PHILADELPHIA EAGLES @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 
Vegas Line: Seahawks + 3
Rob’s Line: Seahawks + 3.5
When this game was pegged for a Thursday night, the NFL would’ve had high hopes of one of these teams primed for the playoffs and thus with something to play for. Seattle entered this season as division champions of the NFC West and it was fair to assume that, with the division looking so weak, they could and should challenge for the crown again. Plus, fresh in the memory was the wildcard playoff win over the defending Super Bowl champion Saints at Qwest Field so the Seahawks at home was an attractive TV proposition against a good team and that’s where Philadelphia came in.
We must remember that the schedule was released before the lockout ended so when the Eagles began hoovering up blue chip free agents, the guys at NFL Network (who are covering the game) must have considered it Thanksgiving and Christmas come early, what with them being able to showcase a stable load of stallions in green. However, these two birds have had their wings clipped this season and this is, unfortunately, a meaningless game; this is Broken Bird Bowl.
On paper (if only games were won and lost that way and not in the trenches), the Eagles are extremely well balanced, but while a truck load of talented free agents guarantees an influx of skill and technique, what it doesn’t guarantee is chemistry and it’s why I often mention the intangibles in this sport. Philly have craved chemistry all season, but we’ve only seen it in flashes and it’s why coach Andy Reid may see his long tenure come to an end before 2012.
Seattle’s struggled all season at quarterback and on the offensive line and just when things were beginning to gel after a deserved win over the might that is the Baltimore Ravens, they promptly lost their two promising rookie offensive linemen for the season, but that line will benefit from a full, uninterrupted offseason and I expect a solid group to emerge next season.
Wide receiver Sidney Rice doesn’t play for Seattle after ongoing problems with concussion and Philly will be without QB Michael Vick, WR Jeremy Maclin and CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Despite the loss of offensive talent, both teams should be able to move the ball, but for different reasons.
The Eagles will probably have more joy through the air than on the ground and receiver DeSean Jackson, after a troublesome couple of weeks that culminated in him being benched in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss to the Patriots, will definitely start on Thursday. He only has two touchdown catches all season and none in his last five games, but will fancy his chances against a Seattle pass defense that ranks 20th in the league.
I believe that the Seahawks will move the ball based purely on the fact that the Eagles are travelling all the way across the country on the shortest week a team can have after an emotional loss. Seattle remains at home and while Philadelphia possess the far more talented squad, even considering their injuries (including CB Nnamdi Asomugha whom I inexplicably failed to mention above), it’s going to be a tough ask for them to be 100% effective both mentally and physically.
My heart says the Seahawks and my head says to follow so I take Seattle and the points.
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