The perfect recipe seemed to have been lost. The Philadelphia Eagles, for a few frustrating weeks, were a kitchen full of master chefs who had suddenly forgotten how to cook. The ingredients were all the same, but the final product was leaving everyone hungry. Something was clearly missing from their championship formula.
That something, it turns out, was a voice from the past. After a bitter loss to the Broncos, quarterback Jalen Hurts didn’t just look at the game tape. He had picked up the phone. He dialed his old college coach, the legendary Nick Saban. But this was no social call. It was a search for a lost winning mentality, a quest to rediscover a champion’s DNA.
In Week 7 against the Vikings, that call paid dividends. Hurts delivered a masterclass, executing with a surgical precision that felt familiar. He completed 19 of 23 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns. More importantly, he authored a perfect 158.3 passer rating, a feat only accomplished twice before in Eagles history.
He was direct about the Saban influence after the game. “One thing I was taught long ago at the University of Alabama from coach [Nick] Saban is not to look at the scoreboard,” Hurts stated. He continued, “Hear the call, have a singular focus on each play, and give that play what it demands. It's just great focus... and we just have to have that level of consistency to be able to be what we desire to be.”
Jalen Hurts’ Offensive Fireworks Return
The statistics tell a stunning story of efficiency and explosion.
Quarterback Metric | Jalen Hurts' Performance |
|---|---|
Completions/Attempts | 19/23 |
Passing Yards | 326 |
Touchdowns | 3 |
Passer Rating | 158.3 (Perfect) |
This wasn't dink-and-dunk football. Hurts connected on all five of his passes, traveling over 20 air yards. He hit DeVonta Smith for a career-high 183 yards, including a breathtaking 79-yard touchdown. A.J. Brown chipped in with 121 yards and two scores. The offense, finally, had its swagger back. Meanwhile, the defense provided crucial support.
Rookie Jalyx Hunt snatched a pick-six, and the unit stood tall in the red zone like a brick wall. They held the Vikings to just one touchdown on six trips inside the 20-yard line. This complementary football is the identity the Eagles have been searching for.
Now, this win was about more than one game. It was a testament to leadership. Hurts sought wisdom, then applied it. He trusted his star receivers, and they delivered in spectacular fashion. The Eagles have rediscovered their blueprint, and the rest of the league has been put on notice.
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As the great Bruce Springsteen once sang, “It ain’t no secret, no secret my friend. You can get killed out there, but you get born again.” This team, led by a quarterback who went back to his roots, found its rebirth in Minneapolis.