From start, Hurts grand through air, on ground
PHILADELPHIA — All it took was one throw. Jalen Hurts let it fly on his first pass attempt of the game and suddenly the unease that crept into that often worrisome Philly sports psyche — yeah, but how is his banged-up right shoulder, really? — seemed to dissipate.
Hurts’ shoulder was fine. No doubt about that.
With Hurts in complete control, the Philadelphia Eagles once again look like the team that was rarely challenged during an NFL-best 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 night 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 Championship Game next Sunday against the 49ers, who beat the Cowboys 19-12.
Hurts missed two lateseason losses because of a sprained right shoulder 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 the Linc, 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 Miles Sanders and Kenneth Gainwell as the Eagles finished with 268 yards on the ground. Hurts finished 16-for-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 second play of the game and hit DeVonta Smith in stride for a 40yard reception. The fun was just starting in Philly.
Hurts was flawless on the drive, completing passes of 9 yards, 5 yards, and then — boom — a 16yard TD pass on a onehanded 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 already needed a standing eight count. New York turned the ball over on downs on its first possession, and Daniel Jones’ pass was intercepted by James Bradberry on its second.
The Linc was bonkers with full-throated chants of “E-A-G-L-E-S!” filling the air and 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 may not have been 100%.
But his passing was: He went 7-for-7 for 89 yards in the first quarter.