Still In The Hunt: Hurts Leads Eagles Past Washington

Philadelphia is free to once again start throwing around the P word. Following a 27-17 win over division rival Washington, the Eagles are back in the NFC playoff picture. The main reason why -- quarterback Jalen Hurts, who accounted for three touchdowns in his return to the starting lineup.

“He played a great football game today -- one of the best games I’ve seen him play," Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said following the win.

An ankle injury kept Hurts out of Philly's last game, a win over the Jets on the first weekend of December, and the Eagles' bye week followed. Meaning, until Tuesday night, Hurts had gone nearly a month between starts. But you'd never know it.

Hurts threw for 296 yards and a touchdown with just six incompletions. He also contributed 38 yards on the ground and another two scores. His pair of rushing touchdowns gave him 10 on the season -- something neither Michael Vick, Randall Cunningham, or any other Eagles quarterback had ever done.

But Philly's QB wasn't the only Eagle to run through Washington. Running back Miles Sanders rushed for a career-high 131 yards, as part of a Philly ground game that totaled 238 yards. Tuesday marked the seventh straight game that Philadelphia has rushed for at least 175 yards.

The win improved the Eagles' record to 7-7 and moved Philly into a tie for the final NFC wild-card spot.

"It’s a big deal, but I know the job isn't done -- nowhere near from done,” said Hurts. “We know what we want to accomplish. I said it to the guys: We just have to have that mentality of not being denied.”

That's a good attitude to have, especially if you're going to start throwing around the P word.

 

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