Philadelphia Eagles WATCH: Jalen Hurts, Battling Illness, Ties Personal Record With TD Rush vs. Seattle Seahawks
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is playing through flu-like symptoms, but you wouldn't have known that watching the game-opening drive against the Seattle Seahawks Monday evening.
Hurts completed all five of his pass attempts on an opening drive that lasted more than eight minutes. He capped off the 15-play, 75-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown rush.
This was Hurts' 13th rushing touchdown of the season, tying the career-high he put up a year ago. He's one rushing touchdown away from tying Cam Newton's 2011 campaign for the most touchdown scampers by a quarterback in a single season.
While the Eagles clinched a playoff berth Sunday, they are looking to rebound from consecutive losses to the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, a pair of defeats in which they were outscored 75-32.
Jalen Hurts rushed for a touchdown on the Eagles' opening drive of the game.
USA Today
Following those losses, the Eagles have made a pretty massive coaching change. While Sean Desai has retained the title of defensive coordinator, senior defensive assistant Matt Patricia will be on the sideline calling plays for a struggling defense beginning Monday. Patricia, of course, was a long-time assistant for Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots, and had a stint as the coach of the Detroit Lions from 2018-2020.
Even still, the Eagles entered Monday evening's tilt with a 10-3 record. After the Cowboys were throttled by the Buffalo Bills Sunday, the Eagles are very much in the driver's seat to win their second consecutive NFC East title. Additionally, they still are in the race for the top seed in the NFC -- which comes with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs -- but will need the 11-3 49ers to slip up.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks enter Monday's game in pretty dire straits, as they've lost four games in a row. A month ago, coach Pete Carroll's squad was 6-3, and looked to have an opportunity to push the 49ers for the NFC West title. But after losing four games in a row, Seattle finds themselves on the outside looking in for the postseason. A fifth loss in a row would be pretty close to a nail in Seattle's coffin.
