Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (Post-Game Transcript)
On his relationship with Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni through the years:
“There’s a lot that goes into what we do every day. And thank God for the opportunity. Thank you for giving me focus, and resilience, steadfast within it all. Think it’s been a great group effort for us to be able to do what we’ve been able to do over the years, but in terms of a big reflection, I don’t know if the time is to do that right now.”
On what made the passing game work so well today:
“I think we need to change our approach to all of this. I don’t play the game for stats. I don’t play the game for numbers, any statistical approval from anyone else. And I understand that everyone has a preconceived notion on how they want it to look, or how they expect it to look. I told you guys that winning, success, is defined by that particular individual, and it’s all relative to the person. And what I define it as is winning. So the number one goal is always to come out here and win.”
On when he learned that statistics and numbers don’t matter to him:
“By losing. You name a loss, and you tell me, this is losing. Failure has to be used as a source of pain to go take that next step, and there’s always learning opportunities in everything. It’s human nature to be ignited by the shortcomings. It’s just a natural thing.”
On thinking back to their first trip to the Super Bowl and what lessons he is taking with him this time:
“Hard to say right now. Hard to say right now. I just think you have to give a ton of gratitude. These are my personal testimonies, and I know my personal perspective is not always a reflection of what is most important to the team and what we’re trying to do as a team because every team is different. So then clearly, as a team, the mission is to go take advantage of the opportunities we present ourselves with. But also I have my history and the things that I’ve experienced that I can use as tools to help those around me and help myself. And so a lot of this stuff is presented to us, and we all have that plateau to learn from all of our experiences. And a lot of guys that have not experienced some of these things got a lot of guys that, from these Georgia guys that have made a big impact on our team, to the young defensive backs that we’ve had. And not everyone was a part of that, but that’s why everyone, that’s why every team is different, and every year is new. So there’s been a sense of togetherness for us to all come together and try to achieve the ultimate team goal. And we’ve done a great job of that to this point of being able to put ourselves in this position.”
On what his standard is:
“The standard is to win. That’s my standard.”
On Eagles C Cam Jurgens playing through an injury:
“That was really, that was gritty of him. He hadn’t practiced all week, really pushing through, and the resilience he showed coming in and being able to see the defense the way he was. We loved how he prepared, obviously, the preparation showed, and he’s been great all year. I will add a reflective moment on myself, but I had a reflective moment on [Eagles C] Cam [Jurgens]. He had one bad snap to start the season off, and all the questioning and all the things that were thrown his way, and ended up being a Pro Bowler and having all the things to deal with this year. We’re replacing [former Eagles C] Jason Kelce. He’s done a great job. We’ll need him to do that again this upcoming week.”
On if he audibled the first play of the game:
“I made an adjustment. I had to get us situated and get us to the right play.”
On if he expected Eagles RB Saquon Barkley to have this many long scores:
“You don’t think about it that way. When you’re in a game, you take it a play at a time, and you just want to execute the fundamentals of the play and [Eagles RB] Saquon [Barkley] is a heck of a player. He’s been paired with a great group in front of him. And I think that’s showing. He’s been able to take us to the next level in many ways, take our running game to the next level in many ways. And he’s been able to do really big, big things.”
On the difference RB Saquon Barkley makes on offense:
“Well, I’ve told you guys this from this instance throughout the year. A lot of these things come down to how you finish. And I think being able to lean on him when we’re trying to bring things home, I think that’s a huge impact he’s made for us. And obviously, when he does it early, it doesn’t really matter who gets the party started, just for us to gain some momentum as an offense and gain a rhythm, I’d say. Rhythm is the word, gain our rhythm as an offense and keep going.”
On the process he went through to get healthy:
“It was challenging, it was challenging. In some ways exhausting, [I am] dealing with a little sickness as well. Just came out here – it was a group effort. It was a group effort.”
On the rotating roles at center throughout the game:
“I always talk about how I missed [Eagles G] Landon [Dickerson] when everybody asks me, because you have the Alabama crossover, and I missed [playing with] him by a year. So, we have a chance to do what we could have done in those times. But nonetheless, Landon was an All-American center in college. He’s a heck of a player. He’s very versatile, and when he came here to be an Eagle, everyone knew that, and so that’s a tough guy there. Tough guy deserves a lot of credit for our success today, his willingness to step in and take upon that role.”
On the rhythm of the passing game today coupled with the running game:
“It’s a journey, and there’s no point where you will arrive in that journey. I think for us and how we attack people, it’s just a matter of being on the same page with that. And going out there and playing clean football.”
On what it’s like playing for Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni:
“He’s done a great job. He’s done a great job. I guess he let me out of my straight jacket a little bit today.”
On how it felt seeing the offense come fully together today:
“Well, I’ve told you guys, this is not a matter that we can’t. It’s just a matter of if we do. It all comes down to how we execute. Comes down to our approach, and everyone being on the same page and playing with good rhythm, and ultimately finding a way to win. I think the beautiful thing about this sport, about this team, and for me, from my vantage point, [is] how we’ve been able to evolve over the years since I’ve been here, finding ways to win in multiple ways. It’s a great help when you have a defense like that turning the ball over, playing hard, playing ferocious, and flying to the ball. We just need to find it in us to muscle out one more.”
On the offense being conservative for most of the year:
“It’s not about me, it’s not about me. I don’t even play the game for any statistical measure. Nothing more than just winning. You play the game to win. I play the game to win. In a sense, this game chose me in this position. Chose me knowing to be able to come this far and have opportunities in front of us. You just want to take advantage of them, but I’ve never been motivated by achieving the personal things, the personal goals. All of those things come when you put the work in, out of the right mentality. Embrace what the group’s mission is, and mission is to win.”
On whether the play to Eagles WR A.J. Brown on fourth down was similar to a play earlier in the season against the New York Giants:
“Similar situations, but in hindsight, just two guys being on the same page. Having a negative play, the play before and the coach having the trust in us to bring it home. Haven’t had too many of those this year, but the good things come right on time.”