Saints eliminate Eagles without Jalen Hurts, make NFC East run interesting

Jalen Hurts held a clipboard, wore a helmet and paced the sideline with the same look of dismay on his face as furious Philly fans in the stands as their stress tightened in another Eagles loss without the quarterback -back of the franchise.

Hurts and the Eagles didn’t like what they saw – and now, fully healthy or not, the stoned and spectacular QB might have to come to the rescue with everything he helped build on the brink of collapse with one game remaining in the season.

“If Jalen is able to go,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said, “he will.”

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It’s a bit of a reason to expire after the Eagles lost their second straight without Hurts, jeopardizing their hopes of securing the NFC’s top seed. Marshon Lattimore returned an 11-yard interception for a late touchdown, and the New Orleans Saints beat Philadelphia 20-10 on Sunday.

The Eagles must beat the New York Giants next week to secure the seed. A Philly loss and Dallas win would give the Cowboys the NFC East title. Hurts is recovering from a sprained right shoulder.

“His health is the No. 1 priority,” Sirianni said.

The Giants can rest their starters after clinching a playoff berth with a 38-10 win over Indianapolis. The Eagles can’t rest on their laurels at the prospect of a third straight start for replacement QB Gardner Minshew.

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“We have everything we ever wanted in front of us,” Minshew said.

And yes, it’s true. But their chances of beating the Giants — or doing anything in the playoffs — are murky without Hurts.

“I’m not someone who’s ever going to press a panic button,” Sirianni said.

But in the case of Hurts, how about breaking glass in an emergency?

The Saints (7-9) won their third straight game as they remain in contention for a playoff berth through the final weeks under first-year coach Dennis Allen. Taysom Hill had a 1-yard TD run in New Orleans’ surprising first half.

“We found a way to shut them down in the last three weeks,” Allen said. “It’s good to see. It’s the kind of team I think we can be.”

Marshon Lattimore #23 of the New Orleans Saints is congratulated by Kaden Elliss #55 of the New Orleans Saints after a returned interception for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on January 01, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

Andy Dalton, who threw for 204 yards, completed his first 13 passes, including a 58-yard reception by Rashid Shaheed. That play set up one of Wil Lutz’s two first-half field goals that gave the Saints a 13-0 lead.

Minshew had a pass intercepted by Lattimore, who had missed 10 consecutive games with an abdominal injury, late in the fourth. The backup QB completed 18 of 32 passes for 274 yards, a touchdown and an interception in his second straight start and showed no signs he could effectively lead the Eagles into the playoffs if Hurts were injured again.

Minshew connected with AJ Brown for a 78-yard touchdown late in the third that made it 13-10 and temporarily roused the crowd – which had voraciously booed the Eagles for most of the game – and an inept offense. But Minshew failed to convert on a fourth dive late in the fourth that cost his team as much as their last pick.

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The Eagles were shut out in the first half for the first time this season.

“We just played terrible. That’s all,” receiver DeVonta Smith said.

The Eagles hadn’t allowed more than four sacks in a game this season, but – playing without injured right tackle Lane Johnson – allowed five in the first half. The Eagles failed to convert a first down until 12 seconds remained at halftime.

Even the call play was questionable. Instead of trying to help their backup QB by relying a bit more on 1,000-yard rusher Miles Sanders, the Eagles gave him just two carries in the half.

Hurts seemingly solidified his MVP credentials without taking a wink. He probably won’t win the award now, but the Eagles are much worse off without the QB who tied a franchise record with 35 total touchdowns.

Eagles fans have been booing the team off the field and suddenly a team that expected to play two home playoff games is just trying to make it through with their confidence intact.

Jake Elliott threw a 56-yard field goal for the Eagles.

Andy Dalton #14 of the New Orleans Saints passes against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on January 01, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

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“We never panicked or stressed or rushed,” Minshew said. “We just couldn’t get there.”

And the chances of them getting there — that Super Bowl run that was within reach just three weeks ago — may be non-existent without Hurts.