Jalen Hurts Historic Numbers Through Eight Career Starts
Through his first eight starts in the NFL, Jalen Hurts has put up historic numbers. The former Alabama quarterback has accounted for 2,584 yards of offense, the third most in NFL history behind Cam Newton and Patrick Mahomes. Earlier this season, Hurts became the first player in NFL history with 1,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards in his first five career starts.
Hurts is only the second quarterback in NFL history with four games of 325 yards in his first eight starts and he is the first Eagles quarterback ever with consecutive games with 325 passing yards, 64% completion percentage and two touchdowns.
Many will point to Hurts boosting his numbers during garbage time, but the former Alabama quarterback has performed during meaningful situations. Hurts has completed 68% of his passes for 737 yards with four touchdowns, one interception and a 102.7 passer rating, along with 132 rushing yards when the Eagles are either leading or trailing by fewer than eight points.
On Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, the 23-year old quarterback had his best showing as a professional. Hurts went 32-for-48 for 387 passing yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. His 387 yards were the most by an Eagles quarterback without an interception since Nick Foles eight years ago. Hurts also led the Eagles with 47 rushing yards on eight carries. Despite his efforts, Philadelphia fell to Kansas City 42-30 and are now 1-3 this season.
“He made good decisions with the football,” said head coach Nick Sirianni. “He got out of trouble when there was trouble. He made good checks. He made good reads. That’s the best I’ve seen him in practice. That’s the best I’ve seen him in a game since I’ve been here.”
Through four games this season, Hurts had completed 66% of his passes, thrown for 1,167 yards, rushed for 226 yards, accounted for eight total touchdowns and two interceptions and compiled a passer rating of 101.1.
The Eagles have struggled to find balance with their offense as of late. Miles Sanders was held to 13 yards on seven carries, after gaining 27 yards and two carries the previous week against Dallas.
Philadelphia was also without 80% of their offensive line on Sunday. Defensively, the Eagles have surrendered 83 points in their last two games and have given up an average of 425.5 yards of offense per game.
Despite the Eagles recent struggles, Hurts hasn’t lost confidence in his team. “We are close because everything we do, we control it,” Hurts said. “We control the penalties, we control the little things. It’s all magnifying in games against good football teams and we’ve played good football teams to this point every game. And it’s magnified. So it’s on us. It’s on us to execute and do the things we need to do."
“A lack of commitment, I never questioned that about anybody. A lack of effort, I never questioned that about anybody because we are going to fight," said Hurts. "We are going to fight. We are this close to putting it together.”
Philadelphia travels to Charlotte next week to face the Carolina Panthers.