The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t play to their potential in a Week 1 matchup on the road against the New England Patriots. However, they were still able to come away with the victory, winning 25-20 in sometimes sloppy conditions.
Winning a game in a hostile environment when not at your top potential is certainly an encouraging development. It will help the Eagles down the road as things aren’t always going to go perfectly according to plan.
That is partly what makes the Eagles such a scary team and a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the NFC. After the game, quarterback Jalen Hurts issued a warning to the rest of the NFL that his team is only going to get better.
“We’re going to learn from our mistakes, I guarantee you that, and we’re gonna continue to grow,” Hurts said to Tracy Wolfson of CBS after the team’s win in Week 1 in New England.
Hurts was far from perfect against the Patriots, completing 22-of-33 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown. He added nine carries for 37 yards, rounding out a very pedestrian stat line for the production we have become accustomed to seeing him provide.
Hurts’ words will be put to the test quickly, as the Eagles are set to play against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football in Week 2. They are going to be without key players as running back Kenneth Gainwell, linebacker Nakobe Dean, cornerback James Bradberry and safety Reed Blankenship are all out with injuries.
The Eagles are going to need players to step up in their absence, with Hurts leading the way. It will be interesting to see just how much his team has learned and grown in such a short period of time, as the matchup against the Vikings is a big one for the playoff picture down the road in the NFC.
