It wasn't pretty (again), but it was another win

If the Seahawks somehow make it to the Super Bowl, it’s not going to be on style points.

No one will compare them to gymnast Simone Biles for leaving audiences breathless.

Actually, if you wanted to imagine the Hawks’ performances to an Olympic sport, it might be the hammer throw.

And yet…

Seattle beat Philadelphia 17-9 in a wild-card fistfight Sunday, and this earned the right to export Pete Carroll’s beloved brand of violence to Green Bay — and if the Seahawks survive, the right to play for an NFC title.

There was obvious irony in the fact that the Seahawks — now 8-1 on the road — won by the exact same score at Lincoln Financial Field during the regular season.

The theme of a low-scoring brawl was the same, but the cast of characters was considerably different this time around.

For one thing, Eagles QB Carson Wentz suffered a concussion just seven minutes into the game — on an attempted tackle by Jadeveon Clowney that wound up helmet to helmet — and thus Philly had to play the rest of the way with 40-year-old backup Josh McCown running the offense.

THERE WILL be questions asked about Wentz’s concussion, and whether or not his presence could have changed the result.

Even though McCown played reasonably well and made no major mistakes — he was 19 of 24 passing for 174 yards — Eagles fans no doubt can argue that Wentz has more big-play ability and could have made more plays with his legs.

It was a small sample size, but the Eagles did absolutely nothing in Wentz’s two first-quarter possessions, and would have been behind if they hadn’t blocked Jason Myers’ first field goal attempt for Seattle.

The other argument that’s certain to be coming is whether Clowney ought to be suspended, fined or shot by firing squad for his part in the play that forced Wentz out of the game.

No doubt they’re rooting for some harsh punishment up in Green Bay, but the truth is that Clowney’s hit, as he dove toward a fleeing Wentz, clearly was unintentional.

Anything more than a fine would be ridiculous. No penalty was called on the field.

“I was just rushing the passer,” Clowney said. “It was a bang-bang play. I wasn’t trying to hurt anybody.

“I just play the game with a lot of enthusiasm and effort. I hope (Wentz) is OK.”

Referee Shawn Smith appeared to agree with Clowney’s view of things.

“(Wentz) was a runner, and he did not give himself up,” Smith told reporters after the game.

“We saw incidental helmet contact, and in our judgment, we didn’t rule that to be a foul.”

Eagles coach Doug Pederson claimed he didn’t see Clowney’s hit, but he did say he believed his team would have won without the injury.

“I would say so, yes,” he replied to that direct question. “If he’s healthy, with the game plan we had, I think so.”

ALL THAT is guesswork, obviously, and the only thing certain is that Seattle survived this war between two patched-up teams.

The Eagles were missing two key offensive linemen, but the Seahawks could top that with three — center Justin Britt, left guard Mike Iupati and left tackle Duane Brown.

The result was that neither team could sustain the running games they love so much — meaning the result came down to a few big plays, almost all involving Russell Wilson and DK Metcalf.

The big rookie receiver set a record for first-year players in the postseason with 160 yards, and that total included a spectacular 53-yard TD pass which Metcalf caught at full stretch, then fell without being touched and leaped up for a dive into the end zone.

Wilson also kept the Eagles off balance with several key runs (he totaled 45 yards).

The Hawks also got a huge lift on their other touchdown, a 5-yard score by Marshawn Lynch that was pure Beast Mode. He was hit squarely a couple yards from the end zone and just ignored it, twisting to cross the goal line easily.

It had everything but the Skittles.

Can this unusual team provide more magic in Green Bay?

They will be underdogs, certainly, will all their injuries and Packers all-world QB Aaron Rodgers on a quest for the Super Bowl.

But…

Weird things keep happening with this strange Seahawks team.

So who knows?

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns for The Press appear on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He also contributes the “Zags Tracker” package on Gonzaga basketball each Tuesday or Wednesday.

Steve’s various tales from several decades in sports — “Moments, Memories and Madness” — run on Sundays.