Mixed emotions are going into the Philadelphia Eagles' Week 18 matchup against the Washington Commanders after the big decision head coach Nick Sirianni made.
The talk around town has been that Sirianni decided to rest the starters for the Commanders game as they prepare for the NFC Wild Card. This decision is being discussed because the Eagles are still fighting for the number-two seed in the NFC and could earn it with a win and a Chicago Bears loss, but the team would rather protect its starters from injury.
One of those starters who will not be in the lineup in Week 18 is quarterback Jalen Hurts, who Tanner McKee is replacing. Hurts was asked about the decision to sit the starters, and in typical Hurts style, he backed up his head coach.
"Just giving my trust to the coaches and trusting their plans in everything that we do," Hurts said via NBC's Dave Zangaro. "Obviously, I’m very competitive. Every opportunity we have, I want to take advantage of and try to go out there and complete at a high level. So if that opportunity is given to us this week, I’ll have that mentality just as I had last week."
Hurts is putting his trust in Sirianni and the Eagles staff
The decision was no surprise, as this is one Sirianni has made four times in his five years as head coach of the Eagles. There was controversy last year when Saquon Barkley was within striking distance of the NFL record for rushing yards in a season, but Sirianni still sat him, and the team ended up winning the Super Bowl, so he made the right call.
The struggle with this decision is that it comes down to playing the struggling seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers or facing the red-hot Los Angeles Rams or San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card. It could also mean one home playoff game, potentially two guaranteed home games with a first-round win.
This decision could mean the Eagles are picking the more difficult path to the Super Bowl versus an easier Wild Card win. It will also help protect a team that has many banged-up players on the roster and give them the rest they need to get ready for the postseason.
Read more: Nick Sirianni said what Commanders will find out the hard way about Tanner McKee
Hurts has seen this plan in person multiple times with Sirianni and knows it works. The franchise quarterback will stick with his head coach and trust that he is doing what is best for the team.