The Philadelphia Eagles have turned the page on last week’s crushing loss. They were dominated in almost every phase of the game during a 42-19 defeat to San Francisco. Three days later, Jalen Hurts still didn’t have a real answer for what went wrong against the 49ers. “Not good execution,” the starting quarterback said.
Hurts and the offense were left shaking their heads while reviewing the film from that debacle. Out of sight. Out of mind. Now the team’s attention turns to finding a way to move the chains versus Dallas. The Cowboys own the NFL’s third-best defense, one surrendering only 287.1 yards per game — and just 181.1 yards through the air — as outside linebacker Micah Parsons continues to state his case for Defensive Player of the Year. Hurts knows the Eagles have their work cut out for them.
“He’s a really good player and you see throughout the league that you have a lot of those types of players on different teams,” Hurts said of Parsons. “Different types of edge rushers that these guys have so with him being a big-time player, there’s a lot of other big-time players on that team as well, and you have to account for all of them.”
Dallas has 38 total sacks so far this season, highlighted by Micah Parsons (11.5), Dorance Armstrong (5), Sam Williams (4), and DeMarcus Lawrence (4). They also have 16 total interceptions, with star cornerback DaRon Bland accounting for eight of them.
Eagles Have Gone 5-1 vs. Toughest Part of Schedule
It’s easy to stare up and think the sky is falling after a 23-point loss that wasn’t as close as the scoreboard showed. But, it’s important to put everything in perspective. The Eagles own a league-best 10-2 record as they get ready for the rubber match against Dallas. (The Eagles beat the Cowboys 28-23 on November 5).
Philadelphia has gone 5-1 during a stretch of games that was supposed to be a meat grinder dating back to October 22. The Eagles have dispatched the Dolphins (9-3), Commanders (4-9), Cowboys (9-3), Chiefs (8-4), and Bills (6-6) during an impressive stretch. You could argue that going .500 would have been a cause for celebration, instead, they have lost just once in six weeks.
“I think you know you’re going to get everybody’s best when you play someone especially when you’re a good football team,” Hurts said, “We definitely have been challenged and stretched out in a ton of different ways, but it’s about remaining resilient through it, and always responding in the right way, whether it’s a win or a loss. And so whether it’s playing in whatever type of conditions, or whatever traveling circumstances we have, we’ve been able to overcome that — and it’s about how you prepare throughout the week and how you recover and how you do the small things and the little things. Put yourself in the best position to do your job to help the team. That’s what it comes down to.”
Jalen Hurts on Dallas Goedert’s Return: “He gives us another threat, another option, another weapon. Looking forward to welcoming him back with open arms and we just have to go out there and execute.”
Jalen Hurts on Lane Johnson’s Toughness: “He’s a great talent. He’s been there for a long time. He’s always been a freak athlete. I mean, real, real freak athlete so we need him to continue to do a good job for us.”
Jalen Hurts on Brian Johnson’s Playcalling: “It’s been what it’s been in terms of continually trying to iron things out and iron out little details and not just between us but everybody has a role in that — everybody, every guy on that field has a role in that — and so it’s just a matter of seeing things the way things are supposed to be seen, and everybody being together with it.”
Jalen Hurts wasn’t asked about comments from former NFL quarterback David Carr who suggested the Eagles should bench their starter in favor of backup Marcus Mariota. The “foolish” narrative spit from Carr’s mouth probably didn’t need to be addressed and, if it had been, Hurts would have predictably steered clear of controversy.
However, Hurts did respond this way when asked how hard the schedule has been for the Eagles in recent weeks:
“I think it’s a challenge for sure,” Hurts said. “That’s nothing foreign or nothing new, right? It’s just a matter of how you respond to it all.”
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
