Hurts returns from injury, leads Eagles to No. 1 seed in NFC

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts walked into the Linc sporting a Michael Jordan “I’m Back” T-shirt from the previous Chicago Bulls’ star’s first unretirement.

Yeah, Hurts is again — and now, so are the Eagles as a Tremendous Bowl risk.

Hurts returned from a sprained proper shoulder and threw for 229 yards underneath a conservative sport plan, and the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the No. 1 seed within the NFC with a 22-16 win over the New York Giants on Sunday night time.

“It’s actually robust being out,′ Hurts stated. ”I used to be pushing myself to be obtainable and it wasn’t a straightforward factor.”

Hurts wasn’t requested to do a lot in opposition to New York’s B-team — with the Giants’ No. 6 seed already secured, they rested the majority of their beginning lineup — and he received with out the explosive performs, the head-first rushes on fourth down, the scrambles that flip into 20-yard beneficial properties, the kind of breakout performs that had outlined his season. They weren’t wanted.

His mere presence was the emotional increase the Eagles wanted after the stumbles every of the final two weeks.

The Eagles rebounded from two straight losses behind backup QB Gardner Minshew to clinch the NFC East, the highest spot within the convention and residential discipline all through the playoffs. The staff additionally will get a bye, yet another pivotal week of relaxation for Hurts.

Hurts obtained a roaring ovation and “MVP!” chants as he ran out of the tunnel throughout pregame introductions. The Eagles had clearly missed their QB, who had grown into an MVP front-runner till he was damage on a tough sort out in opposition to Chicago.

Hurts was 20-of-35 passing in a sport that had a preseason really feel — the Eagles have been just one of 5 within the purple zone — and performed your complete sport. The Eagles additionally earned the No. 1 seed within the 2017 season and received the Tremendous Bowl. They’ve 5-1 odds to win it this 12 months, per FanDuel Sportsbook, trailing solely Kansas Metropolis and Buffalo.

Hurts accomplished a 35-yard cross to A.J. Brown on the Eagles’ first play of the sport and confirmed no ill-effects from the sprained proper shoulder suffered three weeks in the past. The Eagles performed at half-speed in opposition to the Giants backups and refused to threat Hurts’ well being — they didn’t have a referred to as dashing play for him. The dynamic QB that ran for 747 yards and 13 touchdowns getting into the sport largely stayed within the pocket, the Eagles clearly cautious Hurts might take one other arduous hit on his shoulder.

“I do know he was hurting,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni stated. “He was hurting unhealthy.”

The Eagles didn’t get a lot offensively however actually didn’t should in opposition to a Giants (9-7-1) staff that had already secured the No. 6 seed within the NFC and rested the majority of their starters. Saquon Barkley and his 1,312 yards dashing took a seat. So did beginning QB Daniel Jones.

The Giants as a substitute handed over No. 2 QB Tyrod Taylor and began follow squad common Davis Webb.

Webb, in his first profession begin, rushed for a 14-yard landing within the fourth that made it 19-9. He tossed a 25-yard TD cross to Kenny Golladay late within the fourth that made it 22-16. He threw for 168 yards on 23-of-40 passing

Hurts, whose 35 whole touchdowns this season tied the franchise file set by Randall Cunningham in 1990, had a TD cross within the third quarter worn out due to a penalty after which threw his sixth interception of the season on the subsequent play.

This sport for the Eagles was all about stabilizing themselves and reclaiming the swagger and confidence that they had earlier this season as they steamrolled behind Hurts to a 13-1 file. Hurts doubtless wouldn’t have performed had the Eagles overwhelmed both Dallas or New Orleans in every of the final video games and clinched the No. 1 seed. As a substitute, it was the Eagles taking part in with all the things to lose whereas the nine-win Giants have been safe of their spot.

“It’s the NFL, so the fellows you’ve got on the staff, you’ve got confidence in,” Giants rookie coach Brian Daboll stated. “I assumed our guys competed all the way in which to the top.”

Jake Elliott kicked discipline targets of 32, 52 and 39 yards within the first half. Boston Scott ran for an 8-yard landing — a whopping 10 of his 17 profession TDs are in opposition to the Giants — and the Eagles took a 16-0 lead into halftime.

Elliott added discipline targets of 54 and 22 yards within the second half. Graham Gano kicked a 24-yarder within the third for the Giants.

RECORD DAY

Brown had 4 catches for 95 yards and completed with 1,496 for the staff’s season file. Mike Fast held the yards receiving mark of 1,409 in 1983 within the 16-game season.

“It means so much to go away my footprint on this group,” Brown stated. “There have been quite a lot of nice receivers earlier than me. For me to do it the primary 12 months, it means the world. I instructed Mike thanks for all the things he has accomplished for the sport.”

Fast is a radio analyst for the Eagles. “Simply as he instructed me earlier than the sport, he stated the primary cross goes to return to me and I’m going to interrupt your file,” he stated.

DeVonta Smith set the Eagles’ season file for receptions with 95 (and 1,196 yards receiving). He had seven receptions in opposition to the Giants. Irving Fryar had 88 catches in 1996.

The 14 wins are additionally essentially the most in a season for the Eagles.

UP NEXT

The Eagles benefit from the spoils of an off week.

The Giants head to Minnesota.

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