Whether or not it’s faculty soccer or the NFL, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts isn’t any stranger to a championship recreation.
Tremendous Bowl 59 will mark Hurts’ fourth championship begin between his Eagles profession and his days with the College of Alabama. Paradoxically, the one recreation he gained was one he didn’t end; Nick Saban famously made the daring resolution to exchange an ineffective Hurts with Tua Tagovailoa within the 2018 Nationwide Championship Recreation vs. Georgia, overcoming a 13-0 deficit to win 26-23 in extra time. As a real freshman towards Clemson, Hurts had his would-be game-winning landing run canceled out by Deshaun Watson’s literal last-second landing to Hunter Renfrow. In Tremendous Bowl 57 towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Hurts was excellent (bar one crucial fumble returned for a landing), however the Eagles misplaced a 38-35 shootout even with Hurts’ four-touchdown efficiency.
A second-round decide following his lone switch yr on the College of Oklahoma, Hurts has gone from Carson Wentz’s backup to his extremely profitable substitute. That is Hurts’ fourth full season as Eagles starter, and he’s made the playoffs each time and change into the one Eagles quarterback to start out in a number of Tremendous Bowls. He was common season MVP runner-up to Patrick Mahomes in 2022 and possibly would’ve had Tremendous Bowl MVP honors had the Eagles gained.
Regardless of all the on-field success, there have been questions on how nice Hurts is as a quarterback. The Eagles usually are not a gaudy passing group even with A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith at huge receiver, and Hurts has been vulnerable to taking unhealthy sacks and turnovers at instances in his profession. What can’t be denied is that he’s been a constant winner and his prolific dashing talents, significantly on the scarcely stoppable ‘Tush Push’ play, makes him one of many league’s most formidable dual-threat quarterbacks.
After dominating the Commanders within the NFC Championship Recreation with 246 yards passing, a passing landing, and three dashing touchdowns, Hurts is making an attempt to do one thing no different quarterback in NFL historical past has ever carried out earlier than: defeat a group he beforehand misplaced to within the Tremendous Bowl. It’s uncommon for quarterbacks who’ve misplaced their first Tremendous Bowl begin to ever win a subsequent begin, so this can be a large alternative for Hurts to hitch uncommon firm alongside Len Dawson, Bob Griese, and John Elway.
Will the sequel end in a greater consequence than the unique for Hurts and the Eagles? Observe Hurts’ Tremendous Bowl highlights under.
First quarter
The Chiefs deferred to the second half, giving Jalen Hurts the ball to start out the sport. Within the first Tremendous Bowl assembly, Hurts led a landing drive. He may need been in a position to lead a gap drive landing once more if not for an offensive go interference name on A.J. Brown, which negated a 32-yard catch into the pink zone. A superb 4th and a pair of conversion became 4th and 12 and a punt.
If one questionable name prevented the Eagles from scoring on their opening drive, one other questionable name could have helped them get in the long run zone. Jalen Hurts overthrew Dallas Goedert on third down, however a roughness penalty on Trent McDuffie turned a probable area objective try into a brand new set of cities.
Hurts beat the vaunted Steve Spagnuolo blitz with a wonderful sideline throw to Jahan Dotson, who was initially dominated in the long run zone however replay revealed he was down on the 1-yard line. As an alternative of a Hurts landing go, he was brotherly shoved for the primary rating of the sport. It’s about pretty much as good a begin because the Eagles quarterback might’ve requested for.
Second quarter
After beginning the sport 7/8 for 79 yards and a dashing landing, Hurts made his first main errors. Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton got here on the blitz and Hurts threw a foul go off his backfoot into the arms of security Bryan Prepare dinner. Unwell-advised resolution, unhealthy throw in area objective vary, and a wasted likelihood to go up not less than 10-0.
The excellent news for Hurts was that the interception didn’t result in even a Chiefs first down. Philadelphia was in a position to improve its result in 10-0 partially as a consequence of this lovely again shoulder throw from Hurts to A.J. Brown. It was Brown’s first catch of the sport after the controversial OPI name within the first quarter negated his earlier seize.
Hurts had some prolonged time on the sidelines because of Cooper DeJean’s pick-six. After a punt on his subsequent sequence, Hurts was gifted a brief area following one other interception by Patrick Mahomes. Hurts made Mahomes pay for his newest turnover with a easy crossing route landing to A.J. Brown. A 24-0 first half rout in contrast to something Mahomes has ever skilled.
Hurts was 11/15 for 123 yards, 2 touchdowns (1 rush, 1 go), and 1 interception, soundly outplaying his counterpart.
Third quarter
With the Chiefs unable to do something (once more) out of halftime, Hurts was in a position to prolong the Eagles result in 27 factors. He punished Steve Spagnuolo’s aggressive play-calling by scrambling for 16 and 14 yards on two performs, then discovering Saquon Barkley for a 22-yard achieve inside Kansas Metropolis’s 5.
If the Eagles had been miffed that they couldn’t get a landing on the earlier drive for the potential knockout punch, Hurts and Devonta Smith mixed for the haymaker. After a Chiefs turnover on downs, it will’ve been cheap to count on the Eagles to play clock management and run the ball with Saquon Barkley.
Mistaken. Right here’s a Hurts dime to Smith, who turned the primary Alabama participant to attain a dashing or receiving landing.
It was Hurts’ third landing of the day and whereas the Eagles protection has been the story, Hurts could have already locked up Tremendous Bowl MVP with the commanding 34-0 lead.
Fourth quarter
TBD
