Eagles' Jalen Hurts provides rocket fuel for his critics
Few expected the Philadelphia Eagles (5-1) to remain undefeated, but even fewer expected a loss to the underdog New York Jets in Week 6, who were playing without both starting cornerbacks.
On Sunday, the Eagles let a 14-3 lead in the first half slip away in the fourth quarter. The 20-14 loss on the road was Philadelphia's first in 13 regular-season games against the Jets.
At the center of criticism for the defeat is Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts, who went 28-for-45 for 280 yards and tossed three interceptions.
Other factors besides Hurts contributed to the "demoralizing and dispiriting" defeat, however.
Right tackle Lane Johnson left the game early in the first quarter with an ankle injury. The Eagles only gained 80 rushing yards, with 47 of those coming from Hurts.
Running back D'Andre Swift lost a fumble late in the first half that allowed the Jets to kick a field goal. Kicker Jake Elliott, who had been dependable all season, shanked a 37-yard fourth-quarter field-goal attempt that would have extended Philadelphia's lead to five points.
But those shortcomings pale in comparison to what happened with two minutes left with Hurts and the Eagles offense trying to run out the clock. The Eagles faced third-and-9 at their own 46-yard line. With the Jets out of timeouts, a first down would have ended the game.
Instead, Hurts threw a brutal interception to safety Tony Adams, who ran to Philadelphia's eight-yard line to set up a game-winning touchdown run by Breece Hall.
The first two Hurts interceptions weren't his fault. Early in the second quarter, a pass to tight end Dallas Goedert went off Goedert's knee and into the hands of defensive lineman Quinnen Williams.
Early in the fourth quarter, Hurts' arm was hit by linebacker Jermaine Johnson, resulting in a wobbly pass and an easy pick for cornerback Bryce Hall.
The Adams pick, though, was a drastic lapse of judgment by Hurts.
As NBC Sports Philadelphia columnist Reuben Frank wrote, "You give Hurts some slack ... He was out there without two starting offensive linemen, and once Lane Johnson left the game with an ankle injury, he was under constant pressure. But Hurts should be beyond a performance like this. He has to be."
Since Hurts was drafted in 2020, critics — including hot-take mudslinger Chris Simms of NBC Sports —- have been eager to criticize him.
In this game, though, Hurts provided all the fuel his critics needed.
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