A prime-time showdown between NFL powerhouses is set under the Sunday night lights, scheduled for 8:20 PM ET. The Miami Dolphins are poised to clash with the Philadelphia Eagles, and it’s an event you can’t afford to miss. Both teams have been performing at the same level this season, boasting a 5-1 win-loss streak. The stage is ready for a thrilling encounter as two Alabama heroes, Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, prepare for a personal face-off.

A social media account named ‘HurtsHighlights’ highlights the significance of this match, emphasizing that Tagovailoa and Hurts are two of the most beloved players in Alabama football history. This statement prompts us to explore their attitudes toward this upcoming matchup.

Two Alabama heroes: Friends or rivals?

Both of the current best NFL quarterbacks were teammates at Alabama from 2016 to 2017 and developed a strong bond. Despite Hurts’ national title win in 2016, he faced adversity in 2017 when he was replaced by Tagovailoa during a championship game against Georgia. Interestingly, Hurts stepped in for an injured Tagovailoa in 2018 and secured a memorable SEC Championship win.

Post-Alabama, Hurts excelled at Oklahoma, while Tagovailoa joined Miami. Both are NFL stars today, with Hurts leading the Eagles and Tagovailoa topping the league in yards and touchdowns. And, as per @HurtsHighlights’ recent post, “Tua threw 87 TDs in his career, including 43 in his record-breaking 2018 season. Before him, it was Hurts that went 26-2 as a starting QB in two seasons.”

Leading up to Week 7, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts told reporters on Wednesday, “It’s been great to see the things he’s [Tagovailoa] been able to do over his career.” On the same day, Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa stated, “He’s [Hurts] been a special player since I’ve been there and he’s been a special player throughout his entire college career.”

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The question remains: who is better, and what does their track record show? Are they evenly matched, or is there a significant gap? Let’s delve into the details.

A crucial showdown for an astounding reason

Hurts had the edge over Tagovailoa in 2017: Jalen Hurts’ growth journey began at Alabama in 2016, where he threw for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns with a 62.8% QBR. In 2017, Hurts maintained a 60.6% completion rate with 2,081 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 1 interception. In 2017, he completed 63.6% of his passes for 636 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

Tagovailoa’s completion rates improved year after year, and he clearly outperformed Hurts in 2018: However, Hurts’ final year with the Crimson Tide in 2018 saw remarkable efficiency with a 72.9% completion rate, 765 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Tagovailoa’s sophomore season 2018 was even more impressive, amassing 3,966 passing yards, 43 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions, along with 190 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns, and a 69.0% completion rate.

Tua once again had the upper hand over Jalen in 2019: For their final year of college, in 2019, Hurts transferred to Oklahoma, delivering another impressive season with 3,851 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, with a 69.7% completion rate. Tagovailoa continued to shine in 2019, boasting a 71.4% completion rate, 2,840 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Let’s fast forward to the present season, in 2023 NFL — and guess what?

These days, too, Tua’s performance has been dominating over Jalen: Jalen Hurts, after 6 games, holds a 66.2% completion rate, 1,542 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 253 rushing yards, and 5 rushing touchdowns. His performance has been marked by ups and downs.

In contrast, Tua Tagovailoa boasts a 71.1% completion rate, 1,876 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions after 6 games. On the ground, he has logged 21 rushing yards but no touchdowns. Therefore, this may surprise some critics. However, the facts and statistics cannot be denied.

This is why the Sunday night face-off between the Dolphins and Eagles, scheduled for 8:20 PM ET, is critical. Particularly, it’s a moment for Jalen Hurts to compete with his dominant friend, Tua Tagovailoa, in the NFL.

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