“Things are just different.” When Tom Brady talks, you listen—especially when it’s a warning for Jalen Hurts. With the Eagles about to face off the Buccs, the stakes are sky-high. Key players are out, the pressure’s building and the GOAT ain’t holding back on what could go down. 

“You know it’s really tough, things are just different,” Brady stated, pointing to the big challenge Philly’s about to face without WRs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. “There’s really nobody to equally replace Brown or Smith. To me, it’s gonna be a grounding game. You gotta pound it, which is really what they’ve done this year. But I think the challenge is the heat. It’s really hot today, it’s really humid—these guys are gonna have to go the distance.” The seven-time Super Bowl champ’s experience in these sweltering conditions is no joke. He threw in a nod, recalling his days when he would come down to Florida to play the game in the heat. 

Brady knows that one team will adapt better than the other. “One of the teams is gonna handle it better compared to the other, so let’s see which one it is,” he said, teasing a gritty showdown. With the forecast pushing the discomfort levels high, the Eagles have a mountain to climb.

As if things couldn’t get more complicated, Philadelphia’s looking to play without their three most productive receivers. The three-time Pro Bowl WR A.J. Brown’s missed the last two games nursing a hamstring injury, while DeVonta Smith’s currently in concussion protocol after taking a brutal hit in last week’s face-off against New Orleans (a game the Eagles won 15-12!) To top it off, Britain Covey was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. It’s a dire situation that could leave QB Hurts scrambling to find new targets on-field.

With all this drama, it’s time for Jahan Dotson (traded from Washington) to step up. He’s expected to make an impact, but can he fill the massive shoes left by the injured duo? That’s yet to be seen.

In their last outing, Jalen Hurts showcased flashes of brilliance, leading the Eagles to a phenomenal 34-29 win over the Packers in Brazil (a historical first for the NFL games played there). But critics like Super Bowl champ Chris Long weren’t shy about calling out the QB’s performance. 

Long didn’t sugarcoat it on his podcast, Green Light with Chris Long, saying, “Jalen Hurts has to play better. You know it, I know it. The pick was so bad in the end zone I had to hit the porch.” The interception in the red zone had fans splitting up, especially with the high expectations surrounding the Crimson Tide standout this season. 

“He has to play better because this team can win with perfect QB play,” Long added. While he acknowledged the positives, he was firm about the need for consistency. “The floor of that 10% is low,” he pointed out, stressing the importance of avoiding lapses in concentration.

These critiques are vital as Jalen Hurts prepares for the upcoming clash. After all, lessons learned from the greats, like Brady’s warning about the tush-push last year, can be literal tipping points. 

Tom Brady’s tush-push advice to Jalen Hurts 

On the Let’s Go! podcast, Brady laid it out straight, “The only thing I worry about in that particular play is they all know what’s coming… that quarterback is going to take a lot of shots.” His point? The NFL’s brutal, and those hits add up—fast. Other mobile QBs have had their careers cut short by taking too many hits, and the GOAT saw Hurts following that dangerous path. 

While the Eagles kept stacking those first downs, Brady didn’t buy the full hype. “It’s effective for a one-yard gain,” he said, but when that right shoulder takes a hit, it’s a different story. The five-time Super Bowl MVP pointed out that no matter how tough Hurts is, taking those hits over and over could mean trouble down the road. Brady even threw in a little advice: Philly might want to try a “tush toss” to keep defenses on their toes and protect their guy.

Bottom line? Hurts and the Eagles might want to rethink the gamble because sometimes short-term gains can bring long-term pain.