This Monday Night Football clash saw the Eagles unable to soar high against the Buccaneers. The matchup culminated in a decisive 32-9 victory for the Bucs. The Eagles’ running game was particularly ineffective and just averaged a mere 2.8 yards per carry. Quarterback Jalen Hurts’ struggles further put the team’s underperformance in the spotlight.
He failed to direct any scoring drives in the second half. Unfortunately, this led to his eventual benching as the game approached its end. Later, Hurts openly shared his perspective on the team’s defeat in a post-game press conference.
Jalen Hurts emphasized on growth post loss
In the aftermath of the Eagles’ season-ending loss, QB Jalen Hurts spoke candidly with the media. He reflected on the team’s performance and his leadership role. During the conference, Hurts emphasized the evolving dynamics within the team, noting, “Every team sets a new standard because you have guys that come and go.” He also acknowledged the inherent challenges in this process. Meanwhile, he also stressed the importance of approaching these changes correctly.
He said, “As a leader that starts with me, you know, doing that and setting that example and setting the mentality for that.” Delving deeper into his thoughts, he stated, “It’s tough to sit here and know the toughest thing about all of this right now is someone else is going to win the World Championship.” This, he believes, serves as a significant motivator for him to reflect and improve.
He underscored the need for time to process the season’s events. Hurts mentioned his use of the term ‘flush it’ during the grind of the season. He concluded by saying, “I can be the best that I can be to not only not only operate at a high level on the field, but just lead the guys” He further stated, “it takes time to really process what has happened over the course of the Season.” Meanwhile, his performance has seen a decline as pointed out by his stats and many fans.
Hurts experienced decline in running game efficiency
Hurts, the quarterback for the Eagles, witnessed a significant transformation in his running game in 2023. His efficiency and dynamism, which were once hallmarks of his style, saw a downturn. Hurts’ designed run attempts were still notable. They were ranking third with 59, but they have decreased from 73 the previous year.
This change is not just in frequency but also in effectiveness. His success rate on these plays fell from 57.5% in 2022 to 40.7% in 2023. The average yards per attempt on these runs also diminished, from 5.7 to 3.9. This decline was mirrored in his expected points contribution, which went from a positive 13.6 to a negative 9. Naturally, it marked a decline in an aspect of the Eagles’ offense that had previously been a strength. Will the QB be able to regain his previous form as the team will be prepping for the next season?
