Eagles Deliver Near-Perfect Game, Embarrass Hapless Raiders 31–0

After a horrendous loss and performance in San Diego on national television, Super Bowl MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts proved once again why he the greatest QB in franchise history. Following last Monday's loss, he said it plainly: it’s about how we respond ...how I respond- to adversity.

I know it's the Raiders, but I wasn’t one of the doubters, and shame on you if you ever questioned the greatest quarterback in Eagles franchise history. Jalen Hurts has earned a very long leash. Just like every star quarterback in the league, bad games happen. Slumps happen. The difference is how you answer them. Hurts answered emphatically again, joining a list of just 6 other QB's in the history of the NFL to have over an 80% completion rate, 3 or more touchdown passes, and a rating of over 150 for the second time in a season.

In cold, windy conditions, when his team needed it most, Jalen was essentially perfect. If not for a dropped touchdown in the end zone by tight end Dallas Goedert, Hurts would have posted his second perfect passer rating of the season. He finished 12-of-15 for 175 yards, three touchdowns, and 39 rushing yards, delivering a near-flawless response to the noise.

Now, the other side of the coin: yes, it was the Raiders. And yes, they are a bad football team. But let’s not downplay historical dominance either.

Photo Credit: Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire

The Eagles defense turned in one of the greatest performances in franchise history. Las Vegas was held to just 75 total yards, the fewest allowed by an Eagles defense since 1955. The unit recorded four sacks, two by Brandon Graham, who became the oldest player in Eagles history to record a sack, and the oldest NFL player to record multiple sacks in a first half since Bruce Smith in 2002.

Perhaps most encouraging was the renewed commitment to running the football, the dominance of the offensive line, and how often Hurts was operating under center. The Eagles have been far too one-dimensional this season, in large part due to injuries up front. It’s hard to Prepare the Floats™ for any parade down Broad Street if you can’t run the ball when teams know it’s coming. Alas, help may be on the way.

The Eagles are expected to get a massive boost up front against Washington with the potential return of one of the greatest right tackles in NFL history: Lane Johnson. Multiple reports indicate Johnson will return to practice this week. As if the night couldn’t get any better, the Dallas Cowboys provided another vitamin shot to the city of Philadelphia. Those lousy, cockroach, phony, fake-Jerryworld Dallas Cowboys laid an egg at home against a horrendous Vikings team, the same Vikings team that Jalen Hurts was perfect against. With all that offensive firepower, Dak Prescott once again failed to get it done, further proving he’s not even in the same hemisphere as Hurts.

The Eagles can clinch back-to-back NFC East titles on Saturday at 5 p.m. with a win over Washington.