With Carson Wentz Injured, Eagles' Magic Runs Out With Loss To Seahawks In Wild-Card Round
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Eagles' magic has officially run out. The Birds couldn't overcome a head injury to Carson Wentz and were eliminated from the playoffs by the Seattle Seahawks in a 17-9 loss Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in the wild-card round.
Injuries have plagued the Eagles throughout the season and on Sunday, Wentz became the latest victim.
Wentz took a nasty helmet-to-helmet hit from Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney in the first quarter. It was a questionable no-call by the refs that sent Wentz to the medical tent and eventually, the locker room. Wentz was ruled out at halftime.
Head coach Doug Pederson wouldn't comment on the helmet-to-helmet hit but says he's disappointed for Wentz.
"I'm disappointed for him," Pederson said. "I wanted this for him. I think a lot of his teammates did, too. The team and the organization did. He's battled through a lot."
Tight end Zach Ertz, who was battling injuries himself, says Wentz put the team on his back the last couple weeks and was devastated he went out like that.
"I kind of knew something was wrong right away," Ertz said. "Just the way he got up. I'm devastated for my guy. Really tough."
Josh McCown took over for Wentz, becoming the oldest player in NFL history to make his postseason debut at 40 years old. McCown got emotional while talking about the experience after the game.
"Thankful. Just you know -- wife and my family moved around a lot. Been a lot. Been there for me," McCown said with tears in his eyes. "And mom and dad, so to go out there and play in a playoff game, [it's] special. I can't thank them enough for their support. It was a heck of a ride. I left it all out there, I know that much."
Clowney's hit on Wentz wasn't the only questionable no-call of the game. Late in the second quarter, McCown took a late hit that the refs also failed to call.
The Eagles' offense couldn't find a rhythm, but the defense managed to hold Russell Wilson and the Seahawks' offense.
But, Seattle broke the game open when Wilson connected with DK Metcalf for a 53-yard touchdown in the third quarter giving them a 17-6 lead and the Eagles couldn't flip the switch.
Blown assignments led to McCown getting sacked by Clowney on 4th-and-7 with two minutes left in the game.
"And I guess not everybody got the alert, so we had a couple of busted assignments on the play," Pederson said. "It's just unfortunate, especially on a fourth-down call to try to take advantage and get the first down."
The season-long effort from the team is something Pederson told them he was proud during his postgame speech.
"I told them that I really appreciate everybody in that room for how they handled this season and how they handled themselves during this game," he said. "Even with as much adversity as we faced all year, to put ourselves in this position, win the NFC East, and have a home playoff game, that I was really proud of the effort all season; even tonight."
While the Eagles' offseason begins Monday, safety Malcolm Jenkins also says he is proud of the way his team battled this season.
"We didn't make excuses, all we did was continue to believe in each other, and go to war every week. It's one of those seasons I can be proud of," Jenkins said.
Seattle heads to Green Bay to take on the Packers in the divisional round next weekend.
