Eagles overcome banged-up Jalen Hurts struggles with injury now a real concern

PHILADELPHIA — Maybe the Eagles can make it all the way to a Super Bowl without a prolific passing attack.Maybe they can win it all even though Jalen Hurts is hurting and not exactly looking like a franchise quarterback. Once again, Hurts made more noise with his legs than he did with his right arm, as Sunday’s 28-22 victory over the Rams in an NFC divisional playoff game at snowy Lincoln Financial Field was fueled by the rushing of Saquon Barkley and a ground game that churned through the Rams with the greatest of ease.

There is nothing wrong with amassing 285 rushing yards, and Hurts produced 44 of his 70 rushing yards with a first-quarter touchdown run. But the passing game once again lagged behind, with Hurts completing 15 of his 20 passes for only 128 yards.His top wide receivers, A.J.

Brown and DeVonta Smith, were quiet.Brown caught two passes for 14 yards and Smith had four receptions for 21 yards. “We just didn’t connect,” Hurts said.

“Just didn’t connect this time around.It’s been a minute in general since we’ve done that as a whole.

So, holistically as an offense, we just want to go out there and take advantage of all the opportunities we have at hand and continue to learn from them.” Hurts was sacked seven times and lacked his usual mobility in escaping pressure.In the final minute of the third quarter, Hurts was flung to the turf by nose tackle Neville Gallimore for a safety that trimmed the Eagles’ lead to 16-15. If not for Barkley’s franchise playoff record 205 rushing yards and two touchdowns, the Eagles would be finished for the season, rather than gearing up for the NFC Championship Game, which will be a third meeting with the Commanders — the teams split two games in the regular season. Will Hurts be ready, willing and able for that game? “Great question,” Hurts said.

“Just seeing how the week will go.Seeing how things progress.”  Sign up for Starting Lineup for the biggest stories.

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