Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …
Jalen Hurts channels Nick Saban: I try and stay away from the rat poison – PFT
I try to stay away from the rat poison,” Hurts said, via video from Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press. When asked to clarify, Hurts continued, “You’ve got to ask coach Saban, he knows a little bit about rat poison, too. “It’s all external factors. I’ve talked about that a little bit, external factors that are no good for us and what we’re trying to do as a team.” Hurts has provided a clear spark for the Eagles, who have not been mathematically eliminated from winning the NFC East. He’s thrown for 505 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, adding 169 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Eagles at Cowboys Game Preview: 5 questions and answers with the enemy – BGN
2) Which Eagles quarterback would Cowboys fans prefer to be Philly’s starter in 2021: Carson Wentz or Jalen Hurts? — That’s super easy. We’d much rather face Carson Wentz. Given his issues with turnovers and sacks, along with his poor completion percentage, he’s much easier to game-plan for and you don’t feel like he’s going to take over the game. From an outsider’s view, it feels like Wentz is holding the Eagles offense back instead of propelling it forward. Hurts, on the other hand, provides that true dual-threat as a QB that gives the Cowboys fits. He’s exactly the kind of quarterback who regularly befuddles the Cowboys defense. We’ve only seen him in a few games, but the Eagles offense looks so much better with him under center rather than with Wentz. We’ll have to see how it plays out once Hurts has to face teams that have tape on him and are game-panning to shut him down, but he looks like a better QB than Wentz right now.
Time to Move On From Wentz? + Eagles-Cowboys Preview! – BGN Radio
Jimmy Kempski and Brandon Lee Gowton discuss the latest twists and turns with the Wentz saga, check in on the most recent Howie Roseman & John Dorsey reports, and a preview of Eagles-Cowboys! Powered by SB Nation and Bleeding Green Nation.
Eagles vs. Cowboys: Five matchups to watch – PhillyVoice
We’ve been saying all season long that Zeke Elliott is clearly in decline already, and that his backup, Tony Pollard, is better. In Week 15, Elliott was scratched with a calf injury. Normally, that would be big news, but is was mostly met with shrugs when it was announced on prior to their game on Sunday. As the lead back against the Niners, Pollard ran 12 times for 69 yards (5.8 YPC) and 2 TDs. He also chipped in 6 receptions for 63 yards.
What if the Eagles make the wrong choice at QB? – NBCSP
Can Wentz and Hurts co-exist? Is it fair to name one of them the opening-day starter without open competition? Does Pederson – or whoever the coach is – really want the circus that a training camp competition would become? Is it fair to Wentz to have Hurts lurking as the backup, knowing that fans are going to be screaming for him after every interception? Is it fair to Hurts to start the season on the bench after outplaying Wentz this year? An incredibly tricky situation with implications that will last for years.
NFL Week 16 game picks, schedule guide, playoff scenarios, fantasy football tips, odds, injuries and more – ESPN
What to watch for: In their past two games, playing against backup quarterbacks in Cincinnati and San Francisco, the Cowboys have had seven takeaways (five fumble recoveries and two interceptions). They had 11 takeaways in their first 12 games, but four came in the first meeting of the year against the Eagles. Since Jalen Hurts has taken over as the starter for Carson Wentz, Philadelphia has turned the ball over just once, a Hurts fumble. The rookie quarterback has not been intercepted in his two starts.
Unflappable Jalen Hurts focused: Win on Sunday – PE.com
He is in a “must-win” game for the first time in his NFL career and, honestly, Hurts is treating Sunday – for the Houston native, it’s a return to his home state – like any other game. “We just want to play our best game this week because it’s the next opportunity to go out there and play,” Hurts said. This next test comes with the Dallas twist – the archrival of the Eagles, a rivalry that Hurts learned about as one of his first lessons upon being drafted in the spring, and he is well aware of the way the fans feel about the Cowboys. This is going to be a fun one – Hurts returns to AT&T Stadium where he led Oklahoma to the Big 12 Championship last season – and he’s in a big-game moment against the rival of rivals for the Eagles and the fans. But don’t you think for a second that Hurts is treating this any differently. This is all about getting a win for the Philadelphia Eagles, and nothing more. “We’re obviously in the situation we’re in,” Hurts says. “Regardless of whatever goes down, it’s about us.”
Jalen Hurts just wants to be a coffee bean – Inquirer
Jalen Hurts spoke about as much as a coffee bean when he first joined the Eagles. Some of his teammates and coaches didn’t know what to make of his quietness. Did he have a personality? Was he being arrogant? Or was he like most rookies: overwhelmed? But as time passed, most of Hurt’s new colleagues came to the realization that he didn’t talk much because he was rigorously learning how to become an NFL quarterback. He was too focused on the task at hand to suffer through idle conversation. Diligent has often been the word Eagles coach Doug Pederson and his assistants have used around the NovaCare Complex to describe Hurts when others may question his supposed aloofness. “Jalen, he doesn’t get real high and he doesn’t get real low,” Pederdon said recently, using an oft-repeated quarterback cliche, but one that seemingly applies here. “He just kind of flat lines just a little bit. And that’s a good thing. His blood pressure stays pretty low for the most part.
2020 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight ends for Week 16 – Fake Teams
9) Dallas Goedert @ DAL. The Eagles are 4-9-1, the bottom-feeders of the NFC East. But a win against Dallas (5-9) put them right back into the thick of things. Goedert has seen an extremely stable floor of targets since his return from injury, despite the added presence of Zach Ertz. Since Week 10, here are Goedert’s target counts by week: 6, 6, 10, 7, 6, and 8. Trust him in what should be a high-flying matchup, one where Jalen Hurts should do all he can to triumph in a must-win game.
Your NFL Week 16 Matchup Guide: Will the Rams or Seahawks Gain a Divisional Edge? – The Ringer
Jalen Hurts is the first quarterback in NFL history to have 500 passing yards and 150 rushing yards in his first two starts. Beyond the numbers, his poise is also impressive. Hurts had a reputation for being unflappable in college, and he’s looked unflappable in the NFL too—which is a rare trait in a rookie. But Philadelphia catches the Cowboys as they are finding their stride, and the Dallas offense could show some life against Philly’s listless secondary.
NFL Picks: Predicting Week 16 against the spread – The Athletic
Both teams are somehow still alive in the NFC East. Jalen Hurts has provided the Eagles with some juice, and if nothing else has at least made them entertaining. Watching the Eagles for the first 13 weeks felt like a chore. They were one of the league’s most boring teams. The Cowboys could be without a number of defensive starters, including linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (ankle) in this one. I think Hurts moves the ball consistently here and leads the Eagles to victory. The pick: Eagles (-2).
Five things to watch when the Cowboys host the Eagles – Blogging The Boys
The mobility of Hurts has created problems for Eagles opponents as he’s averaged 85 rushing yard per game in his two starts, including a 106-yard outing against a tough Saints defense. And while that will be an problem for the Cowboys, another element is just his ability to extend time in the pocket. This Dallas secondary is finally healthy and they can make plays, but as we saw against the 49ers on Sunday, if the defensive line can’t pressure the quarterback, there is only so long the DB’s can hold off the receivers.
Ron Rivera Presser: QB situation is jumbled up, might not make a decision on Alex Smith until game day – Hogs Haven
Ron Rivera gave some Christmas Eve injury updates and it was a mixed bag. Alex Smith could end up being a game-time decision, but Adam Schefter said it would be challenging for him to play. Smith sounded optimistic he would play yesterday, and Rivera said he’s the only one who knows how he feels and he needs to be honest about where he is physically with the team. Smith did some individual drills today, but Dwayne Haskins Jr. continues to get the 1st team snaps and is being prepared to start again on Sunday. Terry McLaurin missed his 2nd day of practice due to an ankle injury he has been dealing with for over a month. Rivera said he would issue a game day designation for him when he was required to.
Panthers at Football Team injury report: Christian McCaffrey and Brian Burns expected to be out Sunday – Cat Scratch Reader
The Panthers are expected to be without two of their best players in Sunday’s game against Washington.
Fan confidence poll: Giants’ fans holding steady – Big Blue View
Despite two losses in a row that have imperiled the team’s playoff hopes, fans of the New York Giants seem to be keeping the faith. In our latest ‘SB Nation Reacts’ poll, 72 percent of those who participated expressed confidence in the team. That is identical to the percentage from the previous week.
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