Rafael Zamorano Nov 27, 2023, 12:19 a.m. ETRead: 4 min.
The 49th start of Hurts’ career didn’t have much reason to end any differently than the most recent ones: with a win.
Sure, after starting with three consecutive incomplete passes, racking up his 10th interception of the year (the most in his career for a season), and his worst first half as a passer NFL –coupled with a couple of very solid first quarters by Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, it was easy to write off Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles.
It was easy, too, to forget recent history.
Hurts and the Eagles entered Sunday’s game having won four straight games while trailing by at least 10 points at halftime, and seven of the last eight, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
With the Eagles at 10-1, no one has been more valuable to their team than Jalen Hurts to the Eagles.ESPN
So, some of the numbers from the first two periods had to be thrown out the window. For example, Hurts’ 33 yards passing, or his completion percentage of just 36 percent.
However, Hurts’ 49th career start didn’t have much reason to end any differently than his most recent ones: with a win.
In the middle of a torrential rain in which the Bills seemed to be more comfortable, Hurts put together a memorable game in the second half, to snatch victory from the Bills in overtime with a touchdown run, his second of the day, after Buffalo had the first possession of overtime, barely achieving a field goal.
Hurts was already the only quarterback in the history of the game with 10 rushing touchdowns in consecutive seasons, and with today’s departure, he had a third season, according to data from ESPN Stats & Information. He finished with 200 passing yards and three passing touchdowns, bringing his total for scores for which he was responsible to five.
The Eagles are 10-1, and have proven they can win under virtually any circumstance. Rivals don’t seem to matter too much, either. Philly beat the champions Kansas City Chiefs last week, also coming from behind, and today they gave an important blow to the playoff chances of some Bills who remain with a record of 6-6.
There are six days left to complete in the regular campaign but, let’s be frank: there is no other legitimate candidate for Most valuable Player. Hurts is playing at a higher level week in and week out, even when she doesn’t for four quarters. Nobody is doing it better, no matter how much the media has consent in other latitudes, including the quarterback who lined up on the opposite bench this Sunday.
Simply put, it is still inconceivable that Hurts is not regularly receiving the praise that is showered on him. Josh Allen when the Eagles quarterback has shown game by game up to and including the Week 12who is the best quarterback in the NFL.
And Allen is not the only one. Names like Justin Herbert and others receive a lot of love from all kinds of specialists, including some holders of the precious vote for Most valuable Player of AP, while they wait for Hurts to finally end up deflating. Instead, what happens with each game is that Hurts learns a new way to win games, and the run for a touchdown against a team whose quarterback had pretty much done whatever he wanted, through the air and on the ground, for most of the season. game, it was one more grain to the bag.
According to data from the Elias Stats Bureau, this afternoon between Bills The Eagles was the first game in league history with rivals scoring multiple passing touchdowns and multiple rushing touchdowns, thanks to the evening that Allen and Hurts gave us. But, one of the quarterbacks played better than the other, although he didn’t necessarily do it for 60 minutes. And, in one NFL where only the final score matters, leading what is clearly the best team in the entire league, Hurts remains the clear favorite to win the most important award on an individual level.
If Hurts and the Eagles falter down the stretch, including three straight games against genuine AL contenders, NFC pending, followed by three very accessible games on paper, to close the regular season, then all the proponents of other names for the coveted recognition will feel redeemed. But if Hurts and the Eagles continue doing their thing, what will be the pretext to continue nominating others less deserving? In this league, there is no room to apologize for winning.
The most reasonable thing is to say it like it is: At the Week 12, Jalen Hurts has no rival for the award NFL Most Valuable Player.
2023-11-27 05:19:00
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