Despite some early-season handwringing yet again about the Philadelphia Eagles’ passing game, Jalen Hurts still finds ways to help his team do enough to win games after a 20-17 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
As one rival executive told The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, Hurts’ “toughness and makeup are so underrated.”
Hurts has become a lightning rod in terms of quarterback evaluation. His passing stats have rarely been eye-popping, even in the 2022 season when he finished second in MVP voting (3,701 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 66.5 completion percentage).
In his quarterback rankings on The Ringer, Steven Ruiz has Hurts at No. 13 and labeled him “an elite role player on an elite team.” He is absolutely a player who benefits from a friendly environment, including playing with arguably the best running back and offensive line in the NFL.
The main drawbacks of Hurts’ game come when he’s asked to be a high-volume thrower over an extended period of time. His worst season came during the 2023 season when the Eagles’ defense fell apart down the stretch and he threw a career-high 538 passes (3,858 yards, 23 touchdowns 15 interceptions).
It’s hard to know how much of the blame for Hurts’ struggles in 2023 was on him and how much was on everything falling apart for the Eagles.
Hurts rebounded last season, but most of the credit for Philadelphia’s offensive success was attributed to Saquon Barkley and the offensive line. He elevated his stock by playing his best game in the 40-22 win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59.
In fact, Hurts’ two best games in the NFL have been his two Super Bowl appearances. He has thrown for 525 yards, three touchdowns and completed 73.3 percent of his attempts. The Eagles have scored 75 points in those two games.
Yet seven months after being named Super Bowl MVP, Hurts is once again leaving people wanting more when he has to throw the ball. He has just 253 passing yards and no passing touchdowns through two games, though he does have three rushing touchdowns.
The Eagles are 2-0 with victories over a divisional opponent (Dallas Cowboys) and the reigning AFC champs on the road (Chiefs).
Hurts may not belong in the very top-tier of quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, but there’s ample evidence throughout his career that he can step up his game under the brightest spotlight.
Sometimes that’s enough for a team to be successful, as the Eagles have proven with one Super Bowl victory in two appearances over the previous three seasons.
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