Eagles 'water' cross sport, transfer previous week of drama – ESPN

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PHILADELPHIA — Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts stated he’s coping with a damaged finger on his non-throwing hand, and that it did have an effect on him Sunday towards the Steelers — however he nonetheless did sufficient to raise a slumping passing sport and transfer the workforce previous per week of drama for his or her franchise-record tenth consecutive win.
“So that is what you all wished to see, huh?” Hurts requested as he sat down for his postgame information convention following Philadelphia’s 27-13 win.
It was undoubtedly what receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith wished to see. Each voiced their frustrations concerning the passing sport following final week’s slender win over the Carolina Panthers by which Hurts completed with simply 108 yards via the air — the third consecutive week he was held beneath 180 yards.
Brown’s feedback that “passing” was the problem on offense and that there was little sideline communication with Hurts to get issues fastened led to Brandon Graham‘s assertion that Hurts and Brown were no longer close like they as soon as had been. That set off a media firestorm that consumed much of the week.
Brown stated he and Hurts “did let the workforce know that we’re on the identical web page and nothing’s fallacious or something like that.”
Contained in the Eagles observe facility, Smith stated a variety of “robust” and “uncomfortable” conversations had been had. Brown spoke of additional conferences between gamers and coaches that emphasised bettering particulars and communication within the passing sport.
All that helped gas a highly-efficient passing efficiency with Hurts going 25-of-32 for 290 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
Brown and Smith every went over 100 yards. It was the fourth time they’ve achieved that feat, setting the mark for probably the most such video games by a duo in Eagles historical past.
“The strategy was a little bit completely different this week. The grass will likely be inexperienced the place you water it and we determined to water [the pass game], and also you form of noticed the fruits of our labor in that,” Hurts stated.
Hurts and Brown related for a 5-yard landing cross late within the first quarter to place Philadelphia up 10-3. They then broke right into a choreographed dance celebration.
“That was our second to inform all people to close up,” Brown stated.
Hurts injured the ring finger on his left hand final Sunday towards the Panthers and was listed as a full participant on the harm report all through the week. He wore a glove on his left hand towards the Steelers, which isn’t frequent observe for him.
Hurts did lose a fumble when T.J. Watt punched the ball out on a first-quarter scramble, however in any other case performed a clear sport.
“I can say I do not suppose it obtained any worse at present,” Hurts stated of the finger. “If it is shattered, it is shattered. It’s what it’s.”
The Eagles improved to 12-2 and moved right into a digital tie with Detroit for the highest seed within the NFC after the Lions fell to the Buffalo Bills.
The protection continued to overperform expectations whereas the offense confirmed it’s able to getting the job carried out in a wide range of methods on an evening when Saquon Barkley (19 carries, 65 yards) was largely held in test.
“We all know what the top aim is, particularly me, DeVonta and Jalen … We’re attempting to get to the top and we’re attempting to complete,” Brown stated. “It is good we gained 10 video games however we’re not happy with that, actually. In our minds, we’ve not carried out nothing. That is our mindset. It is simple for us to have these robust conversations to name one another out as a result of we all know what we would like on the finish. It makes it simpler after we’re shut.”

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