The Philadelphia Eagles are in the NFC Championship game for the second time in the last three years. While the rosters and coaching staff has changed over that time, one of the few constants that has remained the same is Jalen Hurts being the quarterback of the team.
It will be another week of national and local media along with fans questioning if Hurts is good enough to lead this team to a second Super Bowl in the last decade while he will be compared to the remaining three quarterbacks who have accomplished more individually. Patrick Mahomes has the MVP’s and Super Bowl rings, Josh Allen is on the verge of claiming his first MVP after a remarkable regular season, and rookie sensation Jayden Daniels is the front-runner to win Offensive Rookie of the Year and has shown no signs of being unable to handle the moment.
While Hurts is still looking for his first individual award or signature moment as the quarterback for the Eagles, he has done what all three quarterbacks have done in the playoffs this year.
Avoid turning the football over.
Clean Football is Winning Football
The quartet of Hurts, Allen, Mahomes and Daniels have not thrown a single interception or have lost a fumble in their combined seven games played. What do they also all have in common? They are playing for a chance to play in the Super Bowl.
Jordan Love and Jared Goff threw three interceptions and planning a vacation. Justin Herbert had four picks in the Wild Card game and continues to not live up to the hype surrounding him. Lamar Jackson had two turnovers in the Ravens’ loss and Baltimore’s promising season came to a halt.
See the trend?
Flashy Doesn’t Lead to Wins in Playoffs
Today’s game is pushed by the big home run plays and the quarterbacks airing out the football putting up gaudy numbers that win you fantasy football championships. This isn’t fantasy football. This is the NFL playoffs. One of the toughest gauntlets in all major sports.
Look at what Mahomes and Allen did in the Divisional Round:
Mahomes: 16/25, 177 yards, 1 TD, 14 yards rushing 0 TDS.
Allen: 16/22, 127 yards, 0 passing TD, 20 yards rushing, 2 TDs
Here’s what Hurts did in a snowstorm: 15/20, 128 yards, 0 TD, 70 yards rushing, TD
Hurts racked up more total yards than the two of them on a snow-covered field and had what more than likely would’ve been his second rushing touchdown taken away with a false start penalty on 4th and goal from the one-yard line.
This isn’t saying Hurts is as good or better than Mahomes or Allen. He isn’t. Not this season. And more than likely, not over the duration of his career. This is comparing what two other elite quarterbacks did in the Divisional Round and seeing that Hurts wasn’t a problem in Sunday’s win or holding the team back in terms of winning games.
However, the two quarterbacks who are beloved by the national media and constantly the benchmark used to compare Hurts to by fans, did not light it up this week and it still results in a win. That’s all that matters in the playoffs.
The Eagles Offense Is Not Pretty, But It Works
Did Hurts take unnecessary sacks on Sunday? Absolutely. Was that safety inexcusable? Yes. However, it’s two-fold especially in Sunday’s game. The Eagles’ top-rated offensive line got pushed around at times by the Rams and it’s clear the passing concepts implemented by Kellen Moore are not working. It would behoove the offense if Hurts, Moore and Sirianni get together this week to try and identify the issues.
Would it calm the uncertainty of the Eagles’ passing game if Hurts and the offense are able to connect on plays 20 or more yards? Certainly. They almost had two of them yesterday in a snowstorm. A.J. Brown was unable to haul in a pass down the sidelines that would’ve been an explosive play. DeVonta Smith couldn’t hold on to what would have been a tough catch in traffic while taking a big hit that resulted in a penalty, but that would’ve been a 43-yard play.
Both plays didn’t pan out. So be it. But at the end of the day, the Eagles are winning with Jalen Hurts at quarterback. He might not be lighting it up through the air, but he’s still making smart decisions and is a threat in the running game.
He opened the game with a 44-yard rushing touchdown, a first quarter touchdown that has been a rarity all season by the offense as a whole. He finished the game with 70 yards on the ground on 10 carries and again, he did not cough up the football and most importantly, the Eagles won.
This 2024 team doesn’t need Hurts to average 300 yards and three touchdowns a game to win. This team is built around a championship-caliber defense and the best running back in the league in Saquon Barkley.
Does it Really Matter?
The playoffs are a different animal. Does Hurts being a game manager and reaping the benefits of a top-caliber defense and rushing attack matter so long as the Eagles win and get one step closer to the Super Bowl this year?
It’s very tough to get back to the NFC Championship game. Take a look at the Lions for example or even the Eagles in 2023 the year after making the Super Bowl. All that matters this time of year is winning games to keep your season alive.
With the win on Sunday, over his last six career playoff games, Hurts owns a 4-2 record with 12 total touchdowns with no interceptions and one fumble lost.
If the Eagles win two more games and hoist their second Lombardi Trophy in the last 10 years, are we really going to care if Hurts didn’t light up the box score?
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
