Philadelphia Eagles Still Favored Over Seattle Seahawks Despite Losing Streak

The Philadelphia Eagles have opened as favorites for their Week 15 clash with the Seattle Seahawks.

Even though they will take their first losing streak of the season into one of the NFL's most hostile environments in Lumen Field, the Philadelphia Eagles have still opened as favorites over the Seattle Seahawks in the Week 15 NFC tilt. 

Depending upon which sportsbook you look at, quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are either 3.5 or four-point favorites over coach Pete Carroll's Seahawks. Both teams, frankly, are in desperate need of a win. 

Jordan Mailata, Lane Johnson, Jason Kelce and the Eagles are looking to snap a losing streak.  / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Eagles need to halt their two-game skid to hold onto the top spot in the NFC East and remain in the race for the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC playoffs, which comes with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. 

Seattle, meanwhile, has fallen to 6-7 after four consecutive losses, and its playoff hopes are on life support. A month ago, the Seahawks seemed more likely to usurp the San Francisco 49ers and win the NFC West as they were to fall out of the playoff picture altogether. However, if the season ended today, the Seahawks wouldn't even be the first team out in the NFC playoffs, as the division-rival Los Angeles Rams -- also 6-7 -- own tiebreakers over them, the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. And the Rams are currently on the outside looking in, as the Green Bay Packers own the seventh and final NFC playoff spot. 

Eagles Still Control NFC East Destiny, But There Are Legitimate Concerns

It's not yet clear whether quarterback Geno Smith will return for the Seahawks in Week 15, after missing a Week 14 loss to the 49ers with a groin injury. In his place, former second-round pick Drew Lock completed 22 of 31 passes for 269 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, so it was a very mixed performance. 

For coach Nick Sirianni and the Eagles, this will be the final game in a gauntlet of matchups with playoff-caliber teams since their bye in Week 10. Over the last month, the Eagles have gone 2-2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. After this week's matchup with the Seahawks, the Eagles have a relatively easy trio of games to finish the season, with a Week 17 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals sandwiched in between two meetings with the New York Giants.