Jalen Hurts had a small frog in his throat as he pulled back the curtain on why he felt a need to address the team after Monday night’s 22-21 loss. The Eagles’ franchise quarterback spoke to his downtrodden teammates with a raspy, sometimes, muted voice, and let them marinate in the disappointment.
For Hurts, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing. He felt, in the moment, that his words might carry more weight than another speech from head coach Nick Sirianni. “I didn’t make a decision on it. It just kind of happened,” Hurts told reporters.
Hurts also let it be known that his precious vocal cords weren’t tingled due to overzealous yelling. No, the 26-year-old leader had been dealing with a minor sickness that hit him on the morning of the game. He’s still in recovery mode.
“I was battling something [a sickness],” Hurts said. “I actually lost my voice the day of the game, that morning, yesterday, the day before … the day of the game I lost my voice and then ended up being able to get it back a little bit enough to scream and obviously operate the game.”
With the pain and frustration of a victory snatched from the Eagles’ grasp in the final minute, Hurts made sure to keep everything positive while taking full responsibility for the defeat. His lone interception — an overthrown pass chucked into double coverage, intended for DeVonta Smith, with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter — was too aggressive of a play in that situation.
“Trying to give a guy a shot to make a play,” Hurts said. “I would have liked to, in that situation in the game, I think just looking back on it … manage the time we had, the opportunity we had, maybe I didn’t have to be as aggressive there. But, we’re trying to take a shot down the field in that area and didn’t connect. And I own that in those moments.”
Saquon Barkley Addresses Crucial Drop (Again)
There has been much debate about how much blame to pin on Saquon Barkley in Week 2. His crucial drop on 3rd-and-3 with 1:43 showing on the clock would have iced the game. The Eagles would have picked up the first down and pounded the rock until the scoreboard showed triple zeroes.
Barkley’s unsure hands technically cost the Eagles the game, although plenty of fault has been thrown at Nick Sirianni for choosing to throw it there instead of keeping it on the ground. Remember, Barkley accounted for 116 total yards against Atlanta including 95 on the ground. It’s a lose-lose situation.
“I can sit here and make excuses, like this should have happened or that should have happened — and I let my family and friends do that for me — but in reality, that’s what happened,” Barkley explained to reporters. “I know if I catch that ball the game is over. That’s why I took accountability for it.
“I’m still going to take accountability for it. And the reason why I want that mindset is because I want to trust in my team, and the coaches that the next 10 times that situation comes up I’ll do it all over again. I’m not scared to make a mistake. I’m not scared to fail.”
Brandon Graham Says Eagles’ Pass Rush is Fine: ‘Get That Party Started’
The Eagles have always prided themselves on a lethal pass-rush, delivering nightmares and dreams for opposing quarterbacks while racking up sacks at record numbers over the years. Not this year. The refusal to pay Haason Reddick, coupled with the retirement of Fletcher Cox, has taken a severe toll. Vic Fangio’s defense has recorded only two sacks in the first two games.
“We can’t worry about none of that stuff, man,” Brandon Graham told reporters. “I know that’s part of the game. I’m just hoping I can get me one in this one [versus New Orleans] to help us win, whoever get one, and get that party started because once they come, they come in bunches.”
More alarmingly, Eagles’ newcomer Bryce Huff has looked dazed and confused on every snap. He can’t rush the passer. He can’t defend the run. Huff’s effort has been heavily criticized, including one reporter calling the $51.1 million man “unplayable.” Forget all that noise, says Brandon Graham.
“I’m loving that everybody is open to hearing the criticism and taking it well because normally, us as grown men, sometimes it’s ego getting in the way, or everybody think they’re pointing or attacking you but it’s not that,” Graham said. “I just need you. You know what I’m saying? Especially certain guys, you know how it goes, it’s all money driven. You get paid a lot, you gotta produce. You gotta do this. Expectations is high. But, at the end of the day, we can help each other being on the same page and making sure we’re blocking out this noise.”
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
