The Philadelphia Eagles’ season has ended on a sad note; most fans had anticipated a redemption tour for the defending NFC Champions. But now, Jalen Hurts is paying a personal price for his failures. Hurts has gone from being the MVP runner-up the previous season to missing the Pro Bowl this season. Was he worthy of the accolade, though, after a season in which he shot to fame and looked like one of the best young faces in the league?
Hurts has led the team to more losses since then, which is obviously a difference between then and now, but overall, it seems like he has deteriorated. Hurts has thrown eight more interceptions this season and averaged less passing yards per game despite having D’Andre Swift, maybe the better pass-catching running back, and Julio Jones as the WR3 behind DeVonta Smith.
Hurts’ inability to defend the ball well and the defense’s decline this year have been the two main factors that have hampered the team’s progress overall. Nevertheless, this season he was still passed over for the Pro Bowl. NFC quarterbacks chosen above Hurts include Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, both of whom had defeated Philadelphia this year.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was the third quarterback chosen. Stafford is a signal-caller who has a poorer record this year, lost to the Eagles in Week 5, and has 14 less touchdowns to his name. Has Hurts enjoyed a season as MVP? No. Did he earn his spot in the Pro Bowl? Indeed. At the very least, he has a strong case for being superior to Stafford.
All of that won’t matter in the end, though, because the ultimate goal is a Super Bowl, and if he and Philadelphia’s defense do well in the postseason, they won’t be eligible for the Pro Bowl.
