In a matchup of heavyweight contenders, the Philadelphia Eagles staged a dramatic second quarter turnaround to shock the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday. Facing an early 9-0 deficit, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts orchestrated consecutive touchdown drives to snatch a 14-9 halftime lead that Philly would not relinquish.
The Eagles, notorious slow starters with an NFL-low 17 first quarter points entering Week 13, looked listless out of the gate yet again. But with 8:04 left in the second quarter, Hurts delivered a strike to tight end Dallas Goedert from 17 yards out to get the Eagles on the scoreboard.
According to those close to the team, the presence of star wideout A.J. Brown drew Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton out of position on the play, giving Goedert just enough daylight to haul in the touchdown grab. The momentum-shifting score injected life into an Eagles squad desperate to keep pace in the hyper-competitive NFC.
Hurts’ Heroics Lift Eagles
Energized by the Goedert TD, the Eagles promptly forced a Ravens three-and-out and embarked on a decisive nine-play, 68-yard touchdown march. Hurts capped the drive himself, powering into the end zone on a gritty 1-yard QB sneak that required a second effort push from his teammates.
The scoring surge marked a stark departure from the Eagles’ sluggish first quarter performance. Observers noted a visible uptick in urgency and physicality from Philadelphia after falling behind by two scores early.
“We can’t keep digging these holes for ourselves, but I’m proud of how we responded today. It’s all about rising to the occasion and making plays when it matters most.”
– Jalen Hurts, Eagles QB
Eagles Defense Stiffens
With the offense finding its footing, the Eagles defense did its part to protect the slim 14-9 advantage in the second half. After giving up three field goals to the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens attack in the game’s first 20 minutes, Philly held firm down the stretch.
- The Eagles limited Baltimore to a mere 90 yards of total offense in quarters 3 and 4.
- With the Ravens driving for a potential go-ahead score late in the fourth, safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson intercepted Jackson at the Eagles 13 yard line to slam the door.
The clutch defensive showing allowed Hurts and Co. to salt away the final minutes and secure a statement victory on the road against a fellow Super Bowl contender.
Hurts Reasserts MVP Candidacy
After a couple of relatively pedestrian outings, Jalen Hurts re-entered the thick of the NFL MVP conversation with his heroics in Baltimore. The third-year dual threat accounted for 270 total yards (238 pass, 32 rush) and both Eagles touchdowns in a performance his coach described as “championship caliber.”
“Jalen’s a special player and an even better person. His leadership and poise under pressure continue to impress. He put the team on his back today and willed us to a win.”
– Nick Sirianni, Eagles Head Coach
While other MVP hopefuls like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Tua Tagovailoa continue to post gaudy statistics, Hurts builds his case on timely playmaking and the Eagles’ NFC-best 12-1 record. With four regular season games remaining, Hurts has ample opportunity to lock up the award.
Eagles Assert NFC Supremacy
Sunday’s triumph not only completed a 2-0 season sweep of their budding rivals in Baltimore, it also allowed the Eagles to keep hold of the NFC’s top seed with the stretch run looming. Following disappointing losses by the Vikings and Cowboys in the early slate of Week 13 action, Philly capitalized to gain separation in the conference playoff race.
According to analytics site FiveThirtyEight, the Eagles now boast an 84% likelihood of securing the NFC’s lone playoff bye and home-field advantage. Avoiding juggernauts like the 49ers and a potentially Odell Beckham Jr.-bolstered Cowboys roster in the wild card round could prove critical to the Eagles’ Super Bowl aspirations.
Looking ahead, Philadelphia hosts the New York Giants in Week 14 for the first of two meetings with their NFC East rivals in the final month. Continuing to stack wins is imperative for Hurts and the Eagles to stay atop the NFC and position themselves for a deep postseason run.
As the calendar flips to December and the NFL playoff picture comes into focus, the Eagles have regained their early season form and swagger. In a wide open NFC field, bet against Jalen Hurts and these battle-tested Birds at your own risk.
