Of the four games on Wild Card Weekend, only one is a rematch of a regular-season matchup. Back in November, the Seahawks went into Lincoln Financial Field and shut down a beat-up Eagles offense en route to a 17-9 win.
Fast forward to January 2020, and the Eagles offense isn't any healthier. Receivers Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor returned and were lost again due to injury, as was right tackle Lane Johnson. Replacement receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside battled a foot injury throughout December, rookie running back Miles Sanders left the team's win-and-get-in victory over the Giants last Sunday and right guard Brandon Brooks was lost for the year in that game as well. When Carson Wentz takes the field on Sunday, he might as well be meeting some of the players in the huddle for the first time. But the Eagles have shown in the past to never count them out once the playoffs start.
The Seahawks are dealing with their own injury issues, losing their top three running backs late in the season and reuniting with franchise legend Marshawn Lynch as a result. Lynch scored a touchdown in his season debut on Sunday, but it wasn't enough for the Seahawks to beat the 49ers and earn the division title, setting them up to hit the road this weekend.
Below, you'll find info on how to watch the game along with what you need to know about the opening and current lines. Then, you'll see our CBSSports.com expert picks, along with some analysis from some of our writers and SportsLine analysts.
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Seahawks at Eagles
- Time: Sunday, 4:40 p.m. ET (NBC), stream on fuboTV (Try for free)
- Open: Seahawks -1, O/U 46
- Current: Seahawks -1.5, O/U 45
"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. Eagles will advance." -- Pete Prisco on why he has the Eagles winning 26-20
"So how on Earth can we expect the Eagles to win this game? The answer is actually simple: Seattle refuses to let Russell Wilson cook. The only time Russ is allowed to play without the shackles of a run game is when the Seahawks are in a desperate spot. Otherwise they keep pounding the rock and hope their defense can stop someone. But that defense is not good enough to make stops this year, and the run game isn't dominant. The Eagles are the worst possible matchup for Seattle in that sense, because Philly's run defense is actually good and they have to be torched through the air." -- Will Brinson on why he has the Eagles covering
SportsLine's top NFL expert Mike Tierney has a 58-31 mark in his last 89 NFL picks, and he's got a strong play on the Seahawks-Eagles matchup as well. Find out which side of the spread Tierney loves only at SportsLine.
"I hate picking against the Eagles, because there's no NFL team that plays better as an underdog than Philly, but I also hate picking against Russell Wilson. Basically, no matter who I pick in this game, I'm going to end up hating myself for it, but I will say, I'll definitely hate myself a little less if my pick is right. In the first ever 'Injury Bowl,' I'm taking the Seahawks, but only because their skill players are slightly above practice squad level." -- John Breech on why he has the Seahawks winning 20-17
"The backslide of Seattle's run defense provides an opportunity for the Eagles to do some work on the ground. Sanders has run well all season, and Scott's performance when he's gotten an opportunity has been extremely encouraging. If the Eagles can get things working in the run game, they can neutralize some of their injury-related weaknesses along the line and on the perimeter. The question is whether or not that will be enough for them to overcome all of those injuries, and at the moment, that's pretty tough to say. This is the toughest game of wild card weekend to predict, and I could easily see anyone's mind changing several times based on the Friday afternoon injury report, and then again based on the inactives list an hour and a half before the game." -- Jared Dubin, who has the Seahawks winning by 2, in his in-depth preview
"This really just comes down to Russell Wilson, who in most other seasons (that don't feature Lamar Jackson) would be the MVP. Wilson is capable of overcoming less than ideal situations to turn sure-fire losses into miraculous wins. Even though the Seahawks won two more games than the Eagles, I'm not certain they're a better team. The Eagles actually own a better point differential than the Seahawks, oddly enough. But what I am certain of is that Wilson is better than Wentz and he'll have opportunities to take apart an Eagles defense that is susceptible against the pass." -- Sean Wagner-McGough on why he has the Seahawks covering
The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up over $7,000 for $100 players on its top-rated NFL picks since its inception four-plus years ago. Its biggest edge in this game comes on the spread, with one side cashing in 58% of simulations. See the model's spread, total and moneyline plays only at SportsLine.
"I know the Eagles are incredibly banged up, and the odds are good they'll be without Zach Ertz for this game. But so are the Seahawks, and Seattle hasn't been as good as its record has suggested all season long. History and data indicate that a team's point differential is a better indicator of its strength and chances of succeeding moving forward than its win-loss record. So you might find it interesting that Seattle is 11-5 with a point differential of plus-7. Philly, meanwhile, is 9-7 with a point differential of plus-31. Seattle's point differential is what we tend to see from 8-8 teams, not 11-5 teams. Seattle is not as good as its record suggests, and it's going on the road as a favorite against an Eagles team that may have injuries but has dealt with those injuries. It has adapted to them, and on Sunday afternoon, I like the Eagles to not only cover but win outright. Still, I'd rather have the points than not. Just in case Seattle does the thing it's done all season long: win a coin flip." -- Tom Fornelli on why the Eagles are one of his best bets this weekend
"Thanks to winning the NFC East, the 9-7 Eagles get to host the 11-5 Seattle Seahawks in the opening round of the postseason and that's nothing to sleep on. Philadelphia is one of the toughest places to enter as an opposing team and Carson Wentz and the Eagles are rolling pretty hot at the moment. Granted, both Seattle and Philly are dealing with their fair share of injuries across the roster and that shouldn't be overlooked in this matchup. What has me giving the Eagles the edge in this game is not only Wentz playing a high level entering his first postseason start but also Seattle's play-calling on offense. Even when they've been decimated with injuries at the running back spot, the Seahawks simply have no interest in allowing Russell Wilson to drop back and sling it. Unless they have an entire change of philosophy overnight, I don't see the Seattle offense being able to go toe-to-toe with Wentz and the Eagles unit." -- Tyler Sullivan on why he has the Eagles winning 27-13
"The Seahawks have had the Eagles' number, beating Philadelphia in seven of the teams' last eight matchups. Russell Wilson is also a perfect 4-0 against the Birds. But things have changed since their last meeting. Carson Wentz is playing unshackled alongside a bunch of hungry and unsung heroes, and Jim Schwartz's defense has been increasingly clutch, particularly at home. Wilson will keep Seattle in it until the end, no doubt, but a plodding Marshawn Lynch won't be able to save a banged-up Seahawks team from overcoming Doug Pederson's playoff magic." -- Cody Benjamin on why he has the Eagles winning 28-23
"Carson Wentz passed for a career-high 4,039 yards this season, which is actually the most yards in a single season in Eagles franchise history. Even though his wide receiving corps is decimated, Wentz has found a way to get the job done in big games. Still, I think the Seahawks are a better team, and I'm taking Russell Wilson to come through in a close game." -- Jordan Dajani on why he has the Seahawks winning 23-20
Finally, here are the arguments for each side of the spread from my Wednesday betting tips column:
Why to take Seahawks
- Massive injury edge: Eagles lose another starter in Brandon Brooks
- Massive strength of schedule edge, which is a good trend to follow
- Offense played well in Week 17 despite RB injuries
- Russell Wilson should have huge advantage vs. Eagles secondary
Why to take Eagles
- Eagles 5-0 ATS as underdogs in playoffs last two years
- Home underdogs are 16-7-1 ATS on WCW all-time
- Underdogs of 2.5 or less are 14-2 ATS on WCW since 2000
- Implied power rating edge of Seahawks (4.5 points) doesn't mesh with ordinary stats
- Eagles have situational edge, inc. ranking No. 4 on third down on offense and defense
- Seahawks' poor rush defense could take pressure off Eagles passing game
