Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Misses Out on Pro Bowl: What Went Wrong?
It's been a disappointing closing stretch for the Philadelphia Eagles season, with most fans entering the season expecting a redemption tour for the reigning NFC Champions. But now, the struggles have come back to cost Jalen Hurts individually.
After a season that saw Hurts propel into stardom and look like one of the top young faces in the league, the Eagles signal-caller has gone from MVP runner-up a season ago to missing out on making the Pro Bowl this season, but was he deserving of the honor?
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts failed to make a consecutive Pro Bowl appearance after a stellar season a year ago.
USA Today
Let's compare Hurts' regular season stats from a year ago versus now ...
2022-23: Team Record: 14-1
Passing- 3,701 yards, 246.7 yards per game, 66.5 completion percentage, 22 touchdowns, six interceptions
Rushing- 760 yards, 13 touchdowns, nine fumbles
2023-24: Team Record: 11-5
Passing- 3,803 yards, 237.7 yards per game, 66.1 completion percentage, 23 touchdowns, 14 interceptions
Rushing- 601 yards, 15 touchdowns, nine fumbles
The obvious difference between then and now is that the team has suffered more losses with Hurts under the helm now, but overall, it appears as though he's regressed across the board.
Despite arguably having a better pass-catching running back in D'Andre Swift and adding Julio Jones as the WR3 behind DeVonta Smith, Hurts has averaged fewer passing yards per game and thrown eight more interceptions this season.
Hurts' struggles with protecting the football, paired with the defense regressing this season, have been a duo that has ultimately derailed the team's success as a whole. But with that being said, he was still a Pro Bowl snub this season.
NFC quarterbacks selected over Hurts include San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy and Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott, who have both beaten Philly this season. However, the third quarterback selected was Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, a signal-caller who has a worse record this season, lost to the Eagles in Week 5, and has accounted for 14 fewer touchdowns.
Has Hurts had an MVP season? No. Did he deserve to be a Pro Bowler? Yes. He has a good argument for being in over Stafford at least.
However, at the end of the day, none of it matters because the goal is a Super Bowl, and if he and Philadelphia's defense can step up in the playoffs, they won't be available for the Pro Bowl anyway.
