(Jalen Hurts game winning touchdown in Overtime to defeat the Buffalo Bills. Photo)
The Eagles once again fought and clawed their way to another tough win. The offense seemed nowhere at halftime, yet came out revived to the tune of 30-second half points (including overtime). Jalen Hurts left no doubt in the second half that he is worthy of MVP due to his 5 total touchdowns on the day with 4 coming after halftime. After the Eagles win at Arrowhead, Hurts became the MVP favorite, which led to heavy scrutiny of Hurts on social media. With many labeling him as undeserving, Hurts has been doubted since day one in Philadelphia.
First, people believed he shouldn’t have been drafted, then it was that he wasn’t the guy to lead the Eagles, then it was that he didn’t have the arm strength. Then it was the fact that the Eagles hadn’t played any good teams last year during the regular season. Now Hurts has led the Eagles to a 10-1 record with the hardest schedule in the NFL. Sure sounds like the MVP to me.
Jalen Hurts didn’t begin this season the way he wanted to. A rough performance in New England against the terrible Patriots didn’t result in the start the Eagles wanted. The Eagles have not been able to truly put together a complete game. When Hurts is in rhythm, Sean Desai’s defense has not been able to put away games. When Desai’s defense has been on point, it’s been the struggling offense unable to put teams away. Still, the Eagles sit at 10-1. Hurts has been crucial in many victories this season. Hurts has 29 total touchdowns with 18 of them passing. Hurts’ turnovers have been worrying (10 interceptions this season). However, Hurts’ greatness outweighs some of the mistakes he’s made.
Even on his bad days, Hurts steps up to get his team over the line. A great example of that was Sunday, November 26th. After a terrible first half on Sunday from the entire offense, Hurts lit up the Bills defense, including the game-winning touchdown in overtime, as well as the game-tying drive to force overtime. Jake Elliot’s clutch 59-yard field goal sent it to overtime. Hurts had a similar game against the Chiefs. With the offense going nowhere in the first half, Hurts was again able to lead another comeback win, leading a game-winning drive against the defending Super Bowl champion who rarely loses at home late in the season.
FOX Sports’ Geoff Schwartz wrote, “Hurts continues to play at an MVP level, and while he was unable to win the award last season due to a late-season injury, he’s clearly the leader in the clubhouse after 12 weeks of this season. With the Eagles running their record to 10-1 this, Hurts is now 24-3 as a starter the last two seasons, a remarkable run that doesn’t seem close to ending soon.”
Tim Kelly of Sports Illustrated had similar ideas when he wrote, “Jalen Hurts entered Week 12 of the NFL season as the odds-on favorite to win NFL MVP, but he partially felt like a placeholder with no clear-cut top candidate for the honor. But after Hurts led the Eagles to a comeback win against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, he’s emerged as the undisputed front-runner for MVP.”
Hurts has without doubt, cemented himself as the MVP frontrunner. Time and time again Hurts delivers when it matters, and with him now sitting at 10-1, it’s hard not to make him the favorite of the MVP conversation.
One of Hurts’ biggest flaws believed by his doubters is his turnovers and rushing touchdowns. Hurts has turned the ball over more frequently. Hurts has 4 more interceptions than he had all of last year. While they all aren’t his fault, it is true that turnovers have been a problem for Hurts. But as the season has gone on, these problems have become more limited and he has been much better at protecting the football the last few weeks.
People who claim that Hurts’ one-yard tush push play has become infamous aren’t important, since it’s only from one yard out. This has never, ever been used as an argument for a running back scoring a one-yard touchdown, making this point null and void. It’s not the Eagles’ problem, the rest of the league can’t stop it.
There are still a few weeks left in the NFL season, but without a doubt, Hurts has earned his status as the NFL MVP. If Hurts and the Eagles can secure the one seed and he continues to play like this, Hurts would be the favorite to win the award. Quite the step up for a Quarterback that half the Eagles fanbase wrote off after the 2021-22 season.