Seahawks get off to fast start and bring the Eagles down Sunday night

Eagles start the second half with the ball

Carson Wentz made up for lost time as he connected with tight end Zach Ertz twice in the first three plays. After they picked up three first downs, Jay Ajayi was stuffed on a run by Bobby Wagner, then dropped a swing pass. Alshon Jeffrey caught the ball for almost a first down. Eagles coach Doug Pederson challenged the spot, and burned a timeout as the fourth down call was confirmed. Seemed odd to me, as they were going to go with a quarterback sneak anyway. Wentz picked up the first down, only the 13th time on 13 attempts for 2017. Weird challenge.

Wentz fired a 23 yard pass to Jeffrey to the Seahawks four yard line. The Seahawks stuffed Blount for a two yard loss on first down. Then this happened:

Seems that was a good pickup getting Richardson, right? The Eagles commit their first turnover as the Seahawks defense comes up big again.

On the ensuing drive, Wilson twice kept the play alive long enough to force a defensive hold. Twice. Angry Doug made just his second catch of the night to take the ball into Eagles territory. Paul Richardson took to the skies as he typically does, but Ronald Darby pulled his helmet half off and somehow wasn’t flagged for it. Well, maybe only a third off, but he clearly had his hand on Richardson’s facemask. Seattle called time out. Apparently Coach Carroll decied he’d rather unleash hell than challenge, as Wilson completed this 48 yard bomb to Doug Baldwin.

It wasn’t six then, but it didn’t take long

Turns out there was no splashy touchdown after all as Baldwin was called out at the one. It was still a heck of a pretty play. Wilson was pressured on the first down pass play, and the offensive line got no push on the second down leap by Mike Davis. Third down though was magic, as Wilson connected with Tyler Lockett for six.

Wentz picked up a huge chunk of real estate on the Eagles first play with a 32 yard pass to Nelson Agholor. Jay Ajayi picked up another first down, but the Seahawks put the Eagles into fourth and three territory by solid coverage from Shaquill Griffin and Bradley McDougald. Wentz had to throw the ball away on savage pressure from K. J. Wright.

Russell Wilson runs for 11 yards on first down. Mike Davis picks up a couple on a screen, than blasts for 21 yards. Davis always looks personally offended that he didn’t break it for a touchdown, every play. Love this guy. Thomas Rawls comes in and shows some fire on a four yard run. The Eagles finally got to Wilson, close enough to force him into intentional grounding.

Jay Ajayi picked up three on first down after the Seahawks punt. Then on second down, Justin Coleman flew in from the corner and sacked Carson Wentz. The Eagles will start the fourth quarter facing third and 13, down two scores.

Seahawks 17, Eagles 3.

Eagles challenge early in the fourth quarter

Wentz pulled off a miracle escape and completed a 51 yard bomb to Agholor as he was getting dropped. This kid has an arm. Philadelphia gets to the 23, then gets pushed back on the next two plays, But Wentz wouldn’t be denied, and connected with Agholor over Byron Maxwell on a 27 yard strike. Agholor beat Maxwell on the bomb, too. The Eagles cut the lead to one touchdown.

The Seahawks picked up one first down, then on third and nine picked up another first on the old college try. Wilson scrambled and pitched out to Mike Davis. Philadelphia oddly didn’t challenge this play and Seattle got away with a forward lateral. Doesn’t make me cry, all considering all the terrible calls that have gone against the Seahawks. Wilson completed a 21 yard pass to Nick Vannett, and then found J.D. McKissic in the end zone. That flip by Wilson to Davis was even prettier, so here it is:

I find it humorous that the official NFL Twitter account’s comment wasn’t, “forward pass”, but simply, “Whoa”. Yes, it was a bad no-call by the refs. It was also a really bad decision by the Eagles not to challenge the call. No sour grapes, Eagles fans. Your coach had the chance to rectify the call, and didn’t. Probably should have covered McKissic, too.

Clearly it was the Seahawks night

Wentz came alive on the ensuing drive and drove his team to the Seahawks 40 yard line, but couldn’t connect on third and six. With less than six minutes left, Philadelphia had to go for it on fourth down. Under pressure, Wentz threw high and missed his target. Seattle ball at their own 40 with 5:48 in the game.

Seattle needed to pick up a first down but couldn’t do it. Wilson was even sacked on third and four for the second time in the game. Philadelphia took over at their 21 after Jon Ryan’s fourth punt of the night. Wentz was promptly sacked for the third time. The Eagles converted on fourth and six to keep their drive alive. On the very next play, though, Wentz throws a bomb into the Seattle end zone…into double coverage… into the hands of Byron Maxwell. Poetic on so many levels.

Protecting the lead and the clock, Seattle ran Mike Davis three straight plays from their 20. They only managed a total of three yards. Far more importantly, they burned almost a minute off the clock. By the time the ball was back in Wentz’s hands, the Eagles only had 1:02 left and a two touchdown deficit.

To his credit, the second year quarterback went to work and drove his team to the Seahawks 31 yard line. That was all they would get, though. as the Seahawks held the top scoring offense in the league to 10 points. Final score, Seahawks 24, Eagles 10.

A few fun facts about this big win

Seattle outgained the Eagles on the ground, 101 to 98. I said I’d be happy if we got 80. Wentz had a good night as he threw for over 300 yards. But he also was picked off once and threw only one touchdown. He came into the game with 28 touchdowns and only five picks. The Seahawks grounded the Eagles and forced Wentz to throw. The Eagles were unable to shut down Mike Davis, and couldn’t handle the magic act of number 3.

The Seahawks defense was too fast. Mike Davis was too strong. And Russell Wilson was too magical. This is the game the Seahawks needed. They have served notice. Now it’s time to take care of business for the next four games and beyond.