The Seahawks travel to Philadelphia this weekend trying to improve upon a 5-0 road record and an 8-2 overall record, and will face an Eagles team that is still trying to hit its stride after a 5-5 start to the season. To learn more about this week's opponent, we reached out to philadelphiaeagles.com Eagles insider Dave Spadaro with five questions about the Eagles:
With a 5-5, record, some impressive wins and some head-scratching losses, what should we make of the 2019 Eagles? A .500 record isn't what people were expecting there, but then again, they're right in the hunt in the NFC East.
Spadaro: I wish I could tell you what to make of this football team. Expectations were sky high to begin the season. The roster was carefully assembled, creatively done, meticulously considered and the Eagles appeared to have everything in place. And then the injuries started happening and it's been up and down and up and down. At 5-5, the Eagles know that a win on Sunday would point them in the right direction with a season-ending schedule (at Miami, home and home with the Giants, home with Dallas, at Washington) that appears to be favorable. The Eagles already have four losses in the conference. Can't afford another one.
At this point, the Eagles are led by a defense that has improved quite a bit. The offense has struggled to score points all year.
The Eagles went from allowing 38 and 37 points in Weeks 6 and 7 to holding opponents to 17 or fewer points and fewer than 300 yards in three straight games. What has gone into the defense's improvement?
Spadaro: Injuries, particularly throughout the secondary, hampered the defense for the first half of the season. They've gotten some key players back in the last few weeks – cornerbacks Jalen Mills, Ronald Darby and Avonte Maddox. Linebacker Nigel Bradham should play Sunday for the first time after missing four straight games, barring a late-week setback. Tackle Tim Jernigan has played the last few games. It helps.
It has also helped that the most recent three offenses the Eagles have faced – Buffalo, Chicago and New England – aren't at the caliber of Minnesota and Dallas, the teams that scored all those points on the Eagles. This is a defense that hasn't consistently won at the line of scrimmage. The Eagles have largely been solid against the run, but they have struggled to get to the quarterback and, thus, the secondary has paid the price. The defense the Seahawks will see on Sunday should be as healthy as its been all season.
On the flip side of that, how concerned is the team about a 10-point showing against New England? Did that game highlight problems with the offense, or is more just a case of playing a great defense?
Spadaro: The offense was expected to be a high-wire act with so many options and, honestly, the question the media in Philadelphia asked the most in the preseason was: How are the Eagles going to make so many playmakers happy with only one football? Well, it hasn't worked out that way. Losing big-play receiver DeSean Jackson robbed the offense of vertical speed and a deep threat. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery has been banged up for much of the season and his numbers have dropped. Slot receiver Nelson Agholor has been inconsistent catching the football. Quarterback Carson Wentz has been good at times and he's tried to do too much at other times. Against the Patriots, after scoring a touchdown on a 95-yard, 16-play drive, the offense was basically stagnant for two full quarters.
What do the Eagles do well? They've got a very, very good offensive line. They've shown they can run the football, but again that's a question mark with Jordan Howard, who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game. The two tight ends, Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, are a terrific tandem and the Eagles have relied on them quite a bit.
To answer your question, give New England all kinds of respect for the defense played last week. But the Eagles didn't help themselves, and haven't helped them all season, with dropped passes and too many penalties.
The Eagles seem to have gotten a lot of production from the running game in their victories, how important is it to get the ground game going this week?
Spadaro: It's the strength of the offense. But Howard is a question mark. The team signed Jay Ajayi last week, and he hasn't played since October, 2018. Rookie Miles Sanders is a great talent and he's got a chance to be special, but he's still in his first NFL season. The Eagles have to run the ball well here to beat Seattle.
With right tackle Lane Johnson out with a concussion, how ready is Woodinville native and former WSU standout Andre Dillard to go against a Seahawks pass rush that seems to be hitting its stride?
Spadaro: Dillard is taking reps at right tackle for the first time all season. He's played pretty well at left tackle, as the first-round draft pick has displayed great footwork and improved technique. The Eagles think he can be a top-notch tackle. Seattle will test him with some power rush moves, something Dillard much improve upon. He's off to a good start in his career. Dealing with someone like Jadeveon Clowney would be, obviously, a different kind of test. Everyone saw Clowney dominate the 49ers. He's a beast.
The Seahawks and the Eagles will meet this Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field for the twelfth week of the 2019 season. Take a look back at photos from past games between the two teams.
Seahawks quarterback Dave Krieg gets off a pass during loss to the Eagles in Philadelphia, Sept. 10, 1989. (AP Photo)
Herschel Walker (34) of the Philadelphia Eagles manages to avoid Tyrone Rodgers (91) and Jeff Bryant (77) of he Seattle Seahawks for a 12-yard gain during the fourth quarter of their NFL game in Seattle, Dec. 14, 1992. Walker carried 23 times for 11 yards in the game as Philadelphia won 20-17 in overtime. (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
Quarterback Randell Cunningham (12) of the Philadelphia Eagles is unable to avoid the rush of Cortez Kennedy (99) of the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter of NFL game in Seattle, Dec. 13, 1992. (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Rodney Peete (9) changes the play at the line as he looks at the Seattle Seahawks defense in the third quarter of Sunday's, Dec. 3, 1995 game in Seattle. Seattle won the game 26-14. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Philadelphia Eagles' James Thrash catches a pass for a touchdown while Seattle Seahawks' Ken Lucas chases during the second quarter in Seattle Sunday, Sept. 23, 2001. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) runs for a first down as Philadelphia Eagles' Shawn Barber gives chase in the first quarter Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Jerramy Stevens catches an 11-yard pass in the endzone for a touchdown with Philadelphia Eagles' Brian Dawkins defending with 49 seconds left in the game in Seattle Sunday Sunday Dec. 8, 2002. The Eagles won 27-20. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tim Hasselbeck meets with with his brother Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck after the Eagles 27-20 win in Seattle Sunday Dec. 8, 2002. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks D.J. Hackett (18) pulls down the pass in the endzone from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in the closing minutes of the first half as the Eagles's Michael Lewis,left, and Sheldon Brown, center, defend Monday, Dec. 5, 2005, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)
Seattle Seahawks' linebacker Lofa Tatupu (51) heads for the endzone with an intercepted pass from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mike McMahon in the second quarter of NFL action Monday night Dec. 5, 2005 in Philadelphia.(AP Photo/Miles Kennedy)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mike McMahon (4) is brought down after a short gain by Seattle Seahawks Marquand Manuel (33) in NFL action Monday night Dec. 5, 2005 in Philadelphia.(AP Photo/Miles Kennedy)
Seattle Seahawks' Nate Burleson skips to the goal line with a pass from Matt Hasselbeck for a touchdown in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, in Philadelphia. Seattle won 28-24. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)
Seattle Seahawks' Julian Peterson (59) meets Philadelphia Eagles' Brian Westbrook at the top of the pile to keep him from scoring from the 1-yard-line during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander barrels through the Eagles defensive line during a game on December 2, 2007. The Seahawks defeated the Eagles 28-24.
Linebacker Stewart Bradley #55 of the Philadelphia Eagles rushes the quarterback against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on November 2, 2008 in Seattle, Washington. The Eagles defeated the Seahawks 26-7. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
DeSean Jackson #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles is hit by Leroy Hill #56 of the Seattle Seahawks as he returns a punt at Qwest Field on November 2, 2008 in Seattle, Washington. The Eagles defeated the Seahawks 26-7. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker David Hawthorne takes off down the field after intercepting an Eagles pass attempt during a game on December 1, 2011. The Seahawks defeated the Eagles 31-14.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate attempts to pull down a touchdown reception over an Eagles defender during a game on December 1, 2011. The Seahawks defeated the Eagles 31-14.
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) rushes for a gain as Philadelphia Eagles nose tackle Bennie Logan (96) defends during an NFL football game at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, December 7, 2014 in Philadelphia. The Seahawks defeated the Eagles 24-14. (AP Photo/Perry Knotts)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner signals Seattle's recovery of an Eagles fumble during a game on December 7, 2014. The Seahawks defeated the Eagles 24-14.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson attempts to avoid an Eagles defender while looking to make a pass down field during a game on December 7, 2014. The Seahawks defeated the Eagles 24-14.
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril sacks Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz jarring the ball loose during a game on November 20, 2016. The Seahawks defeated the Eagles 26-15.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson dives into the end zone after making a reception during a game on November 20, 2016. The Seahawks defeated the Eagles 26-15.
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner takes down Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz for a sack during a game on November 20, 2016. The Seahawks defeated the Eagles 26-15.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver takes in the 12s at CenturyLink Field after scoring a touchdown during a game on December 3, 2017. The Seahawks defeated the Eagles 24-10.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin forces a pass break up during a game on December 3, 2017. The Seahawks defeated the Eagles 24-10.
Seattle Seahawks running back Mike Davis leaps over the Eagles defense during a game on December 3, 2017. The Seahawks defeated the Eagles 24-10.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) celebrates after leading his team to a touchdown during a week 13 NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 in Seattle. Seattle won 24-10. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
