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Philadelphia Eagles vs Seattle Seahawks: prediction, preview, pick to win

By The Sports Xchange
Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson will continue to seek big play chances against Philadelphia's secondary; while the Eagles need to keep Wilson in the pocket and not let him get outside and extend plays. Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI
Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson will continue to seek big play chances against Philadelphia's secondary; while the Eagles need to keep Wilson in the pocket and not let him get outside and extend plays. Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI | License Photo

KICKOFF: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CenturyLink Field, Seattle. TV: CBS, Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson.

SERIES HISTORY: 15th regular-season meeting. Series tied, 7-7. Seattle has won four of the last five meetings, including a 24-14 victory over the Eagles in 2014.

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GAMEDATE: 11/20/16

KEYS TO THE GAME:

Cliff Avril and Frank Clark will try to pressure Eagles rookie quarterback Carson Wentz into mistakes and possible turnover opportunities. Seattle will also need to focus on covering tight end Brent Celek and the Eagles' stable of running backs in the passing game.

Offensively, the Seahawks will try to build upon their improved run game performance last week in New England as Thomas Rawls returns to the lineup. The teams that have beaten the Seahawks or played them close all have remained committed to the run during the game. The Eagles, who are coming off their best rushing performance of the season against Atlanta, must do the same on Sunday.

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Russell Wilson will also continue to seek big play chances against Philadelphia's secondary. The Eagles need to keep Wilson in the pocket and not let him get outside and extend plays.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Eagles RB Darren Sproles vs. Seahawks MLB Bobby Wagner. Seattle occasionally struggles to cover running backs in the passing game. Sproles will be a bigger factor in the passing game than as a rusher, but Wagner will be responsible for making sure Sproles is held in check.

--Seahawks RT Garry Gilliam vs. Eagles DE Brandon Graham. Graham leads a strong Eagles front against a Seattle offensive line that is still trying to establish consistency. Gilliam has been a liability at times, and Graham will provide a stiff test.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT:

C Justin Britt. Since moving to his third position in three seasons in Seattle, Britt appears to have settled in at center. He has been the most consistent of Seattle's five offensive linemen and has played his best football since being drafted in the second round of the 2014

INJURY REPORT:

Philadelphia -- Out: S Terrence Brooks (hamstring). Questionable: TE Zach Ertz (hamstring), WR Jordan Matthews (back).

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Seattle -- Out: DE Michael Bennett (knee), LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (hamstring).

FAST FACTS:

A victory against the Eagles will give Pete Carroll his 100th career win. Carroll is 66-38-1 in seven seasons as Seattle's coach, including an 8-4 record in the playoffs.

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson has 630 passing yards and five TDs in the past two games. He has 17 TDs and just two interceptions in his past eight home games.

Rookie RB C.J. Prosise totaled 153 yards (66 rushing, 87 receiving) vs. New England in Week 10. His play was so solid that the Seahawks released leading rusher Christine Michael (469 yards) with injured Thomas Rawls (fibula) about to return.

Eagles QB Carson Wentz has thrown two TD passes in the last five games. He has thrown for 2,121 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

Eagles coach Doug Pederson grew up about 100 miles north of Seattle and used to attend Seahawks games at the Kingdome.

PREDICTION:

While the Seahawks might have some trouble against Philly's defense, it will be nothing compared to what Wentz endures against one of the toughest defenses in the NFL.

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OUR PICK: Seahawks, 24-10.

--Chris Cluff

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