Jalen Hurts

From last place to the playoffs.

The Philadelphia Eagles clinched a spot in the postseason Sunday with the help of the Green Bay Packers' 37-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. That, combined with the Eagles' 20-16 victory over the Washington Football Team and the San Francisco 49ers' 23-7 win against the Houston Texans, wrapped up a postseason spot for Philadelphia.

Go Birds. pic.twitter.com/6rh3zgfzbm

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 3, 2022

It was quite the turnaround from their last-place finish in the NFC East during the 2020 campaign.

Last season was more of an anomaly than this one considering the Eagles made the playoffs in each of the three prior seasons. They won the Super Bowl during the first season in that stretch and have their eyes on another Lombardi Trophy after clinching another playoff spot.

It certainly didn't look like Philadelphia would be in the postseason out of the gates.

The team struggled to find any consistency in the early going of the season and fell to 1-3 on Oct. 3 with a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and 3-6 with a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 7.

However, the combination of the rushing attack, defense and timely throws from Jalen Hurts propelled a dramatic turnaround.

The Eagles won five of six to improve to above .500 for the first time since they won their opener against the Atlanta Falcons. The fifth win in that six-game span came via blowout fashion against the New York Giants and cemented their spot in the middle of the crowded NFC wild-card picture.

That win underscored the team's ability to impact the game in a number of ways, as the defense picked off New York quarterbacks twice while Hurts threw two touchdowns. The running back trio of Miles Sanders, Boston Scott and Jordan Howard also combined for 123 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

It set the stage for the final two-game stretch to end the regular season against the Football Team and Dallas Cowboys.

While catching the Cowboys in the division is out of the picture, few teams were playing better with the playoffs on the horizon after Sunday's win over Washington.

The NFC will likely run through some combination of the Green Bay Packers, Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams or Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Philadelphia remains a threat to whichever team it faces with a defense that is sixth in the league in yards per game, a quarterback in Hurts who is capable of making plays with his arm and legs, a deep running back room, and an offensive line that is opening up head-turning running lanes.

Those matchups are now on the table after the Eagles clinched their playoff spot.        

The Washington Football Team announced that no fans were seriously injured after a railing broke near the team tunnel, causing several fans to fall onto the ground following a 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Statement from the Washington Football Team on the railing at FedEx Field that collapsed after its loss to the Eagles: pic.twitter.com/wLjg9Zo0jY

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 2, 2022

The railing collapsed as Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was leaving the field:

#Eagles QB Jalen Hurts was sacked only once during today’s game. Almost had a second on his way to the locker room. pic.twitter.com/WwBE5pXaxO

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 2, 2022

Another angle of fans nearly collapsing onto Jalen Hurts 🤯 @brgridiron

(via @Trei_Cham)pic.twitter.com/KkSPhjAWZs

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 3, 2022

"I'm just happy everybody is safe from it. That's crazy stuff right there," Hurts told reporters after the game. "That was a real dangerous situation. I'm just so happy everybody bounced back from it, it seemed like. Passionate Eagles fans. I love it."

It hasn't been a banner year for FedEx Field, Washington's stadium since 1997. 

In September, a pipe burst in the stadium, spilling water on fans. 

UPDATE: The liquid isn’t sewage. The leak came from a storage tank filled with rain water at FedEx Field. @wusa9

— Darren M. Haynes (@DarrenMHaynes) September 12, 2021

"The leak came from a storage tank filled with rainwater," a WFT spokesperson told ESPN's John Keim at the time. "We gave the fans in the section the option to move to a suite for the rest of the game, and we're going to give them tickets to a game of their choice in the future. They were also given Washington Football Team gear."

And in November, fans were hit with water in one section of the stadium when the sprinkler system went off:

Don’t know how this happens once, let alone twice. pic.twitter.com/vv9MxYmUPq

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) November 30, 2021

UPDATE: The water coming out of the sprinkler system has stopped.

— Darren M. Haynes (@DarrenMHaynes) November 30, 2021

As for the football on the field, Washington (6-10) saw its playoff hopes officially extinguished on Sunday against a Philadelphia team (9-7) that saw its own postseason aspirations bolstered in a major way with the win.

The Philadelphia Eagles are planning to have their quarterbacks prepare for Sunday's game against the Washington Football Team in separate rooms to avoid any potential COVID-19 spread.

"We're going to make some adjustments. I'm not there 100 percent yet because I don't have to be quite yet with the players not being back yet, but we're going to definitely make even more adjustments than what we need to just keep everybody safe," Eagles coach Nick Sirriani told reporters. "The quarterbacks will be in separate rooms. We're going to be even more safe with them being in separate rooms."

The Eagles (8-7) have won three straight games to move into the thick of the NFC playoff race. They entered Week 17 as the No. 7 seed in the conference with a one-game lead over the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. 

The Eagles carry three quarterbacks on their roster: Jalen Hurts, Gardner Minshew and Reid Sinnett. 

Several teams have been forced to play backups or third-stringers amid COVID-19 outbreaks within their respective teams in recent weeks. Washington started Garrett Gilbert in the first matchup between these two teams in Week 15 when Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen went on the reserve/COVID-19 list. 

The Saints were forced to start third-stringer Ian Book in Week 16 when Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian went on the reserve list. 

While keeping players separated does not necessarily preclude them from catching the virus individually, it will help prevention of a spread within the locker room. It's unclear if the Eagles plan on treating other position groups similarly. 

The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Washington Football Team 27-17 on Tuesday at Lincoln Financial Field. The game was rescheduled from Sunday afternoon because of a COVID-19 outbreak within Washington's organization.

Philadelphia improved to 7-7 after its fourth win in its last five games. In his first game since Nov. 28, Jalen Hurts led the Eagles with 334 total yards and three total touchdowns (two rushing, one passing).

.@JalenHurts and @G_Ward1 coming up CLUTCH#WASvsPHI | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/aTRaFdRkKn

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 22, 2021

Washington fell to 6-8 and has now lost back-to-back games after its four-game win streak. Garrett Gilbert, who was signed to the team's practice squad Friday, started the game and threw for 194 yards in the loss. Antonio Gibson and Jaret Patterson each had a rushing touchdown.

Washington was without starting quarterback Taylor Heinecke, backup Kyle Allen and All-Pro guard Brandon Scherff, who are among the 16 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Washington also missed the presence of veteran running back J.D. McKissic, who was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a neck injury.

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Notable Stats

Jalen Hurts, QB, PHI: 20-of-26 for 296 YDS, TD, INT; 8 CAR for 38 YDS, 2 TD, fumble lost

Miles Sanders, RB, PHI: 18 CAR for 131 YDS (career high)

Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI: 7 REC for 135 YDS (career high)

Garrett Gilbert, QB, WFT: 20-of-31 for 194 YDS

Antonio Gibson, RB: 15 CAR for 26 YDS, TD

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Eagles Overcome Early Mistakes for Dominant Win

The start of the game was an absolute disaster for Philadelphia. The Eagles' first drive ended with a head-scratching interception that deflected off the heel of tight end Dallas Goedert.

This WFT INT was wild 🤯

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/aFPbmp4dae

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 22, 2021

On the following possession, the Eagles made it all the way down to the Washington 16-yard line. But the drive stalled when Hurts was stripped for his second turnover.

.@_sweat9 with the forced fumble 💥@TheHumble_21 with the scoop 🔥

📺 » FOX | #WASvsPHI pic.twitter.com/WBcZJ1LZNE

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 22, 2021

But Philadelphia eventually managed to refocus and get back to its game plan. The Eagles pounded the ball on the ground to open up the play-action passing for Hurts. There was even some creativity as cornerback Darius Slay made an appearance on offense.

GOEDERT MOSS'D HIM! 😱 #FlyEaglesFly

📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX
📱: NFL App pic.twitter.com/yA3KKwcOrq

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2021

Is that... @bigplay24slay in motion on offense? 😅 @BoobieMilesXXIV | #FlyEaglesFly

📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX
📱: NFL App pic.twitter.com/Yh52RZb6HK

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2021

Jason Kelce was almost stride for stride with @BoobieMilesXXIV here 😂

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/IGA0mK7Mzk

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 22, 2021

Hurts led the Eagles on three consecutive scoring drives to erase a 10-point deficit and take the lead early in the third quarter.

.@JalenHurts sneaks it in for 6!

We got a tie game. 👀 #FlyEaglesFly

📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX
📱: NFL App pic.twitter.com/drWXEza7zc

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2021

.@JalenHurts' 10th rushing TD on the season gives the @Eagles the lead! #FlyEaglesFly

📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX
📱: NFL App pic.twitter.com/y9hBowXaiX

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2021

Hurts now stands alone with 10 rushing TDs. https://t.co/cvz2jvGfxt

— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) December 22, 2021

That was Jalen Hurts’ 10th rushing TD this season. He is 4 rushing TDs behind Cam Newton (14 in 2011) for the most rushing TDs by a QB in a single season.

— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) December 22, 2021

The team's defense also locked in after allowing an early touchdown and stifled Washington's offense. Philadelphia didn't allow a score in both the second and third quarters.

With the rainy conditions, Philadelphia flexed its power-rushing attack. The three-headed monster of Hurts, Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard kept the Washington defense off balance. The Eagles offensive line had a strong performance, opening running lanes all night to help the team finish with 238 yards on the ground.

It was the team's seventh consecutive game with over 175 rushing yards, a feat the franchise hasn't accomplished since 1949.

https://twitter.com/RoobNBCS/status/1473474655113695232

https://twitter.com/RoobNBCS/status/1473477864569851905

With this recent stretch, Philadelphia's run game is looking elite. The Eagles entered Tuesday averaging 213 rushing yards in their last four games.

The combination of dominant rushing and strong defense has proved to be a winning recipe for Philadelphia. As the season winds down, the Eagles could make a surprise push for the playoffs if they continue to impose their will and pound away on the ground to overwhelm their opponents.

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Washington Has Early Success, Loses Rhythm Quickly

At the start of the game, the Washington Football Team looked like it was well on its way to pulling off an improbable victory.

Washington's run game looked strong early on, and Gilbert looked like he could manage the game well enough to sneak out with a win. WFT opened up a 10-point lead in the first quarter.

.@AntonioGibson14 goes AIRBORNE for the touchdown and the early @WashingtonNFL lead! 🙌 #WashingtonFootball

📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX
📱: NFL App pic.twitter.com/N6UpCU7gP1

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2021

Garrett Gilbert finds @TheTerry_25 DEEEEEP! #WashingtonFootball

📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX
📱: NFL App pic.twitter.com/v2UEF6OUu0

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2021

But things fell apart quickly as the weather worsened and the Philadelphia defense upped its game. Washington punted on five possessions, going three-and-out three times.

Washington's last four drives: 27 total yards, 1 first down.

Nice pre-snap pressure look by Eagles on last third down, ended up only rushing four and Fletcher Cox got to Gilbert from LDE.

— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) December 22, 2021

Washington's defense also had trouble stopping Philadelphia's rushing attack. The team seemed unable to keep up with the Eagles because of its depleted roster.

Gilbert managed to lead a scoring drive in the fourth quarter, but it wound up not meaning much as Philadelphia continued to pull away. A late turnover on downs in Eagles territory sealed the game.

The Washington Football Team faced an uphill battle Tuesday. Things were looking up after a strong start, but the team just couldn't keep it going over the course of the game. Washington has to hope to return to full strength soon so it can remain in the hunt for a playoff spot in the NFC.

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What's Next?

The Eagles will welcome another NFC East foe to town and take on the New York Giants on Sunday. The Washington Football Team will remain on the road for another division matchup that same day against the Dallas Cowboys.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is hoping to return for Sunday's home game against the Washington Football Team despite his ankle injury. 

"I'm doing everything in my power to make myself available to play," Hurts told reporters Wednesday.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Hurts is dealing with a high ankle sprain and is splitting reps in practice this week with Gardner Minshew.

Hurts missed his team's Week 13 game against the New York Jets as Minshew led the Eagles to a 33-18 victory on the road. Last week's bye provided more opportunity to rest the injury, although the second-year player is clearly less than 100 percent.

Head coach Nick Sirianni said Wednesday that Hurts was "trending upward" from his injury, and that the second-year signal-caller split reps with Minshew at the team's walkthrough. 

Minshew played well in place of Hurts, totaling 242 passing yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported there is no quarterback controversy in Philadelphia.

Hurts is still the top option after totaling 2,435 passing yards and 13 touchdowns in 12 starts, plus 695 rushing yards and eight scores.

Consistency has been a problem for the 2020 second-round pick, however, as he struggled in a Week 12 loss to the New York Giants with three interceptions. The 23-year-old is hoping to solidify himself as the franchise quarterback, but he needs to show more production when on the field.

The Eagles will hope he gets that opportunity in Week 15 as they fight for a playoff spot. The team is still alive at 6-7, especially with its four remaining games all against NFC East opponents.   

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Gardner Minshew is expected to be a commodity on the trade market this offseason.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Minshew's impressive Week 13 performance opened eyes around the league, and the Eagles will likely field several calls from quarterback-needy teams. Minshew completed 20 of his 25 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in last Sunday's win over the New York Jets.

The Carolina Panthers are expected to be among the teams to express interest, having already contacted the Eagles ahead of the 2021 trade deadline.

The Eagles added Minshew for the bargain-basement price of a conditional 2022 sixth-round pick ahead of the regular season to serve as a backup behind Jalen Hurts. Minshew's performance last week was more than enough by itself to justify the opportunity cost, which was a shocking sell-low on the part of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"It felt so good, man. It's the best time I've had since Week 1 of last year. There's nothing like that feeling," Minshew told reporters after last week's 33-18 win over the Jets. "Glad to do it with this group of guys. They made it easy for me."

Rapoport's report said teams around the NFL view Minshew as a potential bridge starter or, at the very least, a high-quality backup. The Washington State product emerged as a surprisingly solid option for the Jaguars in 2019 and 2020 after being a sixth-round pick in 2019. His career quarterback rating of 94.4 would rank among the best in NFL history if he had enough attempts to qualify.

While no one would rank Minshew among the NFL's best quarterbacks, he's certainly a better option than some of the players taking snaps every Sunday.

The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New York Jets 33-18 on Sunday with Gardner Minshew at quarterback. However, that doesn't mean the 25-year-old will be Philly's starter moving forward. 

While addressing reporters after the game, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni confirmed Jalen Hurts will remain his starting quarterback this season. 

"I think he's played really good football," Sirianni said of Hurts. "There's been times where he's been one of the best in the league with the way he's moved around, made plays. ... When he's healthy and he's back, he'll be our starter."

Minshew was thrust into the starting lineup this week after Hurts suffered an ankle injury in a Week 12 loss to the New York Giants. It was his first start of the 2021 season, and he didn't disappoint. 

The former Jacksonville Jaguar completed 20 of 25 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns in addition to running for 11 yards on four carries. As a reference, Hurts hasn't thrown for more than 200 yards since a Week 7 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and hasn't tossed two touchdowns since a Week 10 win over the Denver Broncos. 

However, it wouldn't make sense for the Eagles to shift gears and name Minshew the starter this quickly. Sirianni and Co. have been committed to Hurts thus far, and there's no reason they shouldn't be now.

The 23-year-old has completed 60.1 percent of his passes for 2,435 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 12 games this season. While those numbers aren't eye-popping, he has been much more effective on the ground, rushing for 695 yards and eight scores. 

In addition, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is reportedly confident Hurts can be the team's quarterback of the future. However, it should be noted that general manager Howie Roseman is reportedly "less confident" in Hurts as the team's starting QB heading into the 2022 season, per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

It's unclear when Hurts might return from his ankle ailment, but he has at least four more games this year to leave his mark. If the Eagles are left unimpressed, they might look elsewhere for a new quarterback.  

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss Sunday's game against the New York Jets, which means Gardner Minshew will start under center. 

#PHIvsNYJ inactives pic.twitter.com/443zrkOUlz

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 5, 2021

#Eagles QB Gardner Minshew arrives. No further caption necessary. pic.twitter.com/k7GmjRnADB

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 5, 2021

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network first reported the news of Minshew starting.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters that Hurts was dealing with a sore ankle after Philadelphia's Week 12 loss to the New York Giants.

The 23-year-old has been Philadelphia's most important offensive player this season, leading the team with 2,435 passing yards, 695 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns. But his production has not translated into consistent wins for the Eagles, who are 5-7.

Philadelphia selected Hurts in the second round of the 2020 draft. He took over as the team's starting quarterback in Week 14 of his rookie season, replacing Carson Wentz, and finished the year with 1,061 passing yards, 354 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns in 15 games and four starts.

Minshew has enough experience to help mitigate the loss. In 24 career games, the 25-year-old has completed 63.0 percent of his passes with 37 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

While Hurts is out, Philadelphia could rely more on its running game. Running back Miles Sanders recently returned after missing three games with ankle and foot injuries. He has had double-digit carries just four times in nine games this season, and the Eagles won three of those contests.