PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Hurts scored on the “tush push” that gave him the NFL document for many speeding scores by a quarterback in a season, threw for a landing, and the Philadelphia Eagles saved their probability on the NFC East title alive with a 33-25 win over the New York Giants on Monday evening.
The Eagles (11-4) snapped a three-game shedding streak that put Philly followers on edge – and led to a shakeup in defensive play-calling. The losses to San Francisco, Dallas and Seattle primarily ended Philadelphia’s bid for the No. 1 seed within the NFC.
However the path to a second straight division title is a transparent one. The Eagles must beat Arizona subsequent week and defeat the Giants once more within the season finale to complete atop the NFC East.
After three crushing defeats, it took a go to from the Giants to straighten out the Eagles. The Eagles are 11-0 on the Linc in opposition to New York since 2014 and beat the Giants 3 times final season.
Adoree’ Jackson gave the Giants (5-10) a late spark when he returned an interception 76 yards for a rating and Saquon Barkley transformed a 2-point conversion that made it 20-18 late within the third quarter.
Hurts and the Eagles held on because of the play calls of the followers, many dressed as Santa Claus.
Fed up with the pass-heavy offense, Eagles followers chanted “Run the ball! Run the ball!” within the fourth.
Hurts threw an incomplete move and the group erupted in boos. However coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Brian Johnson ultimately listened, and followers went wild when Kenneth Gainwell ripped off a 22-yard run. D’Andre Swift scored on a 5-yard run – sure, a speeding rating – that made it 27-18.
That TD got here in useful when New York’s Tyrod Taylor – who changed Tommy DeVito to open the second half – related with Darius Slayton for a 69-yard rating late within the fourth that made it 30-25.
With the Giants driving and on the Eagles 26, Taylor was picked off ultimately zone by Kelee Ringo on the ultimate play of the sport.
Hurts ultimately took care of enterprise in a season the place he did not deal with the ball – his 18 turnovers are among the many worst within the NFL.
Hurts had one other misstep late within the first half when he ran for just a few extra yards moderately than exit of bounds because the clock ticked down. As an alternative of getting time for another probability on the finish zone, Jake Elliott kicked a 21-yarder as time expired for a 20-3 halftime lead.
The Eagles had not scored greater than 19 factors in any of their previous three video games. And it was their highest first-half level complete of the season.
Hurts scored his fifteenth speeding TD of the season on a 1-yard “tush push” early within the first quarter that gave him probably the most for a QB in a season in NFL historical past. Carolina’s Cam Newton held the document at 14 speeding touchdowns for a QB in 2011.
Hurts threw a 36-yard TD move to DeVonta Smith for a 17-3 lead that gave him 35 complete touchdowns this season, tying the group’s season document. QB Randall Cunningham accounted for 35 in 1990 and Hurts matched him final season.
The Eagles bought an early signal that their fortunes had been altering on the finish of a depressing month. Hurts had a disastrous snap sail over his head that pressured him to dash about 6 yards and chase the soccer. Hurts recovered, ran to his left and threw throughout his physique to hit tight finish Grant Calcaterra for a primary down. The Eagles had an obvious landing reversed on replay later within the drive, however settled for Elliott’s 28-yarder and a 10-3 lead.
The Eagles had one other turnover – the type that value them again and again of their shedding streak – when Boston Scott fumbled the second-half kickoff. With robust discipline place, Barkley scored on a 7-yard run that lower it to 20-10.
The Giants misplaced their second straight recreation after a three-game profitable streak that was a uncommon vibrant spot within the season.
UP NEXT
The Giants host the Rams on Sunday.