Jalen Hurts was torn.
The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback was fresh off his eighth career game-winning drive.
He’d marched his team downfield in overtime against the Buffalo Bills, capping off the pursuit with a 12-yard rushing touchdown in which he barreled up the middle of the field to notch his team’s 10th win of the season with a 37-34 victory.
The touchdown was Hurts’ fifth of the day. His all-purpose yardage: 265.
Still, the winning quarterback was conflicted.
“I shake my head and I don’t really know how to feel sometimes, because I just want to lead and play to the standard at all times,” Hurts said afterward. “That’s why it’s weird for me.”
Hurts felt weird, he explained, because he knew a team win was a source of joy but wasn’t sure his individual play warranted such levity. Hurts felt weird because he understands that in a league of parity like the NFL, the margin for error is so small. And while he continues to guide his team to the right side of that margin, he’s acutely aware of how close the threshold is.
“Winning is the only thing that matters, but the standard is pretty darn important, too,” Hurts said. “There were opportunities to do that all throughout the game and we did not. But we did it when it mattered the most and what I take away from that is: Just learn from it and grow from it.
“There’s nothing to be satisfied about.”
Hurts’ tone diverged from that of his colleagues. Sure, everyone on the Eagles values improvement and growth. But they also recognize that what they’re doing, and what Hurts in particular is doing with his continued big plays in big moments, is special.
Hurts became just the second NFL quarterback since 1950 to start 10-1 or better through 11 games in consecutive seasons, per Elias Sports (Peyton Manning was the first in 2005-06). He’s the first quarterback since 1950 to win 14 straight games against opponents with winning records, per ESPN Stats and Info.
Hurts’ late-game magic has helped…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/after-jalen-hurts-led-another-clutch-eagles-victory-one-teammate-compared-him-to-tom-brady-071730684.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2023-11-27 07:17:30
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