The second matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys is still over a week away and already there are off-the-field storylines trending.
Speaking on Von Miller’s podcast “The Voncast”, Cowboys top linebacker Micah Parsons questioned Jalen Hurts’ ability and if the team’s success has more to do with the talent around the Eagles quarterback.
“Is it Hurts or the team?…“I’m not trying to make no enemies, I just love the game but when things are off I can’t hold it in, I just gotta say something.” Parsons said in a question to Hurts’ MVP candidacy.
This isn’t the first time that Hurts’ play has been questioned by a member of the Cowboys. Back in October when the two teams faced off in Philadelphia, DeMarcus Lawrence said of the MVP front-runner “All you need to write is he hasn’t played the Cowboys yet, so we don’t know how good he is.”
Regardless of whether the team or the player is the cause for the team’s 12-1 start, Hurts has been exceptional all season. He’s completed 68% of his passes (2nd) for 3,157 yards (10th) and 32 total touchdowns (2nd). His play has helped Philadelphia win their last three games by an average of 19 points. Two of those wins have come against playoff teams.
Hurts threw for 150 yards passing and two touchdowns in the team’s 26-17 win over the Cowboys in their first matchup this season. Since that win though many Cowboys players, fans and coaches have held the belief that the second meeting will be different.
Hurts and the Eagles respond
“We’ve got the Chicago Bears, not the Chicago Micah Parsons.”
The Eagles’ response to Parsons’ antics Wednesday afternoon was swift and to the point: they play the Chicago Bears on Sunday and not the Dallas Cowboys.
Jalen Hurts reiterated that message in his weekly press conference giving reporters one final chance to ask questions about the Bears before leaving. If the Cowboys were expecting the Eagles to get in a war of words with them, they seem to be very much mistaken.
Of course, there’s still another week of football to play before the two teams go head-to-head. Leave it to the NFC East’s top rivalry to kick off early though.
AP Photo/Adam Hunger
