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The Philadelphia Eagles did not receive the cleanest performance from Jalen Hurts on Sunday. They still got exactly what they needed when the game was on the line.
Hurts directed a 65-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes and found Darius Cooper for a 3-yard score with nine seconds remaining, lifting Philadelphia to a dramatic 24-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
The winning touchdown was the first of Cooper’s NFL career. Hurts completed six of eight passes for 61 yards during the decisive possession, according to the Eagles’ official website. His 19-yard completion to DeVonta Smith moved Philadelphia inside the Tennessee 5-yard line and created the opportunity for Cooper.
It was Hurts’ eighth fourth-quarter comeback since the beginning of the 2023 season. That statistic tells a much more important story than his two interceptions.
Hurts refuses to let mistakes define the finish
Hurts completed 26 of 37 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions and spent much of the afternoon trying to solve a Tennessee defense that repeatedly disrupted Philadelphia’s rhythm.
The Eagles trailed 20-17 after Joey Slye connected on a field goal late in the fourth quarter. Hurts never appeared rattled.
He immediately moved Philadelphia down the field, connecting with Cooper for 23 yards and finding Smith along the sideline for the drive’s most difficult completion. Smith finished with 10 receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. He gave Hurts a dependable option after Saquon Barkley briefly left the game with a stinger and Dallas Goedert exited with a knee injury.
The injuries and turnovers could have become ready-made explanations for a loss.
Hurts made them irrelevant.
Philadelphia’s quarterback has faced criticism for inconsistent stretches throughout his career. His late-game composure continues to be the quality that separates him from many of his peers.
Hurts does not need to play flawlessly to believe he will make the decisive play.
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Darius Cooper delivers unforgettable first touchdown
Cooper entered the final drive without an NFL touchdown. He left Nashville responsible for one of Philadelphia’s biggest plays of the young season.
The second-year receiver found space near the goal line and secured Hurts’ pass with only nine seconds remaining. Tennessee had one final opportunity, but Cam Ward’s desperation attempt fell incomplete.
Philadelphia improved to 2-0 despite trailing in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive week.
There are areas that require attention. Hurts cannot continue giving opponents additional possessions, and the injuries to Barkley and Goedert will be monitored closely.
The Eagles also showed why they remain one of the NFL’s most difficult teams to finish.
Hurts can struggle for stretches, absorb punishment and make costly mistakes. When Philadelphia needs one drive to win, none of it appears to matter.
The Eagles needed their quarterback to be nearly perfect for 65 yards Sunday.
He was.
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