Jalen Hurts fights through flu to beat Tamp Bay

Sept. 25 shouldn’t be a deciding date on the NFL calendar, particularly for groups that entered that sport undefeated. When the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers put their 2-0 data in opposition to one another in a Week 3 Monday Evening Soccer matchup, the boys within the crimson jerseys, led by Baker Mayfield, fell to 2-1 to Jalen Hurts’ crew in white.

Throughout halftime, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Hurts entered the sport with flu-like signs. The Eagles’ beginning quarterback confirmed the report with a one-word “sure” reply when requested about his well being following his crew’s 25-11 victory. When requested how sickness affected his efficiency Hurts replied, “We gained.”

Hurts performed his greatest sport of the younger season in Week 3. Regardless that his two INTs have been low moments, the primary one was a results of miscommunication between him and D’Andre Swift. Through the third quarter, Hurts’ second INT was an air punt to Dee Delaney. Following each turnovers, the Buccaneers turned the ball again over to the Eagles on the following drive.

The Eagles’ passing sport was the sidekick to the remainder of their offense throughout their first two weeks of the season. However whereas they transformed a number of massive performs on Monday evening with the “Tush Push,” Hurts’ passing was essential of their domination of the beforehand undefeated Buccaneers.

 A.J. Brown had by far his greatest sport of the younger 2023 season. Previous to kickoff, he had totaled 11 catches for 108 yards on the season. When the ultimate whistle sounded Monday evening, Brown had hauled in 9 passes for 131 yards.

For the day, the sickly Hurts accomplished 62 p.c of his passes for 277 yards, averaging 7.5 yards per completion. It wasn’t fairly Michael Jordan’s 38 factors on 48.1/40/83.3 capturing splits in Recreation 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, however a nationally televised Week 3 sport was a super evening for Hurts to place up his greatest efficiency of the 2023 season.

We have been all compelled to confess final season that Hurts has changed into an efficient passer, particularly after he went throw for throw with Patrick Mahomes within the Tremendous Bowl. Nonetheless, these photographs of his struggles throughout Alabama’s 2017 Nationwide Championship Recreation win in opposition to Georgia, after which the Eagles’ playoff loss to Tom Brady’s Buccaneers, can rapidly bitter opinions about Hurts’ play.

On the street in opposition to a 2-0 crew, a weary Hurts introduced America with a fast reminder of his expertise. The Eagles could not attain the Tremendous Bowl once more come February 2024, and so they would possibly get eradicated when he performs a stinker of a playoff sport. However regardless how the Eagles’ 2023 season performs out, this season will doubtless not be Hurts’ fault if they arrive up brief. He bided his time by means of the primary two video games of this season, and on the primetime stage — in opposition to an undefeated crew — Hurts snotted his strategy to his greatest efficiency of the season.

Hurts and his Eagles teammates seem to have picked up the place they left off final season by means of three video games.