We have written extensively about the successful career of Jalen Hurts, yet his critics continue to go full Johnny Storm “Flame on!” and pounce whenever he makes a mistake.
And despite winning a Super Bowl and a Super Bowl MVP and beating the “Teflon Don” of QBs, Patrick Mahomes, those silly critics refuse to admit they’re wrong about Hurts.
Well, after yesterday’s performance in Minnesota, it’s time for the Jalen Hurts critics to finally shut up.
They said the Eagles couldn’t win through Hurts’ arm.
On Sunday, he went 19/23 for 326 yards and 3 TDs, 183 of those yards and 1 TD to DeVonta Smith, who had a career day.
They said he and AJ Brown weren’t clicking and even that the Eagles should trade Brown.
Yesterday they hooked up on 4 catches for 121 yards and 2 TDs, a day that also included the game-sealing reception on 3rd and 9 with 1:45 remaining in the game and the Eagles leading 28-22.
Some continue to question whether Jalen Hurts is elite.
Over the past 5 games, Saquon Barkley and the running game have suddenly disappeared, so Hurts has led the offense, something he’s proved more than capable of.
Over this span, Hurts has thrown for 202, 112, 257, 266 and 326 yards and Philly has gone 3-2, which includes big wins against the Rams, Bucs and Vikings.
Of course, critics will point to the team’s two loses during this span, which includes defeats at the hands of the Broncos and Giants.
This period also includes non-stop banter about the relationship between Hurts and Brown, and questions of whether the two were actually capable of teaming up together.
While they might not have the instant connection Joe Flacco and Ja’Marr Chase had last Thursday night against the Steelers, on Sunday Hurts went to Brown went it mattered most, and 3 of his 4 catches resulted in 2 TDs and a game-sealing win.
“It’s team football in the end,” said Hurts after the big road win. “And so I’m just happy to come out here and find a way to win.”
And that’s the biggest part that Hurts’ critics fail/refuse to hone in on- he wins.
At Alabama, Hurts won. Even after being benched in favor of Tua, he won when called upon.
At Oklahoma, he won and had a season that would have secured him the Heisman had it not been for Joe Burrow’s record-setting season at LSU.
And when finally being trusted with the offense, Hurts has led the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances in three seasons, last season culminating in a Super Bowl title.
Now, does he put up the 300+ yards and 3 TDs every week that other more popular QBs post? No, but outside of Mahomes, who Hurts outplayed in both Super Bowl meetings, don’t you think that Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow would gladly sacrifice their yardage numbers for Hurts’ stats and the Lombardi Trophy that Hurts hoisted last February?
While Hurts lacks the physical height of Justin Herbert, Allen and Burrow, and his numbers aren’t as large as those previously mentioned, he does what the team needs him to do when it needs it the most.
Win.
All you have to do is look at his performances against Patrick Mahomes, the barometer for success in the NFL, for proof of that.
So it’s time to stop hating on Jalen Hurts as he’s continued to improve and, most importantly, win.
Yet knowing the Jalen Hurts critics, they’ll continue their hating ways even if he wins another Super Bowl.
