Philadelphia Eagles: Examining 10 overreactions following Week 15 loss
By Ben Swanger
![Dec 20, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins (80) taunts Arizona Cardinals free safety Chris Banjo (31) as he scores a touchdown during the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports Dec 20, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins (80) taunts Arizona Cardinals free safety Chris Banjo (31) as he scores a touchdown during the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/9fdc4e0b6b908a00058e77751d19628e0e685fbc129bdc6c0344af0d37ca9109.jpg)
7. Jalen Hurts is a bonafide franchise quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Let’s pump the brakes. Hurts has lit the league on fire through his first two starts, but to say he is a franchise quarterback is a bit of a stretch. Hurts became the first player in NFL history to throw for 500 yards and rush for 150 yards in his first two starts, but claiming he is the future of a franchise might be overblown.
Remember when Carson Wentz lit the league on fire through his first three starts in 2016? He was a franchise quarterback then too, now look at him. Relegated to a backup role with unneeded drama circling the former MVP candidate.
Hurts might be the guy for the rest of 2020, but he certainly needs at least one normal offseason and an entire 16-game slate to prove he is worthy of guiding a franchise.
Maybe we are wrong, as former Eagle Torrey Smith seems sold, but after what Wentz has done to handcuff this franchise, we should not believe Hurts is the franchise quarterback until his career ends 15 years from now in midnight green.
8. Jalen Hurts has already won the 2021 quarterback job for the Philadelphia Eagles.
After what Hurts proved against Arizona in Week 15, the conversation is over. This is not an overreaction. The Philadelphia Eagles cannot turn back to Wentz, his saga is a fizzled flame.
Two and a half games probably are not enough to hand Hurts the title of the Eagles’ Ferrari but it is enough to at least toss him the keys for the day.
Hurts is what present-day quarterbacking looks like in the NFL. His legs are lethal and his arm is just good enough to get the job done. It’s who Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray are. Guys like Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, and Aaron Rodgers possess both features at an elite level, Hurts clearly is not there yet, but he has the potential to get there. Number 2 jerseys should drape Lincoln Financial Field next season (hopefully). Let’s conclude with the coaches.