Monday Night Football: Seahawks Shock Eagles, 20-17

The Seahawks handed the Eagles their third straight loss on Monday night in a 20-17 thriller. The game ended on an improbable 10 play 92 yard drive by Seattle to go up with 28 seconds left. The Seahawks trailed the Eagles throughout the game by as much as 10 points in the first half.

Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock finished with 208 yards and a touchdown, completing 66.7 percent of his passes. There was originally some uncertainty regarding who the Seahawks would start at quarterback, as Geno Smith was activated shortly before kickoff. Smith missed the team’s Week 14 loss against the 49ers with a groin injury. 

Head coach Pete Carroll’s faith in Lock paid off, as he led a game-winning drive that was completed with a 29-yard pass to rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks now have a 7-7 regular season record which gives them a chance at the second Wild Card spot in the NFC.

The Eagles are now 10-4 and are tied for first place in the NFC East with the Cowboys. Philadelphia has two games against the NY Giants (5-9) and one game against the Arizona Cardinals (3-11) to close out the season. 

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs the ball during the NFL
IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Playoff Picture Takes Shape

Going into Week 15 in the NFL regular season only 2 teams had been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs; the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots. Four more teams joined the list on Sunday in the New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders and Arizona Cardinals. There are only 3 weeks left but still 26 teams remain in contention.

The Baltimore Ravens became the first team in the AFC to clinch a playoff spot after beating Jacksonville Jaguars on the road. Following the loss, the Jaguars are tied with the Colts and Texans at 8-6 for the top spot in the AFC South.

The Chiefs got a much needed victory over the struggling Patriots to improve to 9-5 and go two games up on the Denver Broncos. The Broncos now look unlikely to take the top spot in the division and will be aiming for a Wild Card spot.

Both the Dolphins and the Bills had important victories on Sunday over the NY Jets and Dallas Cowboys respectively. The wins should put the Dolphins into the playoffs and the Bills in a good spot to make a Wild Card with a 8-6 record.

In the NFC, the Eagles and Cowboys have already qualified for the playoffs but will be fighting to win the division and potentially avoid Wild Card weekend. Both teams came out losers this week falling to 10-4 staying even with each other. The 49ers however tacked on yet another win against the Cardinals to get to 11-3 and clinch their division. It was the team’s 6th win in a row.

The race for the NFC South division heated up this week with a win from both the Buccaneers and the Saints to improve to 7-7. Both teams will be desperate to win the division with one Wild Card spot guaranteed to either the Cowboys or Eagles.

In the NFC North the Lions seem in complete control of the division following their 42-17 win against the Broncos this week. The Vikings are 3 games behind with only three games to go, which means they will likely be fighting for a Wild Card spot.

NFL Week 15 Scores

Los Angeles Chargers 21
Las Vegas Raiders63
Minnesota Vikings24
Cincinnati Bengals27
Pittsburgh Steelers13
Indianapolis Colts30
Denver Broncos17
Detroit Lions42
Atlanta Falcons7
Carolina Panthers9
Chicago Bears17
Cleveland Browns20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers34
Green Bay Packers20
New York Jets0
Miami Dolphins30
New York Giants6
New Orleans Saints24
Kansas City Chiefs27
New England Patriots17
Houston Texans19
Tennessee Titans16
San Francisco 49ers45
Arizona Cardinals29
Washington Commanders20
Los Angeles Rams28
Dallas Cowboys10
Buffalo Bills31
Baltimore Ravens23
Jacksonville Jaguars7
Philadelphia Eagles17
Seattle Seahawks20