94WIP afternoon host Jon Marks needs to see improvement from Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts.
He and co-host Ike Reese began their show Thursday discussing whether or not the Eagles can win a Super Bowl with Hurts playing at his current level, to which Marks' response was a definitive 'no.'
"I think it's an easy answer: no. They need Jalen Hurts to be the Jalen Hurts we saw at the end of last season, in the Super Bowl, in big games down the stretch," Marks said "So you may call in today and argue, and say he is going to turn into that player. That's not really the question...If Jalen isn't the player he was last year -- and he could've won the MVP, if he doesn't get injured he may have won the MVP -- can the Eagles win a Super Bowl without Jalen [Hurts] playing like he did last year, with the way Jalen is playing this year?...I don't say 'no,' I say 'no way.'"
"Let's keep it real...here's the bottom line with Jalen Hurts, and they're 3-0 so I know that matters the most. I'm not saying Jalen Hurts sucks. I'm not saying this isn't a good team, they are a good team and Jalen Hurts is a good quarterback," Marks continued. "The bottom line is so far this season he has three passing touchdowns and three interceptions. Four total turnovers, he has 100 yards on 31 carries. So this idea that he's this difference-maker in the running game, he has three tush push touchdowns, he's averaging 3.2 yards per carry...He's not having the same impact in the running game, he's obviously not having the same impact in the passing game. He hasn't been great this year...He has to be special if you're going to win a Super Bowl this year, and I'm not seeing special out of him."
Reese agreed with the sentiment, noting "there's one thing to say 'is it good enough right now to win?.' They're 3-0, I'll beat that drum every day of the week. If it gets me a 'W' right now, I have no problem with it. But if you're ultimately talking about winning a Super Bowl and going up against the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Tua [Tagovailoa]...I don't believe he can play this style of ball that he's played through the first three weeks. To me it's been good enough, but it certainly hasn't been his best."
Hurts has led the Eagles to their aforementioned 3-0 start to the season while recording a total of just 640 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, three interceptions, 6.9 yards per attempt, a QBR of 44.2, 100 rushing yards and 3.2 yards per carry. His glaring 1.33 turnovers per game average through three weeks sits far above his 0.33 mark from the 2022 regular season, while the team ranks just 10th in the NFL in total touchdowns -- down from finishing 2nd in 2022.
The Eagles have won games thus far thanks to a dominant rushing attack, excellence along the lines of scrimmage and a turnover-happy defense. But with a superstar supporting cast of A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, Dallas Goedert and others, many are wondering how long it will take for the passing offense to finally find its groove.
Monday night's 25-11 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a slight step in the right direction. Hurts threw for 277 yards on 62% passing, one touchdown and two interceptions while adding 28 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The team's 9-minute, 22-second closing drive showed the excellence it can achieve if rushing the football is required, but it also pointed towards its potential overall dominance if the passing game rounds into form.
But while Brown finished Monday night with nine catches for 131 yards, Smith was nearly invisible with just four catches for 28 yards. Week 1's win against the Patriots saw Goedert finish with zero catches, Week 2's win over the Vikings saw Brown record just four catches for 29 yards and Week 3's win came without much of an impact from Smith. It's this inconsistency that has fans scratching their heads at why the attack can't fully click all at once.
Now, it should be noted there are several plausible reasons for Hurts and the passing offense's slow start to the year. The Eagles have a new offensive coordinator and play-caller in Brian Johnson, they face many new, un-scouted defensive looks and also it is entirely possible the quarterback's phenomenal 2022 production is simply impossible to recreate.
Nevertheless, Marks and Reese can't see the Eagles getting back to the Super Bowl and winning it this time without MVP-caliber Jalen Hurts returning to the Eagles' huddle. And I'm sure many fans agree.