5 quick questions Seahawks answered versus Eagles in week 12

The Seahawks defeated the Eagles in week 12 and in doing so found the answers to some questions they had heading into the game.

The Seahawks beat the Eagles in week 12 to move to 9-2. In the course of play, Seattle answered a few questions that might be helpful in the coming weeks. Here are five of them.

Can the defense be OK without Jadeveon Clowney?

The answer, at least for one week, is yes. Clowney being out long-term would be awful. Just like any team’s best defensive lineman being out for a while would be bad. But the Seahawks saw Ziggy Ansah finally have an impactful game. If he can continue that once Clowney is back, Seattle’s defense might be really good.

Is Rashaad Penny worth keeping around?

Like the defense without Clowney, at least for one week Penny showed he could be really good. It isn’t like Penny has been bad through his short career. But he doesn’t play through injuries enough and is inconsistent. But when the Seahawks needed him to play big against the Eagles, Penny did. He ran for 129 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. Now if he can only learn to block well…

If Russell Wilson is just OK, can Seattle win?

I have seen some grades for Wilson being an A. How? He missed a wide open Jacob Hollister in the end zone for an easy touchdown. And Wilson just seemed a bit off. Sure, D.K. Metcalf could have caught a long touchdown pass from Wilson but even that pass was a slight bit underthrown. Wilson wasn’t great on Sunday and Seattle still won. That is good thing.

Should Seattle keep playing 3 linebackers on the field for base defense?

It appears so against most teams. The NFL is a pass happy league maybe, but slowly successful teams are using the run a lot more. Take the 49ers for instance. But Seattle’s defense did well against San Francisco with a 4-3 defense and again against the Eagles. The Seahawks have three studs at linebacker. It makes sense to keep them on the field.

Tre Flowers might have regressed. Can he be a long-term starter?

Flowers had too high of expectations entering the season. He is still in just his second year playing cornerback and all of that in the NFL. But the last two weeks he has been very good. And against the Eagles, Flowers had two passes defended and an interception. He seems more comfortable every week. His best is yet to come.