After an early run, Jalen Hurts cautiously made his way back to the huddle, clearly limited by his damaged left knee. Still, he persisted and helped the Philadelphia Eagles win another game.
With three touchdowns from Hurts (two to A.J. Brown), the reigning NFC champs defeated the Washington Commanders 38–31 on Sunday. The Eagles moved to 7-1 and provided additional proof that they are a Super Bowl contender by coming back from a double-digit deficit, led by their injured franchise quarterback.
Hurts remarked, “We’re just enjoying the journey,” refusing to discuss the state of his knee. “It’s just a journey, but there’s one stop we’d like to make at the end,” You really have to get into the swing of things.”
Hurts only said, “I’m here,” when questioned about the knee. Though Hurts persevered through the injury to play one of his greatest games of the season, Brown and coach Nick Sirianni were not in a rush to discuss the ailment with him.
Sirianni said, “I know he’s tough, and I’m not going to know because he won’t tell me how he feels because he always wants it on him.” “He played exceptionally well, and that’s what you want from your quarterback, your leader.”
Hurts, who isn’t usually one to run, completed 29 of 38 attempts, including touchdown passes to Julio Jones and DeVonta Smith. His two tries of seven yards running were Hurts’ fewest since December 26, 2021, before he twice went down to kneel to close the game.
Hurts mishandled on one of those runs, a “Tush Push,” at the Washington 1-yard line. This was the first of two Philadelphia errors within the 5-yard line. In the first half, Kenneth Gainwell lost a fumble at the 4.
Regarding his error, Hurts said, “Wasn’t able to get the snap.” “It happens because I didn’t secure the ball well enough.”
Hurts had a ton of choices to choose from when there wasn’t much action on the ground. Brown was the first player in NFL history to receive more than 125 yards in six straight games. On his first touchdown, Brown made an incredible one-handed catch; on his second, he grabbed the ball through double coverage.
About his one-handed grab in the end zone, Brown said, “I literally just did that in practice on Friday.” “Everything was the same, even the corner. My colleagues said, “I don’t think this is surprising.”
Philadelphia’s defense rallied late after letting Sam Howell complete 24 passes in the first half. In order to set up D’Andre Swift’s touchdown run, Reed Blankenship intercepted Howell in the fourth quarter. With just over two minutes remaining, Haason Reddick sacked him, the Eagles’ first of the game.
Despite Howell passing for a career-high 397 yards and four touchdowns behind a redesigned offensive line, Washington (3-5) fell for the sixth time in six games. Top receiver Terry McLaurin had a string of drops that resulted in a turnover on downs late in the game, and coach Ron Rivera chose not to challenge a crucial fourth-down grab by Smith in the third quarter that replays indicated should have been incomplete.
According to Rivera, neither he nor his staff saw the replay of Smith’s catch. McLaurin accepted responsibility for failing to secure the ball.
“I have to make those difficult plays,” McLaurin said. “I definitely own that and take accountability because you have to find a way to make those plays when you have a young quarterback.”
SONY KICK
Late in the first half, Joey Slye of Washington made the biggest field goal of his career, measuring 61 yards, and the longest in team history. It happened after lineman Chris Paul’s false start penalty caused Washington to retreat five yards.
SUCCESSES
Eagles: With a back injury, rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter departed the game in the third quarter. TE A concussion occurred to Grant Calcaterra in the first half. CBC Bradley Roby’s shoulder issue caused him to miss his second straight game.
WR Commanders Clintis Samuel had a toe injury in the second half. OL rookie During Washington’s first try at an extra point, halfway through the first quarter, Ricky Stromberg hurt his right knee and was shortly ruled out.
Next up
Eagles: On Sunday, they will host the Dallas Cowboys.
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