After an up-and-down 2019 regular season, the Philadelphia Eagles are the only division winner that is a home underdog on Wild-Card Weekend 2020. The odds are against the NFC East champs in their first-round playoff matchup with the visiting Seattle Seahawks.

Philadelphia actually opened as a one-point favorite, but the betting line quickly shifted towards Seattle. The Seahawks are laying two points with a few days remaining before Sunday’s game at Lincoln Financial Field, according to OddsShark.

The total is 45.5.

Seattle finished two games ahead of Philadelphia in the overall standings, falling a yard shy in Week 17 of winning the NFC West. The Seahawks have already beaten the Eagles on the road, winning 17-9 in Week 12. The contest was more one-sided than the final score indicates with Philadelphia getting a touchdown in the final 20 seconds to make it a one-possession game.

Injuries have ravaged the Eagles’ roster. The team’s top three wide receivers are all hurt. Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks is done for the year. It’s unknown if starting right tackle Lane Johnson or Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz will be able to play.

Running back Miles Sanders and cornerback Avonte Maddox both seem likely to suit up after leaving the team’s Week 17 win with injuries.

Despite being short-handed, Philadelphia beat the New York Giants 34-17 to win their fourth consecutive game. Carson Wentz has led the way during the team’s winning streak, playing as well as any quarterback in December.

Wentz averaged over 300 yards per game with 10 touchdown passes and one interception—the pick came on a Hail Mary to end a game—in the season’s final month. He’s turned the likes of Greg Ward Jr. and Boston Scott into reliable targets.

Carson Wentz Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates a touchdown by teammate tight end Zach Ertz #86 against the Dallas Cowboys during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on November 11, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Elsa/Getty Images

Russell Wilson has been in a similar situation with the Seahawks, carrying a banged-up team to the postseason. Seattle lost its top three running backs, forcing the team to sign Marshawn Lynch out of retirement in the season’s final week.

The Seahawks have been without key players on defense, as well. Linebacker Mychal Kendricks is done for the season with a torn ACL. Jadeveon Clowney returned from an injury in the regular-season finale, but he didn’t appear to be 100% with just one tackle.

Seattle’s defense can’t afford to be without any key players. The unit is among the NFL’s worst. The Seahawks finished 26th in yards allowed, 27th in pass defense and 29th in opponents’ yards per play.

Jimmy Garoppolo picked the Seahawks apart last week, completing 18 of 22 attempts for 285 yards. Seattle had trouble containing Kyler Murray and Brett Hundley in a 27-13 Week 16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The Los Angeles Rams beat Seattle 28-12 in Week 14, moving the ball at will. Even in a Week 15 win over the Carolina Panthers, the Seahawks gave up 24 points to an offense that was among the league’s worst in the second half of the season.

Seattle has surrendered at least 24 points in seven of its last eight games. Philadelphia was the only exception.

Expect a better performance from the Eagles in the rematch. Wentz has developed chemistry with his new receiving corps. Getting Ertz back could be a major boost.

Sanders could give Seattle plenty of trouble. The Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate is averaging 110.6 scrimmage yards per game since the Seahawks beat the Eagles.

Wilson was terrific in last year’s wild-card game, but it wasn’t enough to help Seattle advance. The Seahawks ran the ball 24 times, averaging only 3.0 yards per carry in a 24-22 loss in Dallas.

Philadelphia ranked third in rushing yards allowed and 11th in opponents’ yards per rush. Seattle’s backfield could struggle to find any kind of success Sunday.

Seattle was fortunate to win 11 games. The Seahawks only outscored their opponents by seven total points over the course of 17 weeks. Philadelphia had a plus-31 point differential.

The Eagles won the games they needed to win down the stretch of the regular season. They held the Cowboys’ No.1 ranked offense to nine points in a de facto Week 16 NFC East title game.

Philadelphia has reached the divisional round in each of the last two seasons. Look for that streak to continue Sunday against Seattle.

Prediction: Philadelphia over Seattle, 27-20

National Football League