Hurts stellar at MetLife, further banishing past
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. » At the site of his greatest NFL failure, one leaving critics questioning his arm and decision making, Jalen Hurts uncorked one of his most dominant performances Sunday.
Hurts threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 77 yards and a score on 11 carries to lead the Eagles to a 48-22 romp over the Giants and clinch a playoff spot.
That was so different than the three-interception game last year that Hurts had fun answering questions.
“There was a point in time where people said I couldn’t throw the deep ball and I can only throw it five yards,” said Hurts, who connected on 21 of 31 attempts, with scoring passes to DeVonta Smith to A.J. Brown. “I’ve always gone out there and played my game. We put a lot of work in.
Smitty, A.J. and Quez (Watkins), all of us. We put the work in in the offseason and we just want to come out here and play. Do what we prepared ourselves to do.”
On fourth-and-seven on the Eagles’ second drive, Hurts lofted a 41-yard TD throw to Smith. Cornerback Darnay Holmes dove too late to reach Smith, and safety Julian Love leapt to break it up but ended up walling off the rest of the defense. It was such a rush that Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni almost ran onto the field to celebrate.
“We put it in our players’ hands to go for it on fourth down in one of those areas, and DeVonta and Jalen went out and made a big-time play,” Sirianni said. “It was being able to convert in third down scenarios and be able to keep the sticks moving. Again, I felt like Jalen was just in complete control. There’s a play that he hit Miles (Sanders) on the sideline on a checkdown where he didn’t force anything. The defense dictated where the ball went, he took it to Miles, and we got eight yards off of that, which I thought was an awesome play. He was just in complete control there.”
So dominant were Hurts and the Eagles that he exited with six minutes remaining for Gardner Minshew. The past is the past.
“I carry my scars with me everywhere I go,” Hurts said. “I don’t forget. Do I waste my energy worrying about the pain of someone else or the pain of the seat? No. I truly invest my focus in me, getting better as a player, getting better as a quarterback, and doing the things that I need to do for my team. Everyone and their opinion don’t deposit at the bank. I just try and stay true to myself, stay true to my teammates and just chase that growth alongside them.”
Love is impressed, as he thought he’d get to the throw that sizzled past him to Smith.
“I think their play-calling has really stepped up and allowed him some good reads,” Love said. “When it’s time to run, he’s dangerous with his legs. They have a good back to complement the run game, and then you add a guy like A.J. Brown, it changes things. So, their team is pretty balanced. And thankfully, we have another shot at them.”
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In the second quarter, Eagles linebacker Kyron Johnson injured his shoulder but returned to recover a Tyrod Taylor fumble via the third sack of the day by Brandon Graham.
Safety Reed Blankenship hurt his left knee in the first half. He’ll be reevaluated this week. Additionally, punter Arryn Siposs injured his ankle after returning a punt he had blocked in the second quarter.
Returner Britain Covey held on PATs and a 39-yard field goal from that point on. Jake Elliott punted once.
In the fourth quarter Jack Driscoll took over at right tackle for Lane Johnson, who was in the injury tent with an abdominal issue. Though Johnson said he could have returned to action, he’ll be evaluated further this week.
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NOTES » Haason Reddick registered his third straight season with double-digits sacks, as he dropped Daniel Jones for No. 10 Sunday. Fletcher Cox (6.0 sacks), Milton Williams (3.0) and Josh Sweat (7.5) also had sacks for the Eagles. … Cox won the toss with call of heads making the Eagles 10-3 in coin flips. … Eagles scratched special teams linebacker Shaun Bradley (shoulder). … The Giants scratched their best defensive lineman, Leonard Williams, and their top cornerback, Adoree Jackson.