We’ve seen this story before.
Sunday’s Jalen Hurts-led Eagles upset victory over the Saints wasn’t just the most fun this team has been to watch in a long time; it was like watching a recent television series all over again. Only this time the names and characters have been altered to give the illusion of a different script.
Former franchise quarterback out of the lineup.
Young quarterback, who many believed “wasn’t ready” or was “just a gadget player,” finally getting a start to save a drowning offense, and a 100-yard rushing day commencing immediately.
Super Bowl-winning head coach on the hot seat, despite a body of work that would make that notion feel silly.
An offense that couldn’t move the ball (especially through the air) or sustain drives suddenly having life and juice. A running game that was solid, but unspectacular suddenly looking like a season-changing outfit thanks to the presence of a mobile quarterback with legs, toughness and instincts. Heck, even the inclusion of Marty Mornhinweg on the coaching staff.
The 2020 Eagles sure looked a lot like the 2018 Ravens during Week 14’s win.
It’s easy to forget now in the aftermath of a 15-1 record in 2019 and return to playoff contention this season, but the Ravens were at a crossroads in 2018. Lamar Jackson was drafted at the end of the first round (ironically with the Eagles pick), Joe Flacco was the franchise quarterback and John Harbaugh was at the helm. Then the season started. The Ravens were under .500 in November despite an excellent pass rush. Flacco looked cooked. The passing offense was at the bottom of the league. Jackson was being awkwardly brought into the game for plays that rarely moved the needle and seemed to serve no purpose other than justifying a draft pick.
And as for Harbaugh, an outstanding head coach: He was on the hot seat, with his pedestrian record post Super Bowl a major talking point. The Miami Dolphins, then in need of a head coach, were rumored to be a suitor when, not if, the Ravens moved on after the season.
Then something happened. Flacco went down with a neck injury. Jackson took over. Baltimore went 6-1 down the stretch to make the playoffs, Harbaugh reminded everyone how good of a coach he was and Flacco was on the next train out of down.
Don’t be shocked if a similar tale plays itself out in Philadelphia over the next month.
No, the comparison isn’t perfect. Flacco got hurt. He was older. His steady decline, after knee surgery and neck issues, was easily explainable. Trading his contract was much easier than moving on from Carson Wentz. But the rest? It’s eerily similar, especially how the energy of the team changed with a quarterback switch.
Hurts is a different player (better thrower, not as fast as a runner) than Jackson, but both strike me as culture changers. Much like when Jackson took over in Baltimore, Hurts’ skill set here makes him a better fit to win now than the slower, less agile veteran previously ahead of him on the depth chart. The Eagles didn't beat New Orleans because of magically different play calling, they won because the dynamic quarterback ran it himself, made smart decisions and gave the defense a ton to think about on every play.
That Ravens team didn’t just run the ball well; they became a wrecking ball that on that run through teams down the stretch. Watching Hurts and Miles Sanders both go for 100 yards was eerily similar to Jackson and Co. doing the same over and over down the stretch of that season. The Eagles won time of possession vs. the Saints, a trait that’s become a rarity in 2020 after being a staple of Pederson-led teams. When Josh Sweat’s strip sack of Taysom Hill effectively sealed the win, we were reminded of what a fresher defensive front can mean late games.
Bad teams win games in the NFL. Upsets happen. But that win over the Saints felt like something different. It felt like a team in need of spark getting that spark. It felt like a team held back by awful quarterback play being boosted up by good quarterback play. It felt like a head coach and play caller suddenly freed from the decline of a former winning quarterback.
It felt like the franchise direction shifting.
There’s still a ton of work to be done. The Eagles still need help along the way. Bigger picture issues still loom large. But turning the page on Flacco for Jackson changed the Ravens franchise, spurred a run to January and reminded everyone that Harbaugh was a darn good coach when his quarterback wasn’t a stiff. As for the end of this version of the story? Hurts-led wins over the Cardinals, Cowboys and Washington Football Team could be enough to make the Eagles reconsider everything about the team's future, much like Baltimore did two years ago.
