Jalen Hurts has been on quite the rollercoaster this season, but going into the Eagles' bye week, his performance revealed an alarming stat: Hurts led all quarterbacks with 11 turnover-worthy plays. Pro Football Focus (PFF) tracks this metric to gauge passes that are highly likely to be intercepted or demonstrate poor ball security. Over the first four games, this included four interceptions and five fumbles, with three of those fumbles being lost. Fast forward two weeks, and Hurts has managed to bring that number down to an impressive zero. Now that's a turnaround worth talking about.
Hurts, in his fourth season as the Eagles’ starting quarterback, is one of 10 quarterbacks who have taken at least 18 dropbacks in the past two weeks (Hurts has had 48) and still hasn't made a single turnover-worthy play. Even more remarkable, he didn’t just play it safe. He made two big-time throws during that span, defined by PFF as passes with great timing, ball placement, and often into tight windows downfield. This balance between careful ball management and making aggressive, game-changing plays is what separates Hurts from many others in the league.
Let’s not forget what Nick Sirianni, the Eagles' head coach, emphasized following the team's recent 28-3 blowout victory over the New York Giants. The day after Hurts’ solid 10-for-14 performance with 114 passing yards and a touchdown, Sirianni was quick to highlight how crucial it is for a quarterback to find that sweet spot between playing clean and staying aggressive.
“You’ve got to be able to take care of the football while still being explosive,” Sirianni said. “That’s why the quarterback is who he is. He’s so important to the football team because it’s all about finding that balance between making the big plays and not forcing anything that could lead to mistakes.”
This insight shines a light on Hurts’ ability to play smart football. A good quarterback knows how to take what the defense gives and not push too far, but the great ones find a way to exploit defenses while minimizing errors. And Hurts, through repetition and constant practice against various looks from opposing defenses, seems to be getting better at walking this fine line.
In the Eagles' victory over the Giants, Hurts showcased his ability to take those smart risks. On a pivotal fourth-and-3 from the Giants’ 41-yard line, Hurts hit A.J. Brown on a deep “go” route down the left sideline for a touchdown. It wasn’t a wide-open look. Giants cornerback Nick McCloud had tight coverage on Brown, but Hurts trusted his receiver and took the gamble. That aggressive play was part of a larger theme in the Eagles’ offense. The team now leads the NFL with 10 plays of 40-plus yards this season, with six of those being passes and four being carries—a league-high for rushing.
And it’s no accident that the Eagles are excelling in creating explosive plays. Sirianni explained, “Our definition of an explosive play is 20 yards, give or take. So when you double that, your chances of scoring go up even more. We’ve got the players to create those kinds of plays, and we’re constantly looking for opportunities to make it happen.”
While the passing game was in the spotlight, Saquon Barkley and the Eagles' run-blocking unit were also firing on all cylinders in that game. Barkley, in his return to MetLife Stadium, posted a monster performance, recording runs of 55, 41, and 38 yards, finishing the day with 176 rushing yards, including a 3-yard rushing touchdown. The run game and Hurts' timely throws gave the Eagles’ offense a dangerous balance, which is the hallmark of their success.
What’s even more impressive? The Eagles weren’t just effective in creating explosive plays—they were efficient in critical situations. The team was three-for-three on fourth down, with all three conversions resulting in touchdowns. Hurts himself played a key role in these conversions, whether it was a red-zone scramble on fourth-and-2 or the infamous Tush Push on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line. This season, the Eagles have converted 71.4% of their fourth-down attempts, ranking seventh in the NFL. Over the last three years, they’ve converted a league-best 70.8% of their fourth downs.
The Tush Push, a rugby-style quarterback sneak that the Eagles have mastered, has been a key element in their fourth-down success. But beyond that, Sirianni’s willingness to take risks has been crucial. He doesn’t shy away from going for it on fourth down, even when the odds seem stacked against them. "You're constantly thinking about scoring touchdowns, not settling for field goals," Sirianni said. "Having that extra down gives us a chance to turn three points into seven, and it’s been a big key to our success."
On the flip side, the Eagles have struggled on third down. Against the Giants, they were just 1-for-13 on third-down conversions, which has been a season-long issue. Currently, the Eagles rank 23rd in the league, converting only 34.6% of their third-down attempts. Sirianni acknowledged the problem and stressed that improving third-down efficiency will be a major focus moving forward.
“We’re always going to look at ourselves first,” Sirianni noted. “Did we put the players in the best position to succeed, and did we execute? We’re going to explore different protection schemes, route concepts, and matchups as we move forward to get better in those situations.”
On the defensive side, the Eagles are also making moves. Following the win over the Giants, they added cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields to their practice squad. Castro-Fields, a former sixth-round draft pick out of Penn State, was previously with the Washington Commanders and the Carolina Panthers, contributing mostly on special teams. With his addition, the Eagles continue to build depth in their secondary, a unit that will be key as they aim to make a deep postseason run.
All in all, the Eagles are in a strong position moving forward. Hurts is playing at a high level, minimizing turnovers while still taking calculated risks. The offense is explosive, both through the air and on the ground, and the team is converting in critical situations. Sure, there are areas that need improvement, particularly on third down, but the Eagles are showing why they’re one of the most dangerous teams in the league right now. With their eyes set on the playoffs, they’ve got all the pieces in place to make a serious run at the Super Bowl.
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