All-22 Musings: The DK Metcalf show returns to Philadelphia

The DK Metcalf show toured through Philadelphia on Monday night and left bruised egos, a regretful Jim Schwartz, and destruction in its wake.

Led by a masterful showing from Metcalf, the Seahawks came through an ugly game against the Eagles with a 23-17 win, with the defense and Carson Wentz combining to do enough to hold Philadelphia off.

[PHI 1-5 PHI 24] (14:54) (Shotgun) C.Wentz pass incomplete short right to R.Rodgers (J.Brooks)

While the first play of the game wasn’t anything flashy from Jordyn Brooks, it was encouraging. Reading and reacting from a hook/curl zone is the bread and butter for Seattle’s linebackers in coverage, and Brooks plays it perfectly. (Though it does look like Bobby Wagner expected him to do something else.)

[PHI 2-5 PHI 24] (14:50) (Shotgun) C.Wentz pass incomplete short middle to G.Ward [P.Ford]

Poona Ford was extremely active against the Eagles and kicked off his night with a pressure on Wentz, getting into the quaterback’s face on what should be a lightning quick RPO.

[SEA 2-8 SEA 37] (13:27) R.Wilson pass short middle to D.Metcalf to 50 for 13 yards (A.Singleton)

The endzone view of Rodney McLeod Jr. bouncing off of Metcalf was just too good to not share. McLeod comes down from over the top, running start into Metcalf and... he loses the coming together. Metcalf is not normal.

[PHI 1-10 PHI 7] (6:57) M.Sanders right tackle to PHI 7 for no gain (J.Adams; P.Ford)

Ford is just bullying centers at times this season and does so on this Miles Sanders stop, pushing Jason Kelce off the ball and meeting Jamal Adams, who forced Sanders to cut back, at the ball.

[PHI 2-12 PHI 36] (2:43) (Shotgun) C.Wentz pass incomplete deep right to D.Goedert (B.Wagner) [J.Reed]

One of the plays of the game comes from 30-year-old Bobby Wagner, who goes step-for-step with Dallas Goedert 40 yards downfield before going full stretch to break up a rare accurate pass from Wentz. Wagner has been simply fantastic over the last six weeks or so, against both the run and pass.

[PHI 3-12 PHI 36] (2:36) (Shotgun) C.Wentz sacked at PHI 27 for -9 yards (R.Green)

How Rasheem Green developed as an interior pass rusher was always going to have a big impact on his ceiling and the ceiling of the team’s pass rush. He had a fair bit of success inside a year ago and since returning from a neck injury, that has only continued. Green’s early season injury hasn’t changed his trajectory toward being a useful, versatile defender against the run and pass.

[SEA 3-13 SEA 47] (12:17) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass deep middle to D.Metcalf to PHI 1 for 52 yards (D.Slay) [B.Graham]

Though he has to pull up a little bit to get under the pass, this play from Metcalf does an excellent job demonstrating his easy speed. Darius Slay is in good position when Metcalf crosses Philadelphia’s 40-yard line, but within a few steps Metcalf has absolutely blown by him. Too big, too strong, too talented, and it was all on display in Week 12.

[SEA 2-Goal PHI 16] (5:35) (Shotgun) C.Carson up the middle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN

Rookie phenom Damien Lewis helps to spring Chris Carson’s touchdown, climbing to the second level and sealing out Alex Singleton, while Carson sets up the defender and reads it perfectly. At the five yard line, Carson does what he does best—finish the run. The Seahawks limited Carson’s snaps, but his return was really felt.

[PHI 1-10 PHI 25] (5:27) (Shotgun) C.Wentz sacked at PHI 19 for -6 yards (P.Ford)

Solid coverage and a collapsing pocket helps Ford to get his first sack of the night, but what stands out most is the way Ford knocks Jason Peters back on his heels. Not an easy feat for any defender, but a superb rush from an ascending disruptor against the pass in Ford.

[PHI 3-10 SEA 17] (8:16) (Shotgun) C.Wentz sacked at SEA 24 for -7 yards (J.Adams)

When Jamal Adams first turns the corner and has Wentz in his sights, he slows down as if he is about to go for the sack. Wentz moves to his right just as Adams slows his momentum, but he reaccelerates in order to again close on Wentz. It looked a little routine, relative to Adams, but this was a freaky sack.

[SEA 2-8 SEA 24] (6:51) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass short left to D.Metcalf ran ob at SEA 33 for 9 yards (D.Slay)

A mundane connection between Wilson and Metcalf, relative to the rest of the receiver’s night, but it never gets old seeing these two connect on timing routes. We saw it in little flashes toward the end of Metcalf’s rookie season, but not all that often this season. It’s another step toward Metcalf and Wilson being a borderline impossible proposition for defenses.

[PHI 4-2 PHI 48] (13:33) (Shotgun) C.Wentz pass incomplete short left to R.Rodgers (K.Wright)

K.J. Wright chose the perfect time to make his weekly heroic play, with Wentz locking onto an open receiver in the flat on fourth down. Seattle’s ageless linebacker had different plans, reading Wentz’s eyes and getting up to smack the football harmlessly to the turf.

[PHI 1-10 PHI 23] (11:04) (Shotgun) C.Wentz sacked at PHI 20 for -3 yards (K.Wright)

Wright gets by Goedert far too easily, swiping away lazy hands and forcing Wentz up—right into Adams, whose delayed blitz has worked perfectly. For all the contention around the Seahawks’ blitzing in 2020, they have schemed up pressure and pressure looks really well.

[PHI 1-10 50] (9:42) (Shotgun) C.Wentz pass incomplete deep right to D.Goedert (J.Brooks). PENALTY on SEA-J.Brooks, Defensive Pass Interference, 29 yards, enforced at 50 - No Play

More encouraging play from Brooks in coverage, as the rookie has no problem flipping his hips and running with Goedert downfield. While an underthrow from Wentz buys the Eagles a DPI, Brooks continues to dispel any ideas of limited athleticism hurting his ability to cover downfield.

[PHI 2-10 SEA 21] (9:30) (Shotgun) C.Wentz pass incomplete deep left to J.Reagor

In the slot to the left, a rare position for him to be in, Shaquill Griffin has no issue sticking in Jalen Reagor’s pocket the whole way as he forces an incompletion in the endzone. In his return from injury, Griffin played one of, if not his best, game of the season. To keep Griffin healthy and to have him return to his level of play in 2019 would be absolutely massive for Seattle down the stretch.

[PHI 3-10 SEA 21] (9:26) (Shotgun) C.Wentz pass short right to B.Scott to SEA 15 for 6 yards (B.Wagner; J.Adams)

We got another example of Adams’ freaky ability, this time on an unsuccessful blitz. Adams, held up by Peters, sprints off in pursuit of Boston Scott, who received a checkdown from Wentz. Within just a few seconds, Adams goes from held up at the line of scrimmage to blasting Scott, six yards downfield.

[PHI 4-4 SEA 15] (8:40) (Shotgun) C.Wentz pass intended for D.Goedert INTERCEPTED by Q.Diggs at SEA -1. Touchback

Yikes. (Good for Quandre Diggs for holding off the temptation to take the ball out of the endzone.)

[PHI 2-30 PHI 26] (2:33) (Shotgun) C.Wentz pass incomplete short right to B.Scott [P.Ford]

Ford’s tireless work as a rusher pays off with another pressure, working past Jordan Mailata after the loop from Shaquem Griffin leaves Ford 1-on-1. Ford has absolutely brought it as a pass rusher in 2020 and it’s starting to pay off for him more often.