Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Potent QBS thrive using distinct vibe
Hurts, Eagles flying high; Allen, Bills try to build off success
Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen play similar games, but their styles are different.
Serious and stoic, Philadelphia quarterback Hurts maintains an even-keeled demeanor. Bills QB Allen, on the other hand, says playing with emotion is a key to his success.
Regardless of how they do it, Hurts and Allen are two of the NFL’S most dynamic signal-callers, and they will meet Sunday in Philadelphia in a game pitting the defending NFC champion Eagles (9-1) against the three-time defending AFC East-winning Bills (6-5).
“Never get too high, never get too low,” Hurts said of his mentality.
A dogged workhorse determined to perfect his craft, Hurts has led the
Eagles to 26 victories in his last 28 regular-season starts. A dual passing and running threat like Allen, Hurts has thrown for 2,497 yards and rushed for 345 while combining for 24 touchdowns.
“I embrace all of the ways I play the game,” Hurts said. “And as I climb as a player and leader, I want
to be the best version of myself.”
In Monday night’s 21-17 victory over Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl, Hurts wasn’t spectacular statistically but came up clutch in key moments, as seemingly has been the case throughout his time with the Eagles.
“He’s a really tough player to go against,” Bills coach Sean Mcdermott said. “He’s playing at a high, high level. And he uses not only his arm but his feet. And it’s tough to defend whether it be any situation, you name it: red zone, third down, two-minute and beyond.”
Allen provides those same challenges for opponents. He has combined for 3,136 yards and 29 touchdowns in the air and on the ground. His 22 TD passes led the
NFL entering Week 12. Allen has struggled at times this season, and his 12 interceptions also topped NFL passers entering Week 12. Allen has thrown at least one pick in seven straight games. His play, and the offense’s struggles in general, led to the firing of offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and promotion of quarterbacks coach Joe Brady before the Bills’ 32-6 rout of the Jets last Sunday.
Allen tossed three TD passes against the Jets, including an 81-yard scoring strike to Khalil Shakir, as Brady wanted his QB to get back to playing carefree and having fun.
“I just wanted him to be Josh Allen,” Brady said. “You know, the fun, the excitement that he kind of plays with.”
And that’s where the emotion comes into play.
“I feel like I play with my emotions on my sleeve and maybe I’ve been masking that the last few games or throughout this season,” Allen said. “But I need to let my guys know how much I care about this game and how much I care about them.”