PHILADELPHIA (AP) — All it took was one throw. Jalen Hurts let it fly on his first go try of the game and all of a sudden the unease that crept into that usually worrisome Philly sports activities psyche — yeah, however how is his banged-up proper shoulder, actually? — appeared to dissipate.
Hurts’ shoulder was superb. No doubt about that.
With Hurts in full management, the Philadelphia Eagles as soon as once more seem like the staff that was not often challenged throughout an NFL-best 13-1 begin.
Hurts threw two landing passes and ran for a rating throughout a dominant first half, and the Eagles overwhelmed the New York Giants 38-7 on Saturday night time in an NFC divisional playoff game.
“To have him out there, I know this is high praise, it’s like having Michael Jordan out there,” coach Nick Sirianni mentioned. “He’s your leader. He’s your guy. That’s the biggest respect I can pay to him.”
Top-seeded Philadelphia will host the NFC championship game subsequent Sunday in opposition to both Dallas or San Francisco.
Hurts missed two late-season losses with a sprained proper shoulder after which confirmed the Giants nothing within the season finale when the Eagles ran a vanilla offense designed to shield the Pro Bowl QB.
Under shiny postseason lights on the Linc, the Eagles unleashed an offense designed to clobber the Giants. Hurts dazzled early along with his arm and Philadelphia’s offensive line opened huge holes for Miles Sanders and Kenneth Gainwell because the Eagles completed with 268 yards on the bottom. Hurts completed 16 of 24 for 154 yards.
“Seemed like the old Jalen to me,” Sanders mentioned.
Hurts confirmed he was superb when he aired out a go on the second play of the game and hit DeVonta Smith in stride for a 40-yard reception. The enjoyable was simply beginning in Philly.
Hurts was flawless on the drive, finishing passes of 9 yards, 5 yards, after which — increase — a 16-yard TD go on a one-handed seize by tight finish Dallas Goedert.
Second drive, extra of the identical. Hurts had completions of 12 yards and 9 yards en route to a 9-yard TD go to Smith.
It was 14-0 within the first quarter and the Giants already wanted a standing eight rely. New York turned the ball over on downs on its first possession, and Daniel Jones was intercepted by James Bradberry on its second.
The Linc was bonkers with full-throated chants of “E-A-G-L-E-S!” filling the air and Sirianni went wild chest-bumping assistants on the sideline.
“Philly’s been drinking since 8 a.m,” Goedert cracked of the raucous environment.
Hurts’ shoulder could not have been one hundred pc.
But his passing was: He went 7 of seven for 89 yards within the first quarter.
“This guy leads, he brings this calmness to the entire team,” Sirianni mentioned. “He’s as tough as they come. To me, there’s not anybody that’s played better football than him this year.”
Even when the calls have been apparent for the Eagles, the Giants have been helpless to cease them. Case in level: The Eagles had the ball on the New York 3. Give the ball to Boston Scott? Yes they did. Scott scored his 11th touchdown against the Giants for a 21-0 lead. He has solely 19 TDs in his profession. Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale riled up Philly followers this week when he insisted Scott wasn’t a “Giant killer.”
Hard to argue in opposition to that time now.
Hurts wrapped the half with a 5-yard landing run — he bobbled the shotgun snap however nonetheless coasted untouched into the top zone — for a 28-0 lead. There have been solely four more lopsided first-half playoff shutouts in NFL historical past.
“I’m so proud of this team, how we came out here. I’m so proud of these fans. It’s a Philly thing, you know? It’s special,” Hurts mentioned.
Gainwell completed with 112 yards on 12 carries, together with a late 35-yard landing. Sanders had 17 rushes for 90 yards.
Coach Brian Daboll’s Giants have been discombobulated from the beginning and seemed nothing just like the staff that beat the Minnesota Vikings 31-24 final week for his or her first postseason win since their Super Bowl victory underneath Tom Coughlin 11 years in the past.
Matt Brieda had an 8-yard TD run for the Giants within the third quarter. Daniel Jones was 15 of 27 for 135 yards and a decide.
“Give Philly credit, they did everything better than we did tonight,” Daboll mentioned.
Hurts ran, threw and directed the offense with the identical authority as he did when he led the Eagles to a 14-1 begin and gained over a metropolis that also wasn’t so positive about him within the preseason. In final 12 months’s playoff loss to Tampa Bay, Hurts threw two interceptions and was simply 23 of 43 for 258 yards.
A 12 months later, Hurts is a fan favourite and has the Eagles within the hunt for his or her first Super Bowl since 2018.
“We’re close to the top,” Sirianni mentioned. “But don’t look at the the top yet.”
NEVER BREAK THE CHAIN
There was a busted link on the Linc.
The game was briefly stopped within the opening quarter due to a damaged first down chain. The NFL nonetheless makes use of chains linked to two sign poles to measure the space to a primary down. With the Giants driving halfway by means of the quarter, the game was delayed due to an “administrative stoppage.” The chain was rapidly changed and the game resumed with the Eagles forward 7-0.
M-V-P
Two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper, who led the Phillies to the World Series, narrated a hype video. Three-time AL MVP Mike Trout, a New Jersey native and Eagles fan, attended the game and exhorted the group to get louder.
UP NEXT
The Eagles moved to 6-0 and Hurts threw two landing passes in a 26-17 win over the Cowboys in October. The Cowboys gained 40-34 on Dec. 24 in opposition to Hurts’ backup, Gardner Minshew.
The Eagles final performed San Francisco in 2021 and misplaced.
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