Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The Philadelphia Eagles are ready to unleash the full force of dual threat quarterback Jalen Hurts as they open their NFL postseason campaign on Sunday with a wild card clash against a depleted San Francisco 49ers line-up. After an inconsistent regular season campaign, the reigning Super Bowl champions have scuffled their way into the playoffs on the back of conservative play-calling that significantly limited Hurts’ dynamic rushing game — normally a key part of the Eagles’ offensive arsenal.
Hurts rushed for a total of 421 yards during the regular season, roughly 33 percent less than his 630 yards last year, and his lowest total since his 2020 rookie campaign. That restriction has been by design, with new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and head coach Nick Sirianni reportedly preferring to protect Hurts from possible injury ahead of the postseason. But as they prepare to host the 49ers, Patullo has hinted the handbrake on Hurts may now be released.
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“Up to this point, our whole goal has just been to win games, and that’s what we were trying to do, win as many games as we can,” Patullo said this week when asked about Hurts. “And obviously now it counts even more. So as far as game planning going forward, we’ll do whatever we need to do to win the game.”
Last season, the Eagles resembled an offensive juggernaut, with their rushing game led by running back Saquon Barkley and Hurts, carrying them to a crushing 55-23 rout of Washington in the NFC championship game before a 40-22 drubbing of Kansas City in the Super Bowl. While the Eagles offense has struggled to recreate that dominance this season, Eagles coach Sirianni is backing Hurts to raise his game in the pressure-laden crucible of the playoffs.
“Jalen’s a great player and has had a lot of big game experience,” Sirianni said. “Every time he steps out on the field, I feel like Jalen does a great job of continuing to raise his level of play.” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan has duly taken note, warning the 49ers will need to adjust their gameplan to counter Hurts’ rushing and passing threat.
“He’s got a big-time arm…he’s capable of making any throw,” Shanahan said. “Any time you have a quarterback who’s capable of doing that, who also is a threat every single play throughout an entire game with his legs, it’s an issue.” Shanahan’s biggest headache, however, is a lengthening injury list. Long-term injuries have robbed the 49ers of defensive linchpins Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, while offensive tackle Trent Williams and receiver Ricky Pearsall are doubtful to play this weekend.
– Quarterback duel –
The wild card round kicks off on Saturday with the Los Angeles Rams travelling to take on the Carolina Panthers before the Chicago Bears host the Green Bay Packers in the latest instalment of the white hot rivalry between the NFC North giants. In the AFC side of the playoff bracket, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills face the resurgent Jacksonville Jaguars in what promises to be a duel between two high-calibre quarterbacks.
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, hailed as a generational talent when he arrived in the league as the No.1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has posted career-high passing and rushing touchdowns this season, helping Jacksonville to a 13-4 record. The winner of the Bills-Jaguars clash will advance to a divisional round tie with AFC No.1 seeds Denver.
In the bottom half of the bracket, the Los Angeles Chargers face a daunting trip across the country to play the New England Patriots, who returned to the playoffs this season after a three-year absence under the guidance of new head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye. The winner of the Chargers-Patriots showdown will face either the Houston Texans or Pittsburgh Steelers, who meet in the final wild card round game on Monday.
© 2024 AFP
