Here is who national experts are predicting will win Seahawks-Eagles playoff game
The Eagles won two fewer games than the Seattle Seahawks this season, but Sunday’s NFC Wild Card game will be played in Philadelphia.
That’s because the Eagles are a division champion, having held off the Dallas Cowboys for the East championship. Will the home-field advantage make a difference for Philadelphia?
Fifty-one experts from around the nation made predictions for Sunday’s game and there is no consensus. Here are the picks and what they’re saying about the game, which kicks off at 3:40 p.m. and will be broadcast on NBC (Ch. 41):
There is an even split among CBS Sports experts: Pete Prisco, Will Brinson, Dave Richard and Jamey Eisenberg are picking the Eagles. Ryan Wilson, Jason La Canfora, John Breech and Jared Dubin picked the Seahawks. Prisco predicted a 26-20 Eagles win. Here is part of what wrote: “Both of these teams are really banged up. But they were that way when they met in early December, a game won by the Seahawks on this same field. This time, the Eagles will win it. Carson Wentz is playing at a high level and I think that continues. The Eagles pass rush will steal the show here.”
The Seahawks were the pick for both Mike Florio and Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. Smith sees a 14-10 final score. This is part of what he wrote: “I wouldn’t count the Eagles out. They’re playing at home, and they’re a team that has shown it can save its best for the postseason.” Florio called a 27-20 score and wrote: “It feels like Carson Wentz has spent 10 years in the NFL. (It’s actually his fourth season.) This will be his first playoff game. And while he’s been playing very well recently, the competition has been lackluster. The Seahawks are anything but. While not among the NFL’s elite teams, the Seahawks know how to win.”
Six of the 10 experts at ESPN believe Seattle will win: Mike Golic, Jason Reid, Trey Wingo, Mina Kimes, Seth Wickersham and Kevin Seifert. Taking the Eagles are Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Louis Riddick and Dan Graziano.
A 23-21 Seahawks win is the prediction from Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. Here is an excerpt of what he wrote: “If the Seahawks are to win, some newer faces need to show up. Travis Homer certainly looked like Seattle’s best back a week ago. Quinton Jefferson might be the team’s best pass rusher left standing unless Jadeveon Clowney looks healthier this week. Linebacker Mychal Kendricks is out for the season with a torn ACL, hurting the Seahawks’ one big defensive strength at the second level.”
The Seahawks will win 27-24 writes Tadd Haislop of the Sporting News. This is a snippet of what he wrote: “The Seahawks’ holes on defense will be a problem against Carson Wentz in the QB’s first playoff start, but the Eagles’ defense has a bigger problem with (Russell) Wilson. This will be another close game between two teams that seemingly only play in close games, and in that type of contest, we trust the Seahawks QB over almost anyone.”
Six of eight Pro Football Focus experts picked the Eagles: Neil Hornsby, Bruce Gradkowski, Jeff Ratcliffe, Solomon Wilcots, Sam Monson and Nathan Jahnke. The picks for Seahawks: Austin Gayle and Steve Palazzolo.
Five of the seven experts from USA Today picked the Seahawks: Jarrett Bell (27-24 final score), Nate Davis (23-20), Jori Epstein (26-23), Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz (23-17) and Tom Schad (30-20). PIcking the Eagles: Mike Jones (27-25) and Lorenzo Reyes (24-21)
All but one of the eight SB Nation writers is picking the Seahawks: Christian D’Andrea, Sarah Hardy, Morgan Moriarty, Adam Stites, Stephen White, James Brady and Lester Wilfong. The lone pick for the Eagles came from Geoff Schwartz.
Four of the six Sports Illustrated Monday Morning Quarterback writers picked the Eagles: Kayln Kahler, Mitch Goldich, Andrew Brandt, and Jenny Vrentas. The picks for Seattle: Bette Marston and Connor Orr.
