Jalen Hurts wins 1st QB start as the Philadelphia Eagles stun the New Orleans Saints

PHILADELPHIA – Rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts gave the Eagles the kick-start that jerk coach Doug Pederson was looking for, using his arm and legs to lead Philadelphia to a 24:21 win over the New Orleans Saints, theirs Winning streak in nine games saw come to an end.

Hurts made his first start in place of the struggling Carson Wentz, going for 167 yards and a 17-on-30 touchdown, and running 18 times for 106 yards.

The Saints had played 56 games without allowing a 100-yard rusher, the longest run in the Super Bowl era. Not only did the Eagles (4-8-1) pull it off, but two players crossed the century line when Miles Sanders ran 14 times for 115 yards and two points, including an 82 yard TD sprint, to keep the Eagles up 17 to bring -0 in half – her first 17-point lead since week 1.

Hurts and Sanders became the first Eagles quarterback / running back duo to jump over 100 yards in the same game since Donovan McNabb, 107, and Duce Staley, 126, against the New York Giants in 2002.

Hurts’ 106 rushing yards are the second most frequented by a player in his first career at QB since 1950, followed by Lamar Jackson in 2018 (119) per Elias.

With the win, the Eagles recorded a four-game loss while staying within striking distance of the leading Washington Football team.

Player and team sources told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen that it would be Hurts’ job for the rest of the season, aside from injuries or disastrous play. The Eagles still have intentions to keep Wentz and make him an important part of their team, sources told Adam Schefter. So while there are some issues with QB position in the long run, for now it’s Hurts’ show.

New Orleans made a comeback in the second half, but a Josh Sweat striped sack from Taysom Hill in fourth and second place with less than 10 minutes of play turned the tide. The Eagles followed with a 53-yard six-game scoring drive topped off by Sanders’ second rushing TD of the game, prompting Hurts, the team’s second pick last April, to jump into the dance.

The win cost three quarters of the second division side – corner kick Darius Slay (head) and Avonte Maddox (knee) and safety Rodney McLeod (knee) – injured and did not return. Defense attorneys Malik Jackson, Derek Barnett and Sweat were also injured.

But the defense still managed five sacks and 12 QB hits on Hill while the Saints were capped at 21 points, a season low for New Orleans. Meanwhile, Hurts helped the Eagles offensive to their highest score since week 6.