The Dallas Cowboys got a major assist this week - and they didn’t even have to take the field. Thanks to the LA Chargers pulling off a gritty overtime win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, the NFC East race just got a whole lot tighter.
And the way it happened? Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly a banner night for Jalen Hurts.
Despite the Chargers missing multiple starting offensive linemen and Justin Herbert playing through a left-hand injury that limited him to essentially one-handed quarterbacking, the Eagles’ defense delivered one of its most dominant performances of the season. We're talking historic pressure numbers, three forced turnovers, and just 3.9 yards allowed per play. That kind of defensive stat line should win you games - and usually does.
But not when your quarterback gives the ball away five times.
Yes, five. Hurts turned it over in just about every way imaginable, including a bizarre second-half sequence where he fumbled twice on the same play. And when the Eagles had a chance to seal it in overtime, Hurts threw the game-ending interception that sealed Philly’s fate.
This was a game the Eagles should’ve won going away. Instead, they left the door wide open - and the Cowboys are walking right through it.
FS1’s Colin Cowherd didn’t mince words when breaking down Hurts’ performance, calling him a “circumstances quarterback.” In other words, when everything around him is clicking - a healthy offensive line, a strong run game, elite defense - Hurts can look like an MVP.
But when the ecosystem breaks down? So does the production.
Cowherd’s take echoes what many Cowboys fans have been saying for a while now: Hurts isn’t the kind of quarterback who can consistently carry a team on his own. And the numbers back it up.
He’s winless in his last five games when attempting 30 or more passes. In today’s NFL, where elite quarterbacks are often asked to put the offense on their back, that’s a red flag.
Look around the league - teams like the Bills, Packers, and even the Patriots in recent years have leaned heavily on their quarterbacks to be the engine. Hurts, on the other hand, thrives when the train is already moving and he just has to steer.
That’s not a knock on what he can do - we’ve seen Hurts lead the Eagles to two Super Bowls. But it is a reminder that when things get messy, he’s not the guy who can always clean it up.
And that’s what makes this loss sting even more for Philly. The Eagles boast one of the most complete rosters in the league.
Their defense ranks top-10 in several advanced metrics, including EPA per play, success rate, and rush EPA. On paper, they should be running away with the NFC East.
Yet here they are, just 1.5 games ahead of a Cowboys team that doesn’t crack the top 28 in any of those same defensive categories.
So yes, the Cowboys caught a break. But it also exposed something deeper about the Eagles’ current trajectory - and about their quarterback.
As the playoff picture starts to take shape, Dallas fans have every reason to feel optimistic. Because if Hurts continues to struggle when the spotlight gets brightest, the NFC East crown might not stay in Philly for long.
And if you're a Cowboys fan? You might just be hoping Hurts stays under center in Philadelphia for years to come.