Enemy Reaction, 2020 NFC Wild Card: Philadelphia Eagles

For the second time this season, the Seattle Seahawks went into Lincoln Financial Field and exited with a 17-9 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. This game had a tad more importance than the November matchup, because the Seahawks are now two wins away from Super Bowl 54, while the Eagles have entered the offseason.

Discussion in the aftermath of this victory has been overwhelmingly centered on Jadeveon Clowney’s hit on Carson Wentz, which knocked him out for the rest of the game. As such, the game thread comments on Bleeding Green Nation were particularly nasty and I left a lot of stuff on the cutting room floor. With that said, you came here for an Enemy Reaction after two weeks without it, and now you’re getting one!

Let’s go! Oh yeah, and there are some bonus reactions from the other three playoff games too!

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Jason Myers field goal blocked by Vinny Curry (0-0)

The realization that Carson Wentz got hurt (3-0 SEA)

Josh McCown keeps on read-option, Eagles tie the game on FG (3-3)

Russell Wilson and David Moore make magic happen (3-3)

Marshawn Lynch scores after Eagles get called for roughing the passer (10-3 SEA)

Tre Flowers flagged for pass interference, leading to another Eagles field goal (10-6 SEA)

Russell Wilson finds DK Metcalf for a 53-yard touchdown (17-6 SEA)

Josh McCown fumbles, picks up the ball, throws it to Boston Scott for 2nd and 16 conversion that results in another field goal (17-9 SEA)

4th down pass dropped by Miles Sanders (17-9 SEA)

Another Tre Flowers PI sets the Eagles up deep in Seahawks territory (17-9 SEA)

Josh McCown sacked by Jadeveon Clowney for another turnover on downs (17-9 SEA)

Russ to DK for the game! (17-9 SEA Final)

Hi there, Niners Nation!

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Post-Game: Passing on DK Metcalf was the original sin (Matty Breisch, Section 215)

By selecting JJ Arcega-Whiteside 57th overall, the Philadelphia Eagles delivered DK Metcalf to the Seattle Seahawks and sealed their own fate in two separate games.

In some people’s opinions, Metcalf was a glorified go-route specialist, a player who would never be able to run a full route tree or do what it takes to become a star.

That opinion lasted all of one week into the regular season, as Metcalf put up 89 yards on four catches.

From there, Metcalf performed admirably as the Seahawks’ clear number two pass-catching option and amassed 900 yards, 43 first downs, and seven touchdowns over 16 regular-season games (15 starts).

But wait, it gets worse.

In the Eagles’ second game of the season against the Seahawks, a must-win four-five Wild Card bout for a chance to face off against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, Metcalf put on a show for the ages – we’re talking seven catches for 160 yards and a touchdown.

JJAW only has 169 yards on the entire regular season, and it took him three more catches to reach that mark.

[...]

It turns out any fears of Metcalf becoming the next Dorial Green-Beckham were vastly overblown, and instead, the 6-foot-4 bruiser is a freakish mix of the best parts of Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson – a mix the NFL hasn’t seen since… Calvin Johnson?

Boy, the Eagles could have used a reliable replacement for one of those players, let alone both.

Post-Game: I’ll be pulling for the Packers (Tommy Lawlor, Iggles Blitz)

I can deal with the Eagles losing. This was a flawed team and once Wentz went down you knew it was going to be a major uphill battle. That injury proved to be too much to overcome.

It sickens me to see the Eagles lose to Russell Wilson, Pete Carroll and Marshawn Lynch. And now Clowney. I hate the Seahawks almost as much as I hate the Cowboys. This game felt like torture at times. I will be pulling for the Packers to stomp the Seahawks into oblivion.

There is a lot to discuss in regard to the Eagles. We’ll talk more about the Seattle game, both good and bad. There are a ton of offseason questions and issues to address. I don’t want to get into that stuff right now.

Let’s give some time for the loss to soak in. The finality of playoff losses is the hardest part. No more games. The journey is done. For better or worse, the 2019 Eagles season is in the books.

I will say this. I feel good about this team. Doug Pederson and Carson Wentz are a dynamic coach-QB combo. With them as the foundation, you always have a chance to win. There is a lot more right than wrong with this team and this organization.

Get younger. Get faster.

And cross your fingers for better injury luck in 2020.

Post-Game Video: A live journal from Lincoln Financial Field recapping the game (The Disgruntled Eagles Fan) - Game highlights start at 4:23

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Bonus Reactions!

Houston Texans 22 Buffalo Bills 19 (OT)

Tennessee Titans 20 New England Patriots 13

Minnesota Vikings 26 New Orleans Saints 20 (OT)

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We march on to Green Bay to take on the Packers. While the Seahawks haven’t lost in Philadelphia since 1989, they haven’t won at Lambeau Field since 1999. Even worse is that Russell Wilson’s trips to Lambeau have been overwhelmingly bad, with the offense only scoring 36 total points in three visits there. If they can knock off Aaron Rodgers and company, they’ll either be getting one more crack at the San Francisco 49ers after two dramatic regular season games, or they’ll be hosting the NFC Championship Game against the Minnesota Vikings in an unexpected #5 vs. #6 matchup.

It’s been a hell of a season — equal parts thrilling and aggravating (okay maybe more the latter but you get the idea) — and it can get even better by the end of Sunday night.

Thanks for reading and go ‘Hawks!