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12/14 16:20 CST Jalen Hurts rebounds with 3 TD passes as Eagles snap losing
streak in 31-0 rout of Raiders
Jalen Hurts rebounds with 3 TD passes as Eagles snap losing streak in 31-0 rout
of Raiders
By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) --- Jalen Hurts smacked A.J. Brown helmet-to-helmet after a
touchdown pass for a celebration that seemed to release the pent-up tension
that came tethered to a losing streak.
Nick Sirianni tossed an arm around Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles coach
yelled some happy words at the QB who weathered recent criticism as the season
started to bend toward a collapse. The sideline vibes were good for the Eagles.
The offense, even better. Against a Las Vegas Raiders team that has bottomed
out as one of the worst in the NFL, the defense was simply elite --- just 75
total yards allowed.
Hurts rebounded from his worst NFL game to throw three touchdown passes, Saquon
Barkley had a 2-yard touchdown run and the Eagles snapped a three-game losing
streak with their first shutout in seven years in a 31-0 win Sunday.
"I feel like we got caught up in stuff that doesn't matter," Barkley said. "The
only thing that matters is winning football."
The Eagles (9-5) were able to get their maligned offense under embattled
coordinator Kevin Patullo right against the woeful Raiders and finally showed
signs of life with a nice mix of play calling in bitter cold temperatures and
topped 21 points for the first time in six games.
Hurts had his moments --- that included a shovel pass for a score to Dallas
Goedert on a day that started with the field blanketed in several inches of
snow. Hurts also hit DeVonta Smith on a 44-yard reception on a drive that
stalled in the second quarter and settled for a field goal by Jake Elliott and
a 10-0 lead. He pitched a 4-yard TD pass to Goedert in the third for a 24-0
lead.
The Eagles defense had their first shutout since Dec. 30, 2018, against
Washington. The Eagles limited the Raiders (2-12) to 46 yards rushing and sent
them to their eighth straight loss. The Raiders got an anemic performance out
of Kenny Pickett in his first start at quarterback for the injured Geno Smith.
"This is the result against the world champs last year who maybe weren't
playing quite like that for a month here or whatever, but they looked like it
today," Raiders coach Pete Carroll said. "It looked like a great team today."
Hurts needed a personal win in his first game since he thew four interceptions
and lost a fumble in an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Hurts'
season has been erratic -- he threw five picks against only two touchdowns the
last two games, 10 months after he won Super Bowl MVP. Sirianni scoffed at a "
ridiculous " question on his weekly Philadelphia sports talk radio appearance
when he was asked if Hurts would keep his starting job this season.
Hurts turned the game into a blowout when he threw a 27-yard touchdown to Brown
early in the fourth for a 31-0 lead. He finished 12 of 15 for 175 yards passing.
As for the celebration?
"Just a natural reaction," Hurts said through his usual stoicism.
The Eagles also staved off talk they were on the brink of their second December
collapse under Sirianni in the last three seasons. The 2023 Eagles started 10-1
and finished 11-6 and were bounced in their first playoff game.
Hurts and this year's Eagles have the benefit of a soft schedule down the
stretch that started against the Raiders and includes two games with
Washington. The Eagles still control the NFC East and have a home playoff game
in sight --- and yes, they can still repeat as Super Bowl champions, even as
Barkley recently criticized the sideline demeanor noted how it seemed "the
sky's falling outside the locker room."
Barkley is still well off his 2,000-yards rushing pace from a season ago but
added 78 yards rushing and his TD run sent the Eagles into halftime with a 17-0
lead.
"We've been committed to playing Eagles football and doing the things we need
to do to play Eagles football," Sirianni said. "That's tough, detailed,
together, and that happens during the week. If we rode the wave of the outside
noise, then you're not able to do that."
Graham breaks through with sacks Brandon Graham had his first two sacks with the Eagles since he ended his short-lived retirement after the Super Bowl and returned to the team in late October. At 37 years, 255 days old, Graham became the oldest player in Eagles history with a sack. Richard Dent was 37 years, 1 day when he had a sack in 1997. "We were just going stingy with everything," Graham said of the defense's success.
Pickett and the Raiders struggle Pickett won a Super Bowl ring last season as Hurts' backup. In his return to Philadelphia, Pickett threw for only 64 yards and was sacked four times. Smith injured his right shoulder and hand in the third quarter of last Sunday's 24-17 loss to Denver. Smith has a good chance to return next week when the Raiders visit Houston. Carroll offered faint praise: "The only good thing that happened, we didn't have anybody hurt today."
Hail to the Birds Former President Joe Biden attended the game and told a sports reporter from the local NBC TV station he was rooting for the Eagles. "Go Birds, man, all the way," Biden said. "Gotta win the Super Bowl again."
Injuries Hurts and Barkley were both checked out by trainers on the sidelines but stayed in the game until the score got out of reach. Both players said after the game they were fine.
Up next Raiders: Play Sunday at Houston. Eagles: Play Saturday night in Landover, Maryland, against the Commanders. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Graham breaks through with sacks Brandon Graham had his first two sacks with the Eagles since he ended his short-lived retirement after the Super Bowl and returned to the team in late October. At 37 years, 255 days old, Graham became the oldest player in Eagles history with a sack. Richard Dent was 37 years, 1 day when he had a sack in 1997. "We were just going stingy with everything," Graham said of the defense's success.
Pickett and the Raiders struggle Pickett won a Super Bowl ring last season as Hurts' backup. In his return to Philadelphia, Pickett threw for only 64 yards and was sacked four times. Smith injured his right shoulder and hand in the third quarter of last Sunday's 24-17 loss to Denver. Smith has a good chance to return next week when the Raiders visit Houston. Carroll offered faint praise: "The only good thing that happened, we didn't have anybody hurt today."
Hail to the Birds Former President Joe Biden attended the game and told a sports reporter from the local NBC TV station he was rooting for the Eagles. "Go Birds, man, all the way," Biden said. "Gotta win the Super Bowl again."
Injuries Hurts and Barkley were both checked out by trainers on the sidelines but stayed in the game until the score got out of reach. Both players said after the game they were fine.
Up next Raiders: Play Sunday at Houston. Eagles: Play Saturday night in Landover, Maryland, against the Commanders. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
