PHILADELPHIA — Perhaps the Eagles can make it to the Super Bowl without a prolific passing attack.
Maybe they can win it all, even if Jalen Hurts is injured and doesn't look like a franchise quarterback.
Hurts again made more noise with his feet than his right arm in Sunday's 28-22 victory over the Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at snowy Lincoln Financial Field. It was fueled by Saquon Barkley's rushing and ground game. It ran through the Rams with ease.
There was nothing wrong with gaining 285 rushing yards, and Hurts gained 44 of his 70 rushing yards on a first-quarter touchdown run.
However, the passing game lagged once again, with Hurts completing 15 of 20 passes for just 128 yards.
His top wide receivers, AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, were silent. Brown caught two passes for 14 yards, and Smith had four receptions for 21 yards.
“We just couldn’t get in touch,” Hurts said. “This time we just didn't connect. It's been a whole minute since we did that as a whole. So, as an offense as a whole, we just went out there and took every opportunity that was in front of us. I want to continue to use it and learn from it.”
Hearts was sacked seven times and lacked his usual mobility when escaping pressure.
In the final moments of the third quarter, Hurts was thrown to the turf by Neville Gallimore's nose tackle and became a safety, cutting the Eagles' lead to 16-15.
Without Barkley's franchise playoff records of 205 rushing yards and two touchdowns, the Eagles would have ended the season without preparing for the NFC Championship Game. The NFC Championship Game will be the third time the two have faced each other in charge — the teams played in two games. regular season.
Are Hearts ready, willing and able for that game?
“That's a great question,” Harts said. “We're just waiting to see how this week goes. We'll see how things develop.”
Is he confident of starting?
“Yes,” he said.
Hurts twisted his left knee when he was sacked by safety Jalen McCollough in the third quarter.
Hurts' leg was pinned under his body and his left knee was grabbed.
He spent time in a medical tent and was wearing a protective brace on his left knee when he returned to the scene.
“It's a tough game,” Hurts said. “A challenging game. We were able to finish the game, so let's see what happens this week.”
In the second half, the snow fell even heavier, covering the entire field, making it difficult to throw the ball, especially in the stormy weather.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford struggled at times, but completed 26 of 44 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns.
He was able to force the ball down the field much more effectively than Hurts.
“It was a new experience,” Hurts said of playing in the snow. “Definitely, the next time something like that happens, I’ll be able to look back on this game and come out of this game better.”
