The Eagles’ free-fall has now ended Jalen Hurts’ regular season a little early, as it seems the Birds conceded late in the second quarter of Sunday’s game in New York by removing Hurts, Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Dallas Goedert for the final drive of the first half and sitting them in the second half.
According to CBS’ Evan Washburn, who spoke to Sirianni at halftime, the decision was based more on what was happening in New York as opposed to anything related to the Dallas-Washington game, which the Eagles needed the Cowboys to lose to have a chance to win the NFC East.
Philly was down 24-0 when Hurts threw an interception on an incredible play by Giants safety Xavier McKinney late in the second, and after the Giants punted on the ensuing position, Hurts was replaced by Marcus Mariota – who proceeded to throw a pick to McKinney on his first snap.
Thankfully for the Birds, Reed Blankenship picked off Tyrod Taylor in the end zone on the next play to get the ball back, but when the offense returned, it was Mariota at the helm.
Dallas was leading Washington 14-10 late in the second when the Eagles removed their four stars, and the Cowboys took a 21-10 lead into halftime after a CeeDee Lamb touchdown late in the half – and in the CBS halftime show, even Nate Burleson said ‘abort mission, sit your starters’ in evaluating the game.
Philly needed a win and a Dallas loss Sunday to win the NFC East, but they entered the game with DeVonta Smith and D’Andre Swift inactive, and quickly lost A.J. Brown to a knee injury. Hurts, too, was injured, appearing to suffer at least a dislocation of one or more fingers on his throwing hand on a pass attempt in the second quarter.
Should Dallas win, they will be the No. 2 seed and host one of the Rams, Saints, Packers, or Seahawks next week, while the Eagles would be the fifth seed and head to Tampa Bay to play the NFC South Champion Bucs – and vice versa if Dallas loses and Philly wins – but right now, making it out of Sunday as healthy as possible seems to be the priority.