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via Imago

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Philadelphia will welcome the Eagles back next week before their final hurdle to a second Super Bowl trip in just 3 seasons. But it would have been probably a very different scenario at one time during the 3rd quarter. After the Eagles kept on missing their targets, Jalen Hurts was sacked on a second down from the Rams’ 27-yard line. Although he did manage to return without missing any snaps, something happened that could have gone way worse for the Eagles.

Rams nose tackle Neville Gallimore and outside LB Keir Thomas both sacked Jalen Hurts in the end zone. Each of them took away half a sack while earning the Rams two crucial defensive points. And cutting down the Eagles’ lead to just 1 point with the 3rd quarter coming to an end. So, during the pressers, when the reporters asked Nick Sirianni what went wrong with Hurts taking a sack back in the red zone. He said, “We weren’t on the same page…But we got to fight to be on the same page.” Like it’s true, the outcome could have changed the whole game if not for the Eagles’ defense.

Them popping up with crucial recoveries in the 4th quarter helped the Eagles keep that scoreboard moving. There was a moment early in the fourth quarter when Rams RB Kyren Williams had just fumbled the football. And the Eagles didn’t let that opportunity go to waste. As their CB, Isaiah Rodgers showed his quick game awareness and recovered the football. See, he didn’t just recover. Rodgers took and ran with the football and returned it to the Rams’ 10 yard-line.

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However, the Eagles continued to be plagued by mishaps. Saquon Barkley’s 1-yard TD run was called off, while the officials penalized Lane Johnson for a false start. This led to the Eagles eventually settling for a 23-yard field goal attempt, which Jake Elliott drilled home to give them a 4-point cushion. Next up, it was the turn of Nolan Smith and Zack Baun to step up. Smith’s second sack on the day led to Stafford fumbling the football. And just like Rodgers, Baun took it upon himself to get the Eagles on a field goal range.

Well, the outcome was again in the favor of the Phillies, with the Eagles scoring another field goal to extend their lead-up to 7 points. And from then on, it was just too much for the Rams to handle. A Saquon Barkley 72-yard TD run all but confirmed the Eagles’ ticket to the NFC Championship game. However, when it was time for Jalen Hurts to offer updates on his knee injury. He left the Eagles Nation hanging post-game.

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Jalen Hurts refuses to offer details on his knee injury

On a snowy afternoon in Philly, when it was increasingly difficult to find targets down the field. Hurts didn’t anticipate two Rams defenders hurling at him during the 3rd quarter. Desjaun Johnson and Jaylen McCollough’s sack on Hurts left the Eagles QB screaming in pain. After a while, he limped to the blue tent for further assessment of his knee. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Hurts came back on while wearing a knee brace. So, when the dust finally settled in Philadelphia with snow still pouring down on the Eagles celebrations.

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Jalen Hurts' cryptic response—Is he hiding the severity of his injury from fans and opponents?

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NBC’s Melissa Stark took the opportunity to ask Hurts for an update on his knee. However, the Eagles signal-caller didn’t prefer to give any details, “I’m sure. I’ll get asked about it later. I don’t know if I can answer that now. I just want to enjoy this win with my teammates.” But Stark refused to budge down and pressed Hurts again for an update, asking him whether his knee was OK. And this time, also Hurts didn’t give a clear-cut answer. Instead, he gave a cryptic reply: “I finished the game.” So, what’s next?

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Despite wearing a knee brace, Hurts kept his composure while completing 15 of his 20 passes. He didn’t throw a single TD, neither did he record an interception for his 126 passing yards. But the Eagles Nation would surely be waiting for a clear update on their star QB’s injury. Because next up, it would be a familiar opponent in the form of the Commanders with a trip to the Super Bowl LIX on the line.

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Jalen Hurts' cryptic response—Is he hiding the severity of his injury from fans and opponents?