Seahawks vs. Eagles key matchup: Richard Sherman against Jeremy Maclin
A big matchup will be in the works on Sunday: cornerback Richard Sherman will take on new phenom Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.
More from Seattle Seahawks News
- 4 prospects Seahawks could reach for at No. 20 in 2023 NFL Draft
- Seattle Seahawks Mock Draft: Post-first wave of free agency
- Seahawks podcast: A review of the first week of free agency
- 4 experiments the Seattle Seahawks could cut short in 2023
- 3 pros and cons of Seattle Seahawks drafting Anthony Richardson
The debate in the NFL seems to go between the Seahawks’ Sherman and Arizona Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson for best cornerback in the league. New England Patriots’ cornerback Darrelle Revis isn’t too bad either.
Earlier, Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin got a chance to go against Peterson, and had his best game of the season with 187 yards and two touchdowns, which is why he is so confident going into the Seahawks-Eagles matchup this weekend with Sherman.
“The one thing about this league is, everyone is here for a reason,” Maclin said. “I like my chances against anybody.”
Now, trying to see how often the two are going to be matched up during the game, has yet to be determined. The two both play on the left side of the field, and although Sherman did cover Dallas Cowboys’ receiver Dez Bryant, the two very rarely move around.
“For the most part we stay on one side, and he’s on my side,” Maclin said, “We have played against some talented defenses this year already, but we got respect for their secondary.”
The Seahawks have a secondary that has allowed the fewest yards per game (285.8) and the third fewest points per game (18.4). Eagles head coach Chip Kelly went as far to call Seattle’s secondary “the best secondary that [the Eagles] play.”
The matchup between Sherman and Maclin should be a great one. On the season, Sherman has been thrown at just 52 times in 12 games, a low number considering he has played just 758 snaps. Maclin, on the other hand, has been targeted 115 times — third most in the NFL.
So will Mark Sanchez take a chance like 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick did and wind up throwing two interceptions to Sherman? Or will Sanchez change up the game?
To prepare for “the best cornerback in the league”, Maclin says that he has watched countless hours of tape of the games where receivers have had success against Sherman, including the big game that Giants rookie receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had three weeks ago.
“You watch tape of every team they’ve played,” Maclin said. “You see plays being made here and there.”
Even with the plays being made, Maclin said the Seahawks defense is probably the best that the Eagles have played this season due to the play of Sherman and safety Earl Thomas.
In addition to being considered one of the best cornerbacks in the league, Sherman is also looked at as one of it’s biggest talkers, especially after he makes a play and its something Maclin also isn’t too worried about.
“We are going too fast to have time to talk,” Maclin said, referring to Chip Kelly’s fast-paced offense.
The defending SuperBowl champion Seahawks (8-4) take on the Philadelphia Eagles (9-3) on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 1:25 p.m. PT at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.