NFL
The most interesting player this NFL weekend is not fully appreciated
With the Eagles, Bills, Chiefs and Commanders all vying for a Super Bowl place, one name should not go under the radar.

Jalen Hurts is one of the NFL’s most intriguing enigmas. That’s not hyperbole – it’s the crux of a argument from Good Morning Football’s Kyle Brandt, whose candid take on Hurts’ polarizing career is bound to spark debate. As the Philadelphia Eagles prepare for a pivotal matchup against the Washington Commanders this weekend, with a Super Bowl place up for grabs, Brandt’s words offer an unvarnished lens through which to view Hurts’ impact, challenges, and the lingering doubts that seem to follow him.
The enigma of Jalen Hurts
Brandt doesn’t hold back. “When Jalen throws for under 200 yards, people start whispering about his ability. But those are often the games the Eagles win convincingly,” he says, cutting to the heart of what makes Hurts’ case so complicated. Critics seem to want him to play by traditional quarterback rules: rack up flashy passing stats, dazzle with highlight-reel throws, and silence doubters with eye-popping box scores. Hurts, however, has made a career of winning on his own terms, even if that leaves some scratching their heads.
Hurts’ numbers often tell a peculiar story. When he throws for fewer than 200 yards, the Eagles don’t just scrape by – they dominate. Brandt underscores this contradiction, pointing out that Hurts’ efficiency doesn’t align with the NFL’s obsession with big passing performances. It’s not the kind of narrative that makes fantasy football managers happy, but it’s the reason, or at least one of them, that Philadelphia are where they are.
Sliding doors for Hurts in NFC Championship game
This weekend’s game adds another layer to the debate. The stakes are massive, both for the Eagles’ playoff positioning and Hurts’ personal narrative. A standout performance could shift the tone entirely, giving him a chance to redefine his reputation in the eyes of his critics. As Brandt warns, however, the flip side is just as real: “If Hurts has an off day, the same voices questioning his legitimacy will only grow louder.”
And I just love the metaphor-laden rant including Jordan and Batman for the Barkley relationship.
“He makes the playoffs every single year, and there’s this general perception from Philadelphia that’s like, meh, who is this guy? Is he our guy? It’s an amazing thing that all he does is win, and there’s still a meh to him. And a lot of it has to do with how incredible Saquon is. And it’s not even this thing, though, where it’s like, Saquon is Jordan, and Jalen’s Pippen.
“He’s not. He’s looked at as like, Bill Cartwright. Just be there and get some rebounds and just play your role. It’s not like Saquon is Batman and Jalen is Robin. It’s like Jalen is Alfred. Get Batman breakfast and get him dressed and then go do whatever you’re going to do, plus Sudoku.”
Winning and believing
Leadership. Resilience. Poise under pressure. These traits don’t show up on a stat sheet but are often what elevate good teams into great ones. Brandt hammers this point home with a nod to Hurts’ ability to inspire his teammates: “With Jalen, it’s not just about stats. He makes you believe you can win no matter the odds.”
Yet the NFL has always had a complicated relationship with players like Hurts. The league thrives on neat narratives and quantifiable greatness, leaving little room for quarterbacks whose contributions are harder to define. Hurts’ value is evident in the Eagles’ record, but that’s not enough for a fanbase (or media landscape) that craves flashy proof of excellence.
As the game approaches, Brandt’s analysis feels less like an opinion and more like a challenge to the way we evaluate quarterbacks. Does Hurts need to throw for 400 yards to be elite? Or is winning enough? This weekend will bring answers – at least temporarily.
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