Here are some observations from a great, great victory …
1. Win the coin toss, defer, and score
The Eagles turned this game around late in the second quarter and early in the third quarter – driving 56 yards on 12 plays and eating up nearly 5 minutes off the clock in the second quarter, scoring on a Jalen Hurts Brotherly Shove and, in the process, leaving only 22 seconds on the clock for the Bengals’ final possession of the half. That score, plus Jake Elliott’s PAT, tied the game at 10-10.
The Eagles then received the kickoff to open the third quarter and put together a beauty of a drive – 8 plays, 70 yards, and a touchdown on a Hurts run around the right edge from 7 yards out. Hurts completed passes of 15 yards to DeVonta Smith and 28 yards to Grant Calcaterra and another completion for 6 yards to Jake Stoll. Saquon Barkley had 4 carries for 14 yards on the drive and Hurts delivered the 7-yard sprint for the score thanks to a key block by Calcaterra on the perimeter.
Just like that, the Eagles went from down seven points to up a touchdown, and the entire complexion of the game changed. This, reminding everyone once again, is why teams are right to defer after winning the opening coin toss.
2. Jalen Hurts – an A+ football performance
In every way possible, Hurts was at the top of his game on Sunday.
He outplayed Joe Burrow and, in fact, played as close to a perfect game as can be played. Hurts completed 16 of 20 passes for 236 yards and a 45-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith. He was a perfect 9-for-9 for 150 yards in the second half. Hurts was brilliant in and out of the pocket, he was poised, he avoided traffic, and he was on point throwing the football. Hurts also scored 2 touchdowns on Brotherly Shoves, so in total he accounted for 4 touchdowns. The designed runs were effective – quarterback draws opened things up for the offense – and Hurts finished with 10 carries and 37 yards and those 3 scores. It was an A-plus game for Hurts all the way around.
“I’m excited and pleased with how we played as a team, how we played as an offense, and I think Kellen (Moore) did a really good job today. We’re just all in it together, sticking together and communicating and going out there and trying to play efficient ball,” Hurts said.
3. Critical, huge defensive sequence late in third quarter
Vic Fangio’s defense played a great football game, especially after Cincinnati came out and…
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