Seahawks 20, Eagles 17: Defense can't hold late lead, Hurts throws 2 INTs in 3rd straight loss

SEATTLE − After two days of upheaval that included Jalen Hurts' illness and a major change at defensive play-caller, the Eagles played the first half as if nothing was wrong.

But it didn't last as Seahawks backup quarterback Drew Lock threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, sending the Eagles to a 20-17 loss Monday night. It was their third straight defeat.

Hurts led the Eagles down the field on the opening drive for a touchdown, completing all 5 of his passes. But the Eagles only got a field goal the rest of the first half, taking a 10-3 lead at halftime.

It was the Eagles' first halftime lead since Oct. 22 against Miami, a span of seven games.

And on defense, Matt Patricia took over the play-calling duties from Sean Desai, who remained the defensive coordinator.

The defense kept Seattle out of the end zone, but the Seahawks were also playing without starting quarterback Geno Smith, who was missing his second straight game with a groin injury.

PATRICIA MAGIC? Philadelphia Eagles fans rejoice after defense starts fast against Seattle Seahawks

The Eagles missed a chance to get a touchdown on their second scoring drive. They faced a 3rd-and-1 from the Seahawks' 3, an automatic "tush push" play. But Jason Kelce was called for a false start, moving the Eagles back 5 yards.

D'Andre Swift was stopped for no gain and Jake Elliott kicked a 26-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead with 6:20 left in the first half. It was the Eagles' second scoring drive that lasted more than 8 minutes.

Hurts was 9-for-17 passing for 79 yards. He also ran 7 times for 35 yards.

Seattle put together its best drive of the game after Elliott's field goal. But the Eagles managed to hold them to a field goal.

Still, it was progress for the Eagles. It was announced 90 minutes before the game that Hurts would play after he was downgraded to questionable Sunday with an illness. Hurts showed up in Michael Jordan gear, perhaps in deference to Jordan's famous "flu game" in the 1998 NBA Finals.

And on defense, Patricia took over without two starters as cornerback Darius Slay and linebacker Zach Cunningham were out with knee injuries. Rookie Kelee Ringo started for Slay and Shaq Leonard started for Cunningham.

SWITCH AT DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Eagles replacing defensive coordinator Sean Desai with Matt Patricia, but not officially

The Eagles had given up 75 points in their last two games, both losses, as they fell to 10-3.

Despite the turmoil, the Eagles still clinched a playoff berth Sunday even without playing after a wild set of circumstances fell their way.

Pete Carroll does the Eagles a big favor with a timeout

It was the fourth quarter and the Seahawks were driving for the potential game-tying touchdown. The Seahawks faced a 3rd-and-2 when quarterback Drew Lock appeared to throw incomplete after pressure from Jalen Carter, setting up 4th-and-2 from the Eagles' 18.

But it appeared as if Carter might have gotten Lock down before he got the pass off. The Eagles, however, didn't throw the challenge flag. That is, until the Seahawks lined up to go for it. That's when Carroll called a timeout, and the Eagles challenged the ruling.

Sure enough, it was ruled a sack, and that gave the Seahawks a 4th-and-9. They kicked a field goal and the Eagles still led 17-13 with 10 minutes left.

Jalen Hurts ties NFL record as Eagles answer Seahawks TD drive

The Eagles needed to respond after the Seahawks had tied the game, and they did. This time, Hurts led them down the field. He completed an 11-yard pass to AJ Brown on 3rd-and-9 to the Seahawks' 33. And he completed a 17-yard pass to DeVonta Smith down to the Seahawks' 9.

Then Hurts capped the 12-play drive with a 1-yard "tush push." It was Hurts' second rushing TD of the game and 14th of the season, tying an NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Cam Newton set the mark in 2011.

Hurts also passed the franchise record he shared with Randall Cunningham. Hurts tied Cunningham with 13 rushing TDs last season.

Hurts’ touchdown also tied former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jack Kemp for fourth place on the NFL’s all-time quarterback rushing touchdown list with 40 touchdowns. Newton holds the record with 75 touchdowns.

That gave the Eagles a 17-10 lead with 4:43 left in the third quarter.

Eagles defense regresses to start the second half

So much for that Patricia magic. The Seahawks took the opening kickoff and marched down the field just like opposing offenses had done for the previous several games.

This time, Kenneth Walker's 23-yard touchdown run, helped by some shoddy defense, enabled the Seahawks to tie the game at 10-10 with 10:05 left in the third quarter.

Don't look now, but Matt Patricia's defense pitched a shutout in 1st quarter

With one quarter in the books, the Eagles defense has not allowed Seattle to score.

Before you credit that solely to Patricia taking over the play-calling duties from Desai, go back two weeks against the 49ers. The Eagles didn't allow a first down in that game, and held the 49ers to minus-6 yards.

Then the 49ers erupted for 42 yards over the last 3 quarters. Still, it's an encouraging sign for an Eagles defense that has given up 75 points in the last two games.

What illness? Jalen Hurts leads Eagles down field on opening drive

Jalen Hurts showed everyone on the very first play of the game that his illness wasn't going to bother him. He took off and picked up 13 yards.

Hurts kept moving the ball down the field, leading the Eagles on a 15-play drive that used up 8 minutes, 29 seconds. He capped the drive with a 3-yard TD run. Hurts also went 5-for-5 for 39 yards passing on the drive.

In all, the Eagles converted 4 third downs. And the Eagles scored on their opening drive for the first time in six games, ever since the first Dallas game on Nov. 5.

Eagles inactives: Darius Slay, 2 other starters ruled out

The Eagles ruled out three starters for the game in cornerback Darius Slay (knee), right guard Cam Jurgens (pectoral muscle) and linebacker Zach Cunningham (knee).

Slay, in fact, had arthroscopic knee surgery last week. He will likely miss more than one game.

The Eagles gave the practice-squad elevation to cornerback Mekhi Garner. It's Garner's third and final elevation of the season.

The other inactives are QB Tanner McKee, RB Rashaad Penny and TE Albert Okwuegbunam.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, have listed QB Geno Smith as active, but that doesn't mean he's going to playDrew Lock got the start. Seattle listed all three quarterbacks as active. Smith missed last week's game with a groin injury, and was listed as questionable.

Still, Seattle won't have two of its top defensive backs in CB Devon Witherspoon and S Jamal Adams.

How to fix the Eagles after two difficult losses

The Eagles have dropped two games in a row, to their closest challengers for the top spot in the NFC, and each game was a lopsided defeat.

There are suggestions that Eagles coach Nick Sirianni should get help for offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and defensive coordinator Sean Desai, both in their first seasons in those positions.

Here, then, are five suggestions to fix the Eagles.

Eagles facing well rested Seahawks

For the third week in a row the Eagles will face a team that played on Thursday night the previous week. The first two games were not positive experiences for the Eagles They lost to the San Francisco 49ers (42-19) and Dallas Cowboys (33-13).

Can the Eagles clinch a playoff berth?

The Eagles clinched a playoff spot after Sunday's games.

What's the weather forecast for the Seahawks vs Eagles?

It's Seattle, of course there's going to be rain. Seattle is expecting about a quarter of an inch of rain Monday night with temperatures around 43 degrees.

What are the odds for the Seahawks vs. Eagles game?

Betting line (Odds via Sportsbook Review): Eagles -3 (-114), Seahawks +3 (-105)

Total: Over/under 47.5 points

Moneyline: Eagles -165 (Bet $165 to win $100), Seahawks +145 (Bet $100 to net $145)

What time is the Seahawks vs. Eagles game?

• Date: Monday, Dec. 18

• Time: 8:15 p.m.

• Place: Lumen Field, Seattle

How to watch, stream, listen to Seahawks vs. Eagles

Cable/Network TV

The game will be available locally on 6 ABC Philadelphia, ESPN and ESPN2.

Streaming

You can also stream games if you have subscriptions to NFL+, NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube Primetime, YouTube TV, fuboTV.  Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV.

Radio

You can listen to the Eagles Sirius XM satellite radio on Sirius channel 82 and XM channel 228 (Eagles feed). The Eagles Radio Network has stations across the region. Merrill Reese has the play-by-play and Mike Quick the analyst.

• Wilmington — WDEL/101.7 FM and 1150 AM

• Levittown — WBCB/1490 AM

• Philadelphia — WIP/94.1 FM

• Atlantic City — WENJ/97.3 FM

• Salisbury/Ocean City — WAFL/97.7FM

Who is announcing the 49ers vs. Eagles game?

• Play-by-play: Joe Buck

• Analyst: Troy Aikman

• Sideline reporter: Lisa Salters

Cowboys vs. Eagles prediction

Martin Frank pick: As hard as it is to believe, the Eagles are playing a team that's just as bad, if not worse, on defense. The difference is the Eagles are statistically much better than Seattle on offense. Still, Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf has terrorized the Eagles throughout his career, and he could very well do it again. It won't be enough.

The pick: Eagles 27, Seahawks 20

2023 Philadelphia Eagles schedule

• Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023: Eagles 25, Patriots 20

• Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023: Eagles 34, Vikings 28

• Monday, Sept. 25, 2023: Eagles 25, Buccaneers 11

• Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023: Eagles 34, Commanders 31 (OT)

• Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023: Eagles 23, Rams 14

• Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023: Jets 20, Eagles 14

• Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023: Eagles 31, Dolphins 17

• Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023: Eagles 38, Commanders 31

• Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023: Eagles 28, Cowboys 23

• Monday, Nov. 20, 2023: Eagles 21, Chiefs 17

• Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023: Eagles 37, Bills 34 (OT)

• Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023: 49ers 42, Eagles 19

• Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023: Cowboys 33, Eagles 13

• Monday, Dec. 18, 2023: at Seattle Seahawks, 8:15 p.m.

• Monday, Dec. 25, 2023: at New York Giants, 4:30 p.m.

• Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023: at Arizona Cardinals, 1 p.m.

• Sunday, Jan. 7: at New York Giants, TBD

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles vs Seahawks score: Jalen Hurts playing? Major change on defense