PHILADELPHIA — Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts mentioned he’s coping with a damaged finger on his non-throwing hand, and that it did have an effect on him Sunday in opposition to the Steelers — however he nonetheless did sufficient to raise a slumping passing recreation and transfer the staff previous every week of drama for his or her franchise-record tenth consecutive win.
“So that is what you all wished to see, huh?” Hurts requested as he sat down for his postgame information convention following Philadelphia’s 27-13 win.
It was undoubtedly what receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith wished to see. Both voiced their frustrations in regards to the passing recreation following final week’s slender win over the Carolina Panthers by which Hurts completed with simply 108 yards by means of the air — the third consecutive week he was held underneath 180 yards.
Brown’s feedback that “passing” was the problem on offense and that there was little sideline communication with Hurts to get issues fastened led to Brandon Graham‘s assertion that Hurts and Brown were no longer close like they as soon as had been. That set off a media firestorm that consumed much of the week.
Brown mentioned he and Hurts “did let the staff know that we’re on the identical web page and nothing’s incorrect or something like that.”
Inside the Eagles apply facility, Smith mentioned a whole lot of “powerful” and “uncomfortable” conversations had been had. Brown spoke of additional conferences between gamers and coaches that emphasised bettering particulars and communication within the passing recreation.
All that helped gas a extremely environment friendly passing efficiency, with Hurts going 25-of-32 for 290 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
Brown and Smith every went over 100 yards, marking the fourth time they’ve achieved the feat and setting a brand new document for probably the most such video games by a duo in Eagles historical past.
“The strategy was a bit of totally different this week. The grass will probably be inexperienced the place you water it and we determined to water [the pass game], and also you sort of noticed the fruits of our labor in that,” Hurts mentioned.
Hurts and Brown linked for a 5-yard landing cross late within the first quarter to place Philadelphia up 10-3. They then broke right into a choreographed dance celebration.
“That was our second to inform all people to close up,” Brown mentioned.
Hurts injured the ring finger on his left hand final Sunday in opposition to the Panthers and was listed as a full participant on the damage report all through the week. He wore a glove on his left hand in opposition to the Steelers, which isn’t his frequent apply.
Hurts did lose a fumble when T.J. Watt punched the ball out on a first-quarter scramble, however in any other case performed a clear recreation.
“I can say I do not assume it obtained any worse as we speak,” Hurts mentioned of the finger. “If it is shattered, it is shattered. It is what it’s.”
The Eagles improved to 12-2 and moved right into a digital tie with Detroit for the highest seed within the NFC after the Lions fell to the Buffalo Bills.
The protection continued to outperform expectations whereas the offense confirmed it’s able to getting the job completed in quite a lot of methods on an evening when Saquon Barkley (19 carries, 65 yards) was largely held in examine.
“We know what the top purpose is, particularly me, DeVonta and Jalen … We’re making an attempt to get to the top and we’re making an attempt to complete,” Brown mentioned. “It’s good we received 10 video games however we’re not glad with that, truthfully. In our minds, we have not completed nothing. That’s our mindset. It’s straightforward for us to have these powerful conversations to name one another out as a result of we all know what we would like on the finish. It makes it simpler after we’re shut.”
