The crazy stat that validates Jalen Hurts is an elite QB
Jalen Hurts has revitalized the Philadelphia Eagles. And for trusting him, Philadelphia finds itself playing in an NFC Championship game come Sunday. But, Hurts isn't merely transforming the Eagles. He is also shifting the way the quarterback position is played. There is only one player in NFL history with 3,000-plus passing yards, 700-plus rushing yards, […]
Jalen Hurts has revitalized the Philadelphia Eagles. And for trusting him, Philadelphia finds itself playing in an NFC Championship game come Sunday.
But, Hurts isn't merely transforming the Eagles. He is also shifting the way the quarterback position is played. There is only one player in NFL history with 3,000-plus passing yards, 700-plus rushing yards, 20-plus touchdowns, 10-plus rushing touchdowns, and fewer than 10 interceptions in a season. That one player? Jalen Hurts.
A stat like that shows Hurts' overall dominance this season. Many said he wasn't a good thrower. His play this year silenced that debate. Many who doubted him also said the Eagles wouldn't win consistently with him as the quarterback. Hurts led Philadelphia to a No. 1 seed and its first NFC Championship game since the Super Bowl.
Hurts is special, and he keeps proving it time and time again.
Still, those that like to doubt Hurts say that he pads his stats against a weak schedule and bad teams. That isn't true.
Jalen Hurts against the greats
Against top-10 defenses this season, Hurts numbers actually get better.
He is 73-of-114 (64%) on throws for 955 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's only thrown one interception.
Yes, one.
On the ground, against top-10 defenses, Hurts has run for 85 yards and a touchdown.
As the stage gets tougher, Hurts gets better.
His toughest test yet is the San Francisco 49ers, who boast an elite-level defense. It is the kind of game that could define Hurts as a quarterback for some time. If the Eagles win, he will be vaulted into Philadelphia quarterback lore. If the Eagles lose, it will just be another season full of what-ifs.
Regardless, history suggests that Hurts will step up when it matters most.
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Feature image via Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
