Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Hurts erases doubts, steers Eagles to rout
Giant hurdle cleared with ease
PHILADELPHIA — All it took was one throw. Jalen Hurts let it fly on his first pass attempt, and suddenly the unease that crept into that often worrisome Philly sports psyche — yeah, but how is his bangedup right shoulder, really? — seemed to dissipate. Hurts’ shoulder was fine. With Hurts in control, the Philadelphia Eagles once again look like the team that rarely was challenged during an Nflbest 13-1 start.
Hurts threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score during a dominant first half, and the Eagles overwhelmed the New York Giants 38-7 on Saturday in an NFC divisional playoff game.
“To have him out there, I know this is high praise, it’s like having Michael Jordan out there,” coach Nick Sirianni said. “He’s your leader. He’s your guy. That’s the biggest respect I can pay to him.”
Top-seeded Philadelphia will host the NFC title game next Sunday against either Dallas or San Francisco.
Hurts missed two late-season losses with a right shoulder sprain and then showed the Giants nothing in the season finale when the Eagles ran a vanilla offense designed to protect the Pro Bowl QB.
Under bright postseason lights at Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles unleashed an offense designed to clobber the Giants. Hurts dazzled early with his arm, and Philadelphia’s offensive line opened big holes for running backs Miles Sanders and Kenneth Gainwell as the Eagles totaled 268 yards on the ground. Hurts finished 16 of 24 passing for 154 yards.
“Seemed like the old Jalen to me,” Sanders said.
Hurts showed he was fine when he aired out a pass on the game’s second play and hit wide receiver Devonta Smith in stride for a 40-yard reception. The fun was just starting in Philly.
Hurts was flawless on the drive, completing passes of 9 yards and 5 yards and then a 16-yard TD pass on a one-handed grab by tight end Dallas Goedert.
Second drive, more of the same. Hurts had completions of 12 yards and 9 yards en route to a 9-yard TD pass to Smith.
It was 14-0 in the first quarter, and the Giants needed a standing eight count. New York turned the ball over on downs on its first possession, and Daniel Jones was intercepted by cornerback James Bradberry on its second.
The Linc was bonkers with full-throated chants of “E-A-GL-E-S!” filling the air. Sirianni went wild chest-bumping assistants on the sideline.
“Philly’s been drinking since 8 a.m,” Goedert cracked of the raucous atmosphere.
Hurts’ shoulder might not have been 100 percent. But his passing was: He went 7 of 7 for 89 yards in the first quarter.
“This guy leads, he brings this calmness to the entire team,” Sirianni said. “He’s as tough as they come. To me, there’s not anybody that’s played better football than him this year.”
Even when the calls were obvious for the Eagles, the Giants were helpless to stop them. Case in point: The Eagles had the ball on the New York 3. Give the ball to running back Boston Scott? Yes they did. Scott scored his 11th TD against the Giants for a 21-0 lead. He has only 19 career TDS. Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale riled up Philly fans this week when he insisted Scott wasn’t a “Giant killer.”
Hurts wrapped the half with a 5-yard TD run — he bobbled the shotgun snap but still coasted untouched into the end zone — for a 28-0 lead. There have been only four more lopsided first-half playoff shutouts in NFL history.
“I’m so proud of this team, how we came out here. I’m so proud of these fans. It’s a Philly thing, you know? It’s special,” Hurts said.
Gainwell ran for 112 yards on 12 carries, including a late 35-yard TD. Sanders had 17 rushes for 90 yards.
Coach Brian Daboll’s Giants looked nothing like the team that beat Minnesota 31-24 last week for their first postseason win since their Super Bowl victory under Tom Coughlin 11 years ago.
Running back Matt Brieda had an 8-yard TD run for the Giants in the third quarter. Jones was 15 of 27 passing for 135 yards with an interception.