Eagles-Seahawks Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Seattle needs to know where Westbrook is at all timesThese two NFC teams are both two games out in their divisions and simply can't afford to lose more ground this late in the season. The Eagles may have an edge record-wise at 4-3 compared to the Seahawks at 2-5, but the Eagles are currently residing in the cellar of the NFC East. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are in a division that no one wants to take charge of. Both teams are hoping to make an early statement and get back in the postseason race.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
PHI	9-6	416	289	6-2	3-4	2-4	7-5
SEA	4-12	294	392	2-6	2-6	3-3	3-9
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Philadelphia Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT McNabb 60.3 3553 22 10 Kolb 64.6 741 4 3

Seattle Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Hassel... 60.0 3029 17 17 Wallac... 65.0 700 3 2

Philadelphia Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD McCoy 155 637 4.1 4 Weaver 70 323 4.6 2

Seattle Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jones 177 663 3.7 2 Forset... 114 619 5.4 4

Philadelphia Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Jackso... 63 1167 18.5 9 Celek 76 971 12.8 8

Seattle Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Houshm... 79 911 11.5 3 Burles... 63 812 12.9 3

Full Player Stats: Philadelphia | Seattle

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	PHI	351.0
	SEA	274.0
Yards Passing	PHI	244.4
	SEA	163.6
Yards Rushing	PHI	106.1
	SEA	110.5
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	PHI	274.3
	SEA	378.0
Pass Yds Allowed	PHI	182.1
	SEA	259.3
Rush Yds Allowed	PHI	92.3
	SEA	118.7

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Philadelphia leads 3-2
Dec 2, 2007	PHI 24, @SEA 28
Dec 5, 2005	PHI 0, @SEA 42
Dec 8, 2002	PHI 27, SEA 20
Sep 23, 2001	PHI 27, SEA 3

With All-Pro Brian Westbrook back in the lineup and Donovan McNabb scrambling and making plays, the Philadelphia Eagles look like they can make a run for the playoffs.

Westbrook and McNabb try to lead the Eagles to their third straight victory on Sunday when they visit the Seattle Seahawks, who are expected to be without quarterback Matt Hasselbeck for a fourth straight game.

Westbrook missed two of Philadelphia's past three games with broken ribs and had been bothered by an ankle injury, but looked strong in the Eagles' 27-14 win over Atlanta last Sunday.

He rushed for a career-high 167 yards and two touchdowns, nearly equaling his rushing total from his first four games combined (194).

The injuries still nagged Westbrook throughout the game, but he said, "Those are things you have to play through."

McNabb also looked rejuvenated last Sunday as he passed for 253 yards, scrambled for 25 yards on six carries and scored on a 3-yard run -- his first rushing TD since Oct. 8, 2006. Injuries and age have slowed the formerly fleet-footed McNabb, who entered last week's game with only 20 yards rushing.

"It makes all the difference when you have a guy back there with the arm that Donovan has, but also has the ability to scramble and to make plays when there's no receivers open," Westbrook said.

The Eagles (4-3) hope the combination of a healthy Westbrook and McNabb can get the team back in the competitive NFC East race. Despite its winning record, Philadelphia is in last place in the division, trailing the New York Giants (6-1), Washington (6-2) and Dallas (5-3).

"The only thing we can focus on is what we are doing out here," McNabb said. "Hopefully we can continue to feed off each win and elevate ourselves in the standings in the NFC East and put ourselves in the position to achieve the goal we all have set out for."

The Eagles have been playing much better lately, racking up 815 total yards and 67 points in winning their last two games after gaining 594 yards and scoring 37 points in losing their previous two.

Philadelphia should also benefit from the increase in playing time of wide receiver Kevin Curtis. After missing the first six games while recovering from sports hernia surgery, Curtis caught three passes for 45 yards in limited action last Sunday. He had career highs of 77 receptions and 1,110 yards last season.

McNabb should have little trouble this week connecting with Curtis and rookie DeSean Jackson, who leads the team with 32 catches and 505 yards. The Seahawks (2-5) are 30th in the league against the pass, allowing 245.3 yards per game.

"We need to get on the run right now," said Westbrook, who rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown in the Eagles' 28-24 loss to the Seahawks last Dec. 2. "We need to have the opportunity, we have the opportunity to go up to Seattle and play a pretty good team and have to go out there and try to handle our business."

McNabb missed last season's loss to the Seahawks with an ankle injury, and this year's Seattle team will look much different to the Eagles.

The Seahawks' top rusher from a year ago, Shaun Alexander, now plays for Washington and Hasselbeck is sidelined by a leg problem stemming from a bulging disk in his back.

Seneca Wallace is expected to make his third straight start Sunday following an encouraging outing last week. After completing 12 of 23 passes for just 73 yards, a touchdown and turning the ball over twice in a 20-10 loss to Tampa Bay on Oct. 19, Wallace was 15-of-25 for 222 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers in last Sunday's 34-13 win over San Francisco.

"I told Seneca, I told our receivers ... 'Hey, look it, instead of being so careful about everything and almost calling the game defensively, we are going to kind of let it go a little bit. Everyone's getting paid in the room. So you have a responsibility, too. And let's play,'" said coach Mike Holmgren, who is in his 10th and final season leading the Seahawks. "And they responded to that.

"I suspect we will keep doing that."

Seattle will probably need to air it out again this week as they face a Philadelphia team that limited the Falcons to 77 rushing yards on 24 attempts last week. The Seahawks were held to a season-low 39 yards on 28 carries last Sunday.

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Dungy: Vick spoke of redemption during visits

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Owners talk labor situation; status quo reigns

NFL owners have met for several hours to discuss the labor situation, although it appears they are no closer to reaching an agreement with the players' union for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Eagles' Sheldon Brown Skips Workout

Cornerback Sheldon Brown was a no-show and running back Brian Westbrook was a non-participant because of injury today when the Philadelphia Eagles began eight days of workouts that, while voluntary, are generally regarded as "full-roster" in nature.

Jon Runyan contemplates future

Life is different for Jon Runyan these days, and it has nothing to do with the fact that he spent yesterday afternoon on a two-hour road trip to pick up his pet pig.

Ankle injury sidelines Westbrook

In a lighter moment at camp, the Birds' quarterback duo of Kevin Kolb and Donovan McNabb united in laughter yesterday during the almost-full-squad workout at the team's NovaCare Complex.

Jim Johnson situation a new one for Eagles

Sheldon Brown wasn't there, which is just kind of pointless. Brian Westbrook wasn't there, which is just kind of troubling.

Birds' Eye View: Donovan speaks -- sort of

With the Eagles set to open a full-squad passing camp tomorrow at the NovaCare Complex, Donovan McNabb's team of publicists sent out a release today pitching the 10-year anniversary of the quarterback's charitable foundation.

Walter Jones 'was able 2 get in football stance 2day'

That's the twitter shorthand from the mountain of a man that has been a fixture at the left edge of Seattle's offensive line.

Tyler Roehl suffers torn anterior-cruciate ligament

Tyler Roehl, an undrafted free agent fullback signed by Seattle in April suffered a torn knee ligament during a non-contact practice on Monday, according to reporter Jeff Kolpack of The Forum, in Fargo, S.D. Roehl confirmed that it was his left knee that was injured.

Seahawks work on short-yardage, goal-line situations at practice

That's the description offered up by Matt Hasselbeck via his Twitter account. Of course, he used cool acronyms: SY and GL practice today.

Hasselbeck looks healthy, learning new Seattle offense

Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck looks healthy after being limited to seven games last season.

Seahawks rookie out to prove he's just the right size

Working with the Seattle Seahawks defensive line group, Nick Reed looks like a boy among men.