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Jalen Hurts had every reason to feel as though he owned the moment. The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback had just driven his team 65 yards in the final two minutes, throwing a three-yard touchdown pass to Darius Cooper with nine seconds remaining to secure a dramatic 24-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
Hurts then delivered another memorable moment during his live postgame interview.
Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons approached Hurts on the field, leading the quarterback to smile and offer a blunt reminder of how the week had unfolded.
“You started that s---, I had to finish it,” Hurts told Simmons.
The two players shook hands and separated without incident, seemingly closing the book on a brief war of words. According to one body language expert, however, there may have been more happening beneath the surface than viewers realized.
Expert analyzes Jalen Hurts’ reaction to Jeffery Simmons
Body language expert Inbaal Honigman examined the viral exchange for Covers.com and believes Simmons briefly established control of the interaction despite Hurts having just won the game.
“For Simmons to approach Hurts when he can see that he’s being interviewed is already a show of dominance,” Honigman said. “By stepping in and taking away from Hurts’ moment in front of the camera, Simmons is making a show of force.”
"You started that s---. I had to finish it."
Jalen Hurts and Jeffery Simmons after Simmons said "We just need to make Jalen Hurts be a QB." 😂
(📺 FOX) pic.twitter.com/RoKgNkIcZX
Simmons walked directly into the shot while Hurts was speaking with FOX Sports reporter Kristina Pink. He smiled as he approached the quarterback, but Honigman viewed the defensive tackle’s posture and facial expression as signs of aggression rather than simple friendliness.
“He walks into shot with his chest puffed and shoulders stretched, taking up space and making his frame appear larger in a way that can be seen as threatening,” Honigman said.
“Simmons is smiling, but it is a smile which is not a smile. His face is expressing a polite way of exposing his teeth. Baring the teeth is a sign of aggression, and Hurts responds by lowering his head. In that moment, Hurts capitulates to Simmons’ dominance.”
Hurts’ decision to briefly lower his head led Honigman to describe Simmons as the “clear winner” of that split second. That interpretation is subjective, especially considering Hurts’ relaxed smile and pointed response, but it adds another layer to an exchange that quickly spread across social media.
The quarterback may have lowered his head, but his words hardly sounded submissive.
Hurts’ message also carried extra weight because of what Simmons had said before the game. The Titans star suggested Tennessee’s best path to victory was containing Hurts as a runner and forcing him to win from the pocket.
That is essentially what Hurts did when the Eagles needed him most.
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Jalen Hurts gets final word after clutch Eagles drive
Hurts completed 26 of 37 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns, though he also threw two interceptions. His best work came after Tennessee took a 20-17 lead with 1:56 remaining. Facing the possibility of an upset loss, Hurts marched Philadelphia down the field in nine plays. His 19-yard completion to DeVonta Smith moved the Eagles to the Titans’ three-yard line, and Cooper caught the game-winning touchdown two plays later.
The finish was particularly impressive because Philadelphia played through several difficult circumstances. Saquon Barkley suffered a stinger on the Eagles’ first offensive play before returning in the second half, while tight end Dallas Goedert left with a knee injury. The artificial turf at Nissan Stadium reportedly reached 157 degrees, creating brutal conditions for both teams. Hurts acknowledged afterward that the weather presented a major challenge.
“I’m not one to harp on the elements, but it was a challenge for us as a unit collectively,” Hurts said. “And I’m happy with how we weathered through that.”
Whatever tension remained between Hurts and Simmons appeared to disappear before their interaction ended.
“There is a clear winner and loser for a split second, but then they declare a ceasefire,” Honigman said.
“By the end of their short interaction, they have buried the hatchet. Their torsos face each other fully, which is a show of trust. Once they make eye contact and their handshake becomes powerful and equal, we know they have cleared the air.”
Simmons may have briefly taken command of the postgame exchange, at least according to the expert’s interpretation. Hurts, however, left Nashville with the result that mattered most.
He finished what Simmons started, and the Eagles left with a 2-0 record.
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