Donovan McNabb took the Eagles to NFC Championship in his third year. Can Jalen Hurts do so with a more talented roster?
In Donovan McNabb’s third season, he would lead the Eagles to their first NFC Championship Game appearance under Andy Reid. He finished the 2001 season by throwing for 3,233 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. You can see where this is headed right?
One of the biggest things that happened that year was the assistance he got from the Eagles’ rushing attack. McNabb continued to be a huge threat with his legs, but he got some much-needed assistance from Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter as they finished first and second on the team in rushing yards.
Here’s the thing, McNabb wasn’t playing under the same pressure that Hurts will face in his third season, but McNabb didn’t have the weapons that Jalen will have as his supporting cast either. Both have the support of their head coaches. Andy Reid deemed Donovan as his guy. Nick Sirianni has publicly expressed that the job of QB1 belongs to “his guy”, Jalen Hurts.
This is a business. We all realize that. If it’s deemed that Jalen hasn’t performed up to the standard that has been set, the Eagles brass will explore other options as QB, but Hurts is safe, for now.
Hurts has the work ethic, and he’s improved every season since we were first introduced to him at Alabama. He now has a phenomenal wide receiver duo in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Why would we be shocked if he led Philadelphia on a deep playoff run?
It would also be nice to see Hurts’ rushing yards total decrease as McNabb’s did. With Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Kenneth Gainwell, and, maybe, Kennedy Brooks ready to turn heads and step up to the plate in that area, that shouldn’t be a tough ask.
McNabb didn’t have the game-changing receivers that Hurts has. James Thrash and Todd Pinkston? Really? Jalen and Donovan’s styles of play are very similar. Their careers seem to be taking similar paths. Let’s hope that means Hurts has a huge year and a productive run in a Philadelphia Eagles uniform.