18 weeks... That is the length of time separating the first Jordan Love vs. Jalen Hurts quarterback duel from the one we'll figure to see when the Philadelphia Eagles tackle the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs. As you can see, we've resigned ourselves to thoughts that Jalen Hurts is playing.
The Pack and the Birds have both juggled injuries this season. We have seen a shift in team dynamics in both franchises. Each side has a season's worth of games and a head-to-head matchup to learn from.
The difference this time is that one team will fight to live another day after Sunday. The other will hang their jerseys up until next season.
Who's ready for some football?
'Love Hurts' - The coming Jordan Love vs. Jalen Hurts duel (assuming Jalen starts) is a matchup that will deliver fireworks.
Thanks in part to Jalen Hurts' concussion in Week 16 against the Washington Commanders, the Eagles' franchise-record ten-game winning streak ended vs. a division rival. Jalen Hurts remained in the NFL's concussion protocol during the two games that followed, and here we are. Wild Card Weekend approaches.
Week 17's game vs. the Dallas Cowboys featured Kenny Pickett as the starter, but he suffered a rib injury. Philadelphia turned to Tanner McKee in his absence. Tanner closed one contest and started the regular-season finale. During that time, he has completed 30 of his 45 pass attempts. He has thrown four touchdown passes vs. zero interceptions.
We're extremely proud of Tanner, but what about Jalen Hurts? After all, Philly's best chance of winning another Super Bowl is attached to Hurts being in the lineup.
QB1 was present at the walkthrough on Saturday. Philly announced they were waiving Ian Book on Tuesday. While that isn't great news for Book, it could only mean one thing, right? We expected we would probably see Hurts cleared for return and back in the lineup with his teammates.
Despite the lack of updates from head coach Nick Sirianni, Philly's head coach finally threw the media a bone on Wednesday leading up to game day. Hurts returned to practice. The expectation is he will start for his team on Sunday. The Packers are dealing with injury concerns too though.
Jordan Love left Week 1's game vs. Philly with an MCL strain, but he has since played and looks to be recovered. Then, in Week 18, he left Green Bay's regular-season finale with an elbow injury, one that resulted in numbness in his throwing hand.
We've seen nothing to indicate that Love won't be playing though. He has expressed confidence that his recent injury scare won't affect his performance in the Wild Card Round.
The Eagles will have the edge in the coming Wild Card showdown.
With two of the NFL's best young quarterbacks back on the field, the questions are aplenty. One of which is this. What do both add to this showdown?
Jordan Love is consistent and steady. His team scores early and often any time he is in the lineup. Green Bay averages 6.4 points in the first quarter.
The Eagles aren't known for fast starts. They typically feel teams out and hit their stride later in games, but they must give maximum effort for the full four quarters now that the playoffs have begun.
The second half is when Saquon Barkley excels. The NFL's leading rusher and newest member of the 2,000-yard club, he has taken the Eagles' running game to supernatural levels.
The passing game has also been exceptional recently. Dallas Goedert has recently returned, and he is healthy. Let's not forget those boys up front.
With Packers' Jaire Alexander hitting the injured reserve, the Eagles' offense will have some opportunities. Green Bay losing Christian Watson on offense gives Philly's defense one less thing to worry about.
We're taking full precautions not to birth any jinxes, but things look good. This Eagles team will be the most cohesive it has been in a long time, but they can't peek ahead to the Divisional Round, not yet... They say 'Love Hurts'... Get it? Love and Hurts? This should be a tough battle between two NFC teams on Sunday.