No Benching Needed For Eagles QB Jalen Hurts After Flawless Performance
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BusinessSportsMoneyNo Benching Needed For Eagles QB Jalen Hurts After Flawless PerformanceByAnthony Stitt,Contributor.Follow AuthorDec 14, 2025, 04:35pm ESTDec 14, 2025, 07:40pm ESTPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia.. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.PHILADELPHIA — Yes, this is what quarterback Jalen Hurts had to do: Destroy the demons from the previous week’s disaster. Hurts, whom some fans and media members wanted to see benched, led the Philadelphia Eagles to a 31-0 victory on Sunday over the miserable Las Vegas Raiders at Lincoln Financial Field that felt like an ice cavern with a real-feel temp of 12 degrees. Just six days ago, Hurts suffered through an all-time clunker in an OT loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football, committing five total turnovers (four interceptions and a fumble), including the first time a player had two turnovers on the same play since 1978, resulting in a career-low passer rating.But against Las Vegas, Hurts was near-flawless, finishing 12 of 15 for 175 yards passing with three touchdowns and zero turnovers. He also chipped in 39 rushing yards. And even better, the Eagles (9-5) grabbed a win after losing three consecutive games.
Their South Philly beatdown of the Raiders (2-12) follows a five-game stretch that saw Philly average just 16.2 points per game. The Eagles’ defense also dominated, pitching its first shutout since Dec. 30, 2018, against Washington. And defensive end Brandon Graham tallied his first two sacks with the Eagles since he ended his short-lived retirement after the Super Bowl and returned to the team in late October.But it was Hurts’ redemption that became the key storyline after he endured the worst outing of his pro career. “He’s resilient, always been resilient,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said of his quarterback after the game. “I thought he was really good running the offense, being in command out there, just making good decisions with the football, good runs. He had a good game.”MORE FOR YOUAll game long, Hurts kept his poise in the pocket, hitting targets both short and long. A great example was when Hurts faked a handoff to Saquon Barkley and then flipped a 4-yard shovel pass to Dallas Goedert who plowed in for a score on the game’s first drive. Hurts found Goedert again on another 4-yard pitch that resulted in a TD late in the third quarter. His prettiest pass came on a 27-yard needle-threader to A.J. Brown for this TD:It should be noted that the Hurts-to-Brown tracer sailed down the middle of the field, a known bugaboo for Hurts. “Just a natural reaction,” Hurts said of the burst of emotion he showed when Brown crossed the goal line.Hurts also nailed receiver DeVonta Smith on a 44-yard reception on a drive that stalled in the second quarter and settled for a field goal by Jake Elliott."I think everybody needs to remember where I come from and how I’m built," Hurts said. "I just want to lead in the right way, set the right example. I've done the same thing since I went to University of Alabama and everything that has been in front of me, so it's no different now."Now, for at least one week, the Eagles can scoff at the deafening chorus pleading to overhaul the offense and fire offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. And, after Sunday’s game, the Eagles can also scoff at the demands that Hurts needs to get benched.Editorial StandardsReprints & PermissionsLOADING VIDEO PLAYER...FORBES’ FEATURED Video