Jalen Hurts’ Tremendous Bowl win is simply the most recent in his ‘unprecedented journey’
NEW ORLEANS — Jalen Hurts didn’t appear to be somebody who had simply gained a Tremendous Bowl. Somebody who had a masterful efficiency in main the Philadelphia Eagles to a dominant 40-22 victory over the back-to-back defending champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
However right here he was, moments faraway from confetti falling on his face and profitable sport MVP, his ordinary calm and picked up self. Not too excessive, not too low. A smirk right here and there.
“It’s been a enjoyable experience,” the Eagles’ quarterback mentioned on the postgame press convention. “I’ve embraced each step. I took nice pleasure in by no means backing down from a problem. All the time turning my negatives into positives. Turning my weaknesses and making them my strengths. It’s taken an ideal effort to evolve my sport over time and simply proceed to develop and enhance.”
When Hurts references turning negatives into positives, he can cite a number of main moments in his profession. In faculty, he led Alabama to the 2016-17 nationwide title sport, a loss to Clemson. The next 12 months he was benched halfway via the championship in favor of backup Tua Tagovailoa, who led a dramatic comeback victory for the Crimson Tide. Hurts determined to switch to Oklahoma.
As a professional, he performed brilliantly in Tremendous Bowl 57 — 304 yards passing with a rating — nevertheless, the Eagles got here up simply brief to the Chiefs.
Besides Sunday was totally different. He turned the fourth quarterback in NFL historical past to lose his first Tremendous Bowl and later win. The others? John Elway, Bob Griese and Len Dawson — all Corridor of Famers.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who had one of many worst video games of his profession in Sunday’s Tremendous Bowl, mentioned he knew Hurts would finally discover redemption.
“I’ve lots of respect for Jalen,” Mahomes mentioned postgame. “I mentioned after the final Tremendous Bowl we performed that he’ll be again. He was and he obtained the higher of me immediately. I’m positive we’ll face off once more in some unspecified time in the future in our careers in an enormous sport like this.”
When requested concerning the Chiefs quarterback’s feedback, Hurts mirrored on what he gained from the earlier loss.
“In the long run, issues come proper on time. The final time round, it wasn’t our time. It wasn’t my time. Generally it’s important to settle for that it’s important to wait your flip,” he mentioned. “Coping with all the things that got here with the final Tremendous Bowl, you continue to type of go away empty as a result of as nice of a efficiency it was, it wasn’t sufficient to win. I believe going via these feelings and processing these issues and processing that have lit an ideal flame in me and enhanced my need to win considerably.”
Make no mistake about it, the distinction for Philadelphia within the Tremendous Bowl was on the defensive aspect of the ball. The Eagles pressured three turnovers — together with a 38-yard pick-six by Cooper DeJean — and sacked Mahomes six instances, probably the most in his profession.
However Hurts additionally did his job to the very best of his potential.
The 26-year-old completed the rematch with 221 yards passing with two touchdowns in addition to 11 carries for 72 yards and a rating. His 77.3% completion share ranks fourth all-time in Tremendous Bowl video games behind Phil Simms, Drew Brees and Mahomes.
In a sport the place a lot of the discuss this week was about how the Chiefs would try to shut down star working again Saquon Barkley, it was Hurts who shined the brightest below the most important lights.
Although thought-about an excellent quarterback by followers and pundits alike, he’s hardly ever talked about on the subject of the place’s “elite.” Mahomes together with his three Tremendous Bowl victories is often the primary participant talked about. Then the Payments’ Josh Allen or Ravens’ Lamar Jackson.
Hurts, regardless of the spectacular statistics each within the air and on the bottom, has been on the surface wanting in over the previous few seasons. A few of that’s as a result of unbelievable weapons round him in Barkley, receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and an distinctive offensive line.
That narrative would possibly now change with a championship below his belt.
“I discover it humorous when it’s like, ‘Jalen is sweet however he’s obtained crew round him.’ That’s soccer. You can’t be nice with out the greatness of others,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni mentioned postgame. “Jalen can’t do it by himself. He wants A.J., he wants that offensive line, he wants Saquon and vice versa. The rationale Saquon has this particular 12 months will not be solely the offensive line, however the consideration that Jalen instructions for the run sport. He’s particular. Jalen’s particular.”
On the podium late Sunday night time, Hurts didn’t present a lot emotion. He did, nevertheless, perk up when requested about his distinctive journey thus far.
“I believe in the long run, it comes right down to how folks have a look at you. I’m at all times going to be the identical man,” he mentioned. “I used to be telling somebody earlier, I’m that very same child that went to the nationwide championship and misplaced. Went again and obtained benched and needed to switch and needed to undergo this unprecedented journey. That child at all times saved the principle factor the principle factor and at all times was true to his imaginative and prescient.”
It is protected to say that child could be proud.
