Eagles' Jalen Hurts has drawn comparisons to Dak Prescott
The Dallas Cowboys are set to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in a pivotal NFC East battle on Sunday afternoon. Both teams — even with losing records — are still alive in the divisional title hunt and a win on Sunday would go a long way in either team making the postseason. Week 16's matchup […]
The Dallas Cowboys are set to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in a pivotal NFC East battle on Sunday afternoon. Both teams — even with losing records — are still alive in the divisional title hunt and a win on Sunday would go a long way in either team making the postseason.
Week 16's matchup will look a lot different than the previous matchups between the Cowboys and the Eagles over the past few years. Not only do both teams have below .500 records, both teams will have somebody other than Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz behind center.
Prescott was lost for the season with an ankle injury in week five and veteran Andy Dalton has since taken over for the Cowboys (although Ben DiNucci did start against Philadelphia in week eight), while the Eagles have benched Wentz in favor of rookie Jalen Hurts for at least the remainder of the 2020 season.
It will be a different look as both teams fight to stay alive in the NFC East hunt.
Eagles' Jalen Hurts has drawn comparisons to Dallas Cowboys' signal caller Dak Prescott.
There have been more than a couple comments regarding some of the similarities between Hurts and Prescott ahead of Sunday's battle. Neither the Eagles rookie nor the Cowboys star were first-round draft picks, both are athletic, mobile playmakers behind center, and both play with a chip on their shoulder.
NFL analyst Bucky Brooks compared the former Oklahoma quarterback to the former Mississippi State signal caller before the 2020 NFL Draft. He brought that back up earlier this month on Twitter:
It is easy to see some of the similarities between the two. One can make a strong argument that Hurts — while playing at both Alabama and Oklahoma — was surrounded by more talent on the collegiate level than Prescott. Prescott was forced to elevate those around him, while Hurts was able to lean on some stars at the skill positions and offensive line.
Furthermore, Jalen Hurts said this week that that Prescott actually hosted him on a recruiting visit to Mississippi State. Hurts' top-3 schools coming out of high school were Alabama (where he eventually signed), Mississippi State, and Texas A&M.
Jalen Hurts has played largely well in his first two starts for the Eagles, accounting for 674 yards of total offense and six total touchdowns (five passing, one rushing). He went toe-to-toe with Arizona Cardinals star — and Dallas, Texas, native — Kyler Murray and has made the Eagles' offense much better.
Still, as good as Hurts has looked in his small sample size, it is important to not overreact right now.
Dak Prescott, unfortunately, will not be dressed in uniform on Sunday afternoon, but the Dallas Cowboys will be forced to prevent Jalen Hurts from hurting them in the same way that the rookie has hurt the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals.
We will see if the defense is up to the challenge that the dual threat presents.
Featured image via Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
