By Canadian Press

Drew Lock’s late touchdown pass rallies Seahawks to 20-17 victory over sliding Eagles

Dec 18, 2023 | 10:05 PM

SEATTLE (AP) — Drew Lock threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 28 seconds left to cap a 92-yard drive, and the Seattle Seahawks stunned the Philadelphia Eagles 20-17 on Monday night, ending a four-game NFL skid and getting back into NFC playoff contention.

Seattle (7-7) rallied behind its backup quarterback, who moved the team the length of the field for its longest touchdown drive this season and found the Seahawks’ rookie first-round pick for the biggest catch of his young career.

On third-and-10, Smith-Njigba beat James Bradberry off the line and Lock’s throw was perfect to cap an unlikely comeback from an early 10-0 deficit. Lock, who made his second straight start in place of the injured Geno Smith, connected with DK Metcalf three times on the decisive drive, including much-needed chunk plays of 18 and 34 yards.

Philadelphia had one last chance, but Julian Love made his second interception of the fourth quarter, picking off Jalen Hurts’ deep pass intended for A.J. Brown and just getting his feet down inbounds, to send the Eagles (10-4) to their third straight loss.

Midway through the fourth, Love picked off Hurts in the end zone to prevent the Eagles from extending their 17-13 lead.

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Lock was 22 of 33 for 208 yards. Hurts, who was questionable to play with an illness, had 13 carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns, but he was just 17 of 31 passing for 143 yards and the two picks.

Lock was also the lead blocker on Kenneth Walker III’s 23-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that pulled Seattle even at 10-10. Walker finished with 86 yards rushing.

Seattle moved into a logjam with four teams currently at .500 that are battling for the NFC’s last two playoff spots, while Philadelphia wasted a chance to move a game ahead of Dallas in the NFC East. The defending NFC champion Eagles have already secured a playoff spot.

Hurts was unable to practise after getting sick on Saturday. He flew separately from his teammates on a private jet to Seattle and his status wasn’t a certainty until the list of inactive players was announced 90 minutes before kickoff.

Hurts didn’t look like he felt great, but for the first three quarters he played well enough. He capped a pair of long scoring drives with touchdown runs of three yards and one yard. Hurts now has 14 rushing touchdowns, tied with Cam Newton in 2011 for the most by a quarterback in a season.

Smith remained sidelined by a groin injury, although he was active for the game and warmed up on his own a couple hours before kickoff.

Lock didn’t put up big numbers, but he avoided major mistakes and was great on the final drive, when he completed 5-of-10 passes and accounted for all 92 yards.

UP NEXT

Eagles: Host the New York Giants on Christmas Day.

Seahawks: At Tennessee on Sunday.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Tim Booth, The Associated Press