Each game brings with it a certain challenge and there are plenty for the Eagles in this one. Most of them are mental, as in, how urgent will the players be against the Seahawks? There are physical challenges, of course, but both teams have those.

For my part, the Eagles seem ready to go. They are without quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin once again. Running back LeSean McCoy is listed as Questionable with a toe injury, but he told me in the team hotel as the team arrived that "I'm alright," so that sounds to me like McCoy will be out there ready to carry the responsibility of the running game.

I am going to focus in on certain parts of the game, maybe more than others. Here is my list ...

VINCE YOUNG AND HIS TIMING

There is a certain tempo to this offense that has not been there as much as coordinator Marty Mornhinweg would like. Young needs to play with great urgency and intensity. He needs to get this offense shooting from the get go.

Seattle is an attacking defense, very quick, and the Seahawks are going to challenge the line of scrimmage. They want to come hard after Young off the edges and get up on the wide receivers. More than anything, they want to take McCoy away from the offense as much as possible.

So look for eight-man fronts as the Seahawks dare Young to beat them with his arm. He's got to be more accurate than he was on Sunday against the Patriots and he has to get the football out on time.

CAN THE EAGLES SMOTHER THE RUNNING GAME?

Seattle's best receiver, Sidney Rice, has been placed on Injured Reserve after suffering his second concussion in three weeks. Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson has a pectoral muscle injury, but he's going to play. And with all due respect to Seattle's wide receivers, the bread and butter of that offense is the running game and Marshawn Lynch.

How will Juan Castillo tweak his scheme? Will the Eagles load the box and take the running game away? What kind of leadership will middle linebacker Jamar Chaney provide? Will the Eagles tackle better than they did on Sunday?

The defense is all about the running game. Stop the run and then get after Jackson. Give him tight windows to throw into. Challenge Seattle's wide receivers.

I like the matchup for the defense. There is every reason to think the Eagles should play well against Seattle, and certainly if they contain the running game.

OFFENSIVE LINE AND ITS MATURITY

One of the absolute bright spots this season is the improvement from the offensive line, one that is on a steep growth curve and should be for a long time. I'd like to see the Eagles get a lead and then pour on the running game behind the offensive line. It has a chance to be a really, really good line.

The good news is that it should be together for a long time, depending on how the Eagles handle left guard Evan Mathis. He is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after this season. Mathis is playing well, fits in great within the locker room and loves being an Eagle. That's a positive formula for keeping him here on a multi-year contract.

IMPROVE THE FUNDAMENTALS

The tackling was poor on Sunday. The consistency offensively was missing. The Eagles committed 10 penalties. That has to change in this game. The Eagles must be focused and tuned in to the Seahawks, or it will be a long night in a loud stadium.

First, the tackling. The Eagles reached all over the field against New England and came up empty. They've got to be physical and wrap up and make the plays.

At wide receiver, of course, DeSean Jackson is going to be in focus after his tough game against the Patriots. He didn't play well at all and he knows it. He must step it up. All of the receivers must step it up. McCoy wasn't consistent as a receiver last week, either.

The penalties were just ridiculous in the loss to the Patriots. Too many false starts and offsides and just unfocused football.

Thursday is a new day. This is a new game. Nobody is crying and moaning and giving up. The Eagles say they are going to fight. That's the only approach to take, no matter the record. They've talked the talk this week. Let's see if they walk the walk as well and beat Seattle and make this quick week worth the effort.

KEEPING AN EYE ON THE YOUNG GUYS

Sometimes it is hard to remember how young the Eagles are across the board on this roster. They'll start Riley Cooper at wide receiver. He's a second-year player. Brandon Graham should be up as a reserve defensive end. Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman start at the safety spots. Chaney, of course, is a starter. That's four players starting from last year's draft, along with tight end Clay Harbor and linebacker Keenan Clayton seeing time, so seven players from the 2010 draft will play. They need to continue to improve.

Rookies Jason Kelce, Danny Watkins, Brian Rolle, Alex Henery and Chas Henry start, and running back Dion Lewis could see some reps with McCoy banged up a bit. Seventh-round pick Greg Lloyd is on the active roster, as is Jaiquawn Jarrett.

These players are the young core future of the team and as they mature, the depth of talent on the roster grows.