The Eagles are staring down their biggest test yet—hosting the Commanders this Sunday with a Super Bowl ticket on the line. But there’s one big question mark looming over the City of Brotherly Love: How healthy is Jalen Hurts?

Hurts gave Eagles fans a collective heart attack in the divisional-round win against the Rams. After a nasty third-quarter sack, he hobbled off the field, only to return with a knee brace.

The good news? Head coach Nick Sirianni offered a little reassurance this week: “I think he’s had a good week of practice.” Teammates Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata echoed the optimism, describing Hurts as “mobile” and “fired up.”

Still, let’s not sugarcoat it—this isn’t just another game. Having a franchise QB at full tilt is non-negotiable in the postseason. Sure, no one’s 100% healthy this time of year, but Hurts’ ability to run has been KEY! With 630 rushing yards and a staggering 14 touchdowns on the ground this season, his legs are as dangerous as his arm. So, doing that with a dodgy knee? Not advised.

But here’s where it gets spicy. Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt isn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for Hurts. In fact, he’s ready to roll him up. “If he’s going to run the ball, we’re going to treat him like a running back and hit him that way,” Whitt said. Translation? Washington’s defense plans to make every yard Hurts earns come at a cost.

For Philly, it’s about more than just Hurts’ stats—it’s about his grit. The Oklahoma product has shown he can bounce back, but can he handle a bruising Commanders defense with everything on the line? We’ll find out on Sunday. For now, Eagles fans can only hope Sirianni’s confidence in Hurts proves as unshakable as their quarterback’s resolve.

Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley can run Washington out of steam

Let’s call it what it is: Joe Whitt’s comments about treating Jalen Hurts “like a running back” weren’t exactly subtle. But you can’t blame him for saying something like that. I mean, Jalen has been hurting everyone on the ground… Another reason why you might see his passing yards at a mediocre level.

And Whitt might as well have handed his defense a bullseye with Hurts’ name on it.

The problem for Washington? Their run defense has been a turnstile all season, ranking 30th in the NFL with 137.5 rushing yards allowed per game. And you can bet Hurts is ready to exploit it. The last time these teams met, Hurts was carving them up on the ground before a questionable hit knocked him out. With three runs for 41 yards in just 11 snaps, the Eagles’ QB was already causing problems.

But wait, Hurts isn’t Washington’s only headache. Not even half! The other 2/3rds of the problem? Saquon Barkley. Who’s less a running back and more a freight train in cleats. Barkley has racked up an absurd 2,329 total yards this season, playoffs included. He doesn’t just wear defenses down—he body-slams them. Jab, jab, jab… then BAM, a 39-yard knockout punch. How do you stop that?

You just don’t. Wait? And he’ll break. Attack and he’ll shimmy. Barkley has shredded Washington twice this year, piling up 296 yards and four touchdowns. Linebacker Bobby Wagner said it best: “He can break a run at any given point.”

So, what’s the game plan for Philly? Run, run, and run some more. With the best offensive line in football and a banged-up QB, leaning on Barkley seems like the Eagles’ ticket to the Super Bowl. Washington’s defense better figure out how to plug those gaps—or this one could get out of hands really fast.