Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (Post-Game Transcript)
Opening Statement:
“So that’s what you all wanted to see, huh?”
On whether this was the Eagles figuring it out like he claimed this week that they would:
“We found a way to win the game.”
On whether he came in thinking they were going to pass like that at the beginning of the game:
“As we’ve said before, you’ll notice, [there are] multiple ways to win. That was kind of where we leaned today. We were able to find ways to make plays, and execute, and finish in the end zone, and find a way to win. That was good complimentary football.”
On Eagles WR A.J. Brown and WR Devonta Smith’s combined 23 targets:
“As I’ve said, when you’re able to win in multiple ways, obviously talented, and the opportunities are there, but it comes down to having good discernment of when to do something and when not to. I’ve always said and believed that you want to make sure that all of your tools are sharp when you need them, so when it’s time to use them, you can go. I don’t think there’s a doubt in that. I think, frankly, there’s an effort there. The approach was a little different this week. The grass will be green where you water it. We decided to water it and saw the fruits of our labor in that. Obviously we’ve been watering the running game a good bit. It’s natural to put emphasis on one thing and take emphasis off of another and see what you guys have seen. We want to continue to be well-rounded, push to be well-rounded, and water all areas of our yard.”
On winning this game after facing scrutiny in the passing game this week:
“Scrutiny is never-ending. It’s nothing new. That’s something that I find a thrill in. I appreciate being told I can’t and that we can’t. I know that I lead this team, and it takes a lot out of it. It demands a lot out of you. And I just want to show up and be the best teammate, quarterback, and be the best I can be for the guys on the team.”
On divulging conversations about the passing game that he had with WR A.J. Brown:
“I won’t.”
On the challenge of playing HC Mike Tomlin’s defense:
“I think a [Steelers Head Coach] Mike Tomlin team [is] physical, disruptive, and tough. That whole conference, that whole division, is tough. Playing against a Steelers team is always a tough challenge. It was definitely a test, a battle. They’re coming after the ball and playing physical ball. It was a great opponent we played out there.”
On if his finger is broken and if the injury impacted his play:
“Yes, it’s broken, and it did impact my play.”
On how his finger injury impacted his play:
“Yeah. I mean it’s broken, so yeah.”
On the well-rounded offense and the drive to end the game:
“We’ve been able to do that a couple of times this year. It was crucial. Hats off to [RB] Saquon [Barkley], being able to do that all year in those moments. [RB Kenneth Gainwell] Kenny stepping up and making some of the plays he made tonight, not foreign to that at all. And just putting it all together. The defense played a hell of a game, how they started the game off. Would love to get out and take advantage of how they’re playing in that moment. But tons to learn from in the end. We’ll get back to our regular scheduled routine, put a 24-hour rule on what we do, learn from it tomorrow, and move forward.”
On if the injury happened on the QB sneak against the Panthers:
“It did not.”
On how the approach was different this week:
“We had a phase this year where we said we were going to be a run team and a play-action team, so we started watering that and stopped watering another part.”
On what it says about the locker room to be able to have uncomfortable conversations:
“I think the thing that I always put an emphasis on throughout this week was the team, and the team’s success. And knowing that winning – I asked the question to everyone. ‘Hey, we’re going to have to go do this together.’ Started with that, and then I said, ‘Let’s not forget to keep the main thing the main thing.’ I said, ‘You do know what the main thing is, right?’ And they were spot on. So we can’t forget that. And it takes everyone to win. And it can look a ton of different ways. Obviously we need all hands on deck in that. We have to be all for one and one for all in the sense of going out there and just trying to play our best ball and play at a high level.”
On what it meant to him to be selected by Tom Brady as the player of the game:
“Yeah, you all saw what I said. But he’s obviously a great player, won. Tons of respect for him, competing against him even. It was cool. I didn’t know he was doing the game, so that was kind of cool. On the same note, someone asked me a couple of weeks ago about head-to-head matchups, I think it was versus [Ravens QB] Lamar [Jackson]. And I think that’s something you reflect on later on. In the moment, you keep it as – it’s not like basketball. Try to keep it as team, team, team. It’s just always about the team. And you look back at that and reflect, you take a step back. You see a ton of kids out there watching Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson go at it, and that’s what they see. All eyes on them. I think for today, even all week, [Steelers QB] Russell Wilson, man, he’s paved the way for a ton of guys, including myself. My brother loved him. I loved him and still love him. Watched him do many things where people said he couldn’t, and he’s experienced some adversity. And he’s overcome that, and he’s come back stronger from it. And so to be able to go to battle against him today, a guy that I looked up to and have a ton of respect for, defied all odds with his size. And being able to go to championships and win a championship, tons of respect for him. Definitely cool beating him, but nothing but love for him.”
On how the team looked to improve their offense:
“I just wanted to be multiple, wanted to make sure all of our tools are sharp when we need them. You may not need every tool in the toolbox, but just to know it’s in good shape doesn’t hurt.”
On the status of his finger injury:
“I don’t know. I mean, it is what it is. I’ve known it’s been at the state it’s at all week, and I don’t really want to put too much more into it. I can say I don’t think it got any worse today. If it’s shattered, it’s shattered. It is what it is.”
On the physical wins against good teams in the last few weeks make the team better down the stretch:
“I think you just continue to grow and self assess and look at those things. You want to look at it as an internal thing, not necessarily who you are playing against. Obviously, there’s a ton of respect for that division and how they play ball. We knew that when we played the Browns, Bengals, Steelers, and Ravens. That multiplicity that we talk about, I think that’s also in our style of play. And being able to play physical, play fast, play in space, all of these different ways. We just want to continue to get better in all of those things.”