comeback win in Drew Lock’s second start of the season.

    The Philadelphia Eagles are struggling in the back half of the season, scoring less than 20 points in three straight losses. Jalen Hurts did not look as sick as the Eagles led to believe finishing 17/31 for 143 yards, 2 interceptions, and 13 rushes for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hurts had trouble finding his favorite targets A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith who both had 5 catches for 56 yards and 50 yards. The Eagles produced 178 total rushing yards but could not find a way to dissect Seattle’s secondary, especially with the deep ball. Julian Love had two game changing interceptions on Jalen Hurts deep balls that eventually cost the Eagles a win after a Seahawks team refused to go away after being down the entire football game. The Eagles need to regroup as they now move to 10-4 making their chances of winning the NFC East for the second straight year much harder as they stay tied with the Dallas Cowboys for first in the division. The Eagles go back home next week to face a 5-9 New York Giants squad that has cooled off of the Tommy DeVito hype after losing to the New Orleans Saints by over 20. Expect the Eagles to finally bounce back from their losing streak at home against a weak Giants defense but stranger things have happened in a league that is characterized by parody.

    The Seattle Seahawks get back to .500 after a game winning drive that could very well have kept Drew Lock in the league after becoming a permanent backup to Geno Smith following his breakout season last year. Lock finished 22/33 for 208 yards and a touchdown on a night that was electrified by his heroic final drive but also by DK Metcalf’s clutch final two catches of this drive to give Lock the chance to find the rookie JSN for the game winner. Metcalf continues to carry Seattle quarterbacks in big moments even though he only finished with 5 catches for 78 yards. Kenneth Walker III finally looked like the back fans were used to seeing as he finished with 19 carries for 86 yards and a big touchdown run that helped Seattle hang around after only putting up three points in the first half. The Seahawks keep their playoff hopes alive as they now have a 32 percent chance to make the playoffs after this comeback win on primetime. Seattle goes on the road next week to face a 5-9 Tennessee Titans team that is in last place in the AFC South but could surprise the Seahawks with rookie gunslinger Will Levis under center.