The Eagles have had a tough stretch of games over the last two weeks as they suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in a while. Now they’ll be heading over to Seattle for the first-ever game that was flexed onto Monday Night Football. Sounds like the scriptwriters knew what they were doing after all.
Hurts and company have been blown out in back-to-back outings and now is the time where you will see what this team is made of. Can they respond to the call? Who will step up? Here are several players that you should keep your eye on in this matchup.
Jalen Hurts
Probably the more obvious answer. The team can only go where their QB goes and right now they need Jalen to step up. Hurts has yet to have a dominant game this season which means that the rent is due. The Seattle defense isn’t an unbeatable unit but any team coach by Pete Carroll is sure to have some tricks up their sleeves after watching their opponents struggle.
Hurts and the offense need this game to find their rhythm and their identity. This team has been operating as a pass-first offense but that seems to be hindering more than ever. Hurts also has been holding onto the ball for way too long in hopes of a game-changing deep shot. It’s time to back to the basics and operate like a functional unit.
Haason Reddick
Reddick is having a good season as he has surpassed 10 sacks once again. But his impact hasn’t been felt like it was last season. Last year you could almost expect a big turnover by Reddick in crucial moments. That hasn’t been the case in 2023.
There’s no question that the defense needs a big jumpstart as the pass rush just hasn’t been as effective as it once was. Reddick must be the one to lead the charge. Geno Smith is coming off of an injury but the Seattle offense still has great boom potential. The Eagles will need their sack leader to set the tone early and often in this matchup.
James Bradberry
Bradberry is officially the Eagles’ number-one cornerback for the next several weeks. The Eagles and Darius Slay have opted for the CB to have arthroscopic surgery which will sideline him for some time. Bradberry on the other hand has a tall task ahead of him as DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will look to help the Seahawks bury the Eagles for a third straight game.
Bradberry hasn’t been having the best of seasons this year. But in a crucial time where the Eagles need to find some consistency in the secondary, this is where they need their veteran to step up. Can Bradberry help the Eagles right the ship and limit the damage done by the Seahawks’ offense?
Kelee Ringo
The rookie cornerback saw an uptick in snaps last week but didn’t have the greatest of moments. From a terrible penalty to being hurdled, we can say that it was a day to forget for Ringo. Now with Slay down, we may see more of the Georgia Bulldog against the Seahawks. Ringo was part of this year’s stellar draft class but like Nolan Smith, has become a bit of an afterthought.
If the rookie wants to play more then he’ll have to hold his weight against the Seahawks and make a hell of an impression. The Eagles are very thin when it comes to talent at the cornerback position and now Ringo will get the chance to show that he belongs.
A.J. Brown
Brown has 17 receptions for over 200 receiving yards in the last two games. Unfortunately, those stellar numbers have gone unnoticed due to the offense declining and the team losing. The Eagles need Brown more than ever. They also need DeVonta Smith but it’s A.J. Brown who sets the temperature for the offense.
We don’t know if it’s fatigue or if teams have found his kryptonite but Brown needs to make a big impact in this game and it needs to be felt throughout the entire team. Both he and Smitty had costly turnovers against the Cowboys, will they do the opposite against Seattle?
AP Photo/Chris Szagola
