The Eagles need Jalen Hurts 2.0 now more than ever. His evolution and clutch gene are carrying a rough offense.
Hurts wasn't faultless in a tense meeting with a poor Titans team, but he's been more dependable than ever at a crucial point for a group in transition.
NASHVILLE — Jalen Hurts tossed two costly interceptions. The first was returned 92 yards and was converted into a touchdown, while the second came late in the fourth quarter and allowed the Titans to take a 20-17 lead.
And yet, Hurts wasn’t asked a single question about the picks afterward. His performance in rallying the Eagles past Tennessee, 24-20, in nearly every other moment, including a masterful two-minute drive, far overshadowed his two throwing errors.
But there was something unique about Hurts carrying the offense at the scorching Nissan Stadium on Sunday. He’s strapped the Eagles on his back before. He’s had better games against better opponents when the stakes were much higher. He’s been clutch on many previous occasions.
No, this was a different Hurts. This was the 2.0 version. This was Hurts evolving as a quarterback in a new scheme that gives him more freedom as a passer. We saw glimpses of it in Week 1 vs. the Commanders. He took another step in Week 2.
If the narrative entering this season was that the 28-year-old faced a make-it-or-break-it tipping point, after another offensive coordinator change and a seemingly unresolved contract situation, Hurts has shown through two weeks that he’s making it.
» READ MORE: Eagles win 24-20 thriller in steamy Nashville; Jalen Hurts atones for two INTs with epic two-minute drive vs. Titans
He’s been that instrumental in the Eagles’ 2-0 start despite the schematic hiccups and struggles on the offensive line.
“I don’t even think words can describe how much you’ve got to manage as a quarterback in this league from a responsibility standpoint, and the weight that comes with the position and the responsibility,” Hurts said when asked about his calm amid an otherwise stormy offensive day.
“Ultimately, you gotta keep the main thing the main thing throughout that. You gotta keep your poise and keep your focus.”
Third down after third down, Hurts and his receivers bailed out the early-down malaise. The Eagles have long needed an offense that establishes the run game. Hurts’ limitations as a dropback passer have partially made that necessary, but it’s also been a byproduct of coach Nick Sirianni’s conservatism.
The Eagles just might not have the pieces to be a run-based unit this season. There were likely to be some early bumps with the new wide-zone blocking scheme. But for as much as Sean Mannion needs the outside-zone runs to set up play action, he can’t keep calling early-down runs or quasi-runs that are passes that fail.
The Eagles have been wretched on first down. They averaged just 0.9 yards in the first game. They were a little better in the second, but the running backs managed just 2.7 yards on 15 first-down rushes vs. the Titans.
» READ MORE: Jalen Hurts’ greatness prevails again in Eagles’ stunning last-second win over Titans
The Eagles shuffled the O-line after Landon Dickerson went to injured reserve last week, moving Cam Jurgens to the vacant left guard spot and inserting Drew Kendall at center. There were going to be miscues with Jurgens having never played guard on that side, especially with Jeffery Simmons lining up over him.
But Mannion kept calling runs even if they often were away from the All-Pro defensive tackle.
“It’s more to do with execution, but then also you know the moving pieces that we had in,” tackle Jordan Mailata said about the run-blocking issues. “This is our first game together as the starting five for us. And I’ve always emphasized the continuity of having the same O-line guys.”
Sirianni wouldn’t divulge if he’ll stick with the same configuration, but keeping the same core for at least the next three games — or more, depending upon Dickerson’s health — seems likely.
“I’m a soldier,” Jurgens said. “I march to my orders, and whatever I’m asked to do, I’m going to do it to my best [of my] abilities.”
There were other missing parts. Running back Saquon Barkley left early with a stinger (although he returned), while tight end Dallas Goedert was sidelined with a knee injury. Sirianni said he wouldn’t grade on a curve because of the new faces and scheme changes.
“We want to be able to to run it more efficiently,” Sirianni said. “I haven’t seen any of the numbers, but everything comes off of the run and the play action. And so, the guys battled though. That’s what you’re so proud of there. … But there’s definitely room for improvement, as we all know.
“We all see that.”
» READ MORE: The Eagles asked a lot of their offensive line this week, but they vow to improve after win over Titans
The pass protection wasn’t much better, although when the O-line needed to stand tall on the last drive, Hurts mostly had enough time in the pocket. But getting sacked three times, hit an additional three times, and having to Houdini out of pressure isn’t likely sustainable.
According to the advanced analytics site Sumer Sports, the Eagles have the largest difference in early-down offensive success rate vs. late down offensive success rate to start a season since 2022, with an early-down success rate of 31.5% in the third percentile, and a late-down rate of 60.6% in the 96th percentile.
Hurts kept facing long third downs and kept hitting receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks downfield. He converted nine third downs of more than four yards, three of which were third-and-12.
But both his interceptions also came on third-and-longs. He kept bouncing back.
“Jalen’s able to flush it and lead us down the field in a critical situation,” Sirianni said. “Just proud of the way he played and the way he had his resolve, but that’s who he is, right? That doesn’t surprise me. He’s that on a daily basis.”
Whether it’s by design or not, Sirianni has had to entrust his 28-year-old quarterback with more responsibility, and that may require accepting a few more interceptions than either has become accustomed to.
If the Kyle Shanahan-type parts of Mannion’s under center, play-action scheme haven’t yet taken hold, the implementation of more full progression reads has. Hurts completed passes to nine different receivers for only the fourth time in his NFL career, and the first since 2022.
» READ MORE: DeVonta Smith, the Eagles’ ‘leader of the pack,’ shines in comeback win over Titans: ‘You live for moments like that’
He got late into his reads on several throws, including the game-winning three-yard touchdown toss to Darius Cooper. Earlier, he found Cooper for a 23-yard gain when the receiver was beyond his first two reads.
“I think it’s just a byproduct of our approach in our offense,” Hurts said. “I’ve really embraced and enjoyed the teaching progression and how things are taught.”
Hurts has heard the noise about him not being able to diagnose defenses, dating back to his second season when the Buccaneers said as much in an Eagles wild-card playoff loss. Simmons said the Titans wanted to make Hurts “play quarterback” in the lead-up to the game.
“I heard it,” Hurts said.
He let his play do the talking, though.
“I’m happy we won,” Hurts said when asked for a response.
Hurts can still do the athletic and mobile things that separate him from many other quarterbacks. He ran twice on designed runs, scrambled two times for 11 yards, and used his lower body strength to convert on the return of the Tush Push.
But he’s answered some doubts about how he would adapt to the biggest scheme change of his NFL career, and about how last season ended. In Week 1, he hit Goedert for a touchdown on a four verticals concept similar to the fateful last play in the playoff loss to the 49ers. In Week 2, he bested the opposing defensive coordinator in that game — Titans coach Robert Saleh.
“Finally good to get him,” Hurts said.
It’s early, of course. If the problems on Chris Kuper’s O-line are going to be waved away with the same reason, then Hurts’ strong start should be taken with a grain of salt. The same could be said about the climate — both teams had to suffer through it — even if Eagles players were melting through cleats.
“Was like a NASCAR pit crew helping me get ready for the second half,” said Jurgens, who said he went through two pairs.
It may be another Eagles victory, with agony and outside voices thrilled to complain about it. But Hurts knows better. The work was done. The task at hand remains.
“We’re still progressing,” Hurts said. “Think there’s a lot for us to continue to improve on, to align toward. But you want to do that and find ways to win.”
He’s done that as much as any quarterback over the last five seasons. But he may have to shoulder more than he ever has before.
Landon Dickerson has made a career of fighting through injuries and pain, last season being the latest instance. But after the left guard looked like a shell of himself Week 1 vs. Washington, the Eagles decided to shut him down — at least for now. With Dickerson landing on injured reserve, The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane explains why, this time around, he and the Eagles are taking the cautious route. Jeff also shares what he's heard about how the Eagles might fill Dickerson's void on the offensive line, and takes listener questions in this week's mailbag segment. Listen here.
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