Drew Brees didn’t love what he saw from Jalen Hurts in the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Titans.
With the Eagles and Titans tied 7-7 in Tennessee and just under seven minutes left in the second quarter, Hurts broke out on 3rd and 9 and chose the safer route: he slid after picking up seven yards. The run turned into a 4th and 2, though it was shown as 4th and 3 on the live broadcast.
Brees wanted more. On the broadcast, he said, "Lower your shoulder and go get the first down" as Hurts protected himself instead of trying to run through multiple Titans.
Sure, Hurts could have tried to power forward and fight for the sticks. He didn’t need to, though, and that’s the whole point.
For a franchise quarterback, taking the hit there isn’t worth it unless the moment demands it. Late in the fourth quarter?
Maybe. A playoff game?
Absolutely. In the second quarter with the ball just across midfield?
That’s a different conversation.
Hurts seemed to understand that. By sliding, he avoided a needless collision and still put Philadelphia in a spot where fourth down was manageable. The Eagles went for it, and they converted with a short pass to Dontayvion Wicks.
It was also a pretty amusing critique coming from Brees, who was never exactly the kind of quarterback known for lowering his shoulder and running over defenders himself. Maybe he’s just enjoying the chance to live a little through a dual-threat quarterback from the booth.
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Eagles Fans Have A Week 2 Scoreboard That Could Matter Fast
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For Philadelphia fans, the appeal is in how quickly one Sunday can matter across the conference. The matchups on the slate carry potential ripple effects for playoff positioning and tiebreakers, which is why the right outcomes can be almost as useful as a win of their own. Even in September, the standings can begin to tell a story, and the Eagles have a week where a few scores around the league could help shape it. [Read more 🡒]