The bye week is upon us, and at the halfway point of this season, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is among the most popular bets to win the 2023 NFL MVP at multiple sportsbooks.
Hurts finished second in MVP voting last year after logging nearly 4,500 total yards (3,701 passing, 760 rushing) and 35 total touchdowns (22 passing, 13 rushing), leading Philadelphia to a Super Bowl appearance.
With Philadelphia off for Week 10 and set to embark on the most brutal stretch of games, we’re looking at five updated reasons Hurts will win the MVP award in 2023.
Huge MVP clinching matchups
Over seven weeks, including the bye, Hurts will face Dak Prescott (Cowboys) twice, along with Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs), Josh Allen (Bills), Brock Purdy (49ers), and Geno Smith (Seahawks).
Hurts has already defeated Kirk Cousins (Vikings), Sam Howell (Commanders) twice, Tua Tagovailoa, and Matthew Stafford.
If you want to be the man, you have to beat the other men, and Hurts will have vanquished several other MVP candidates.
Jalen Hurts is a special talent. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/VoFRojyzsI
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) November 7, 2023
Add in Philadelphia being 25-2 in their last 27 games with Hurts as the starter, and it has to be him.
Eagles would fall off the cliff without Hurts
The Eagles are almost unbeatable with right tackle Lane Johnson in the lineup, and they’re an average team when he’s injured, but Hurts has now assumed the mantle of the most valuable player on this team.
Philadelphia lost two games in 2023 with Hurts injured, and the All-Pro had to return to the lineup early down the stretch to ensure a bye week and home-field advantage.
Lincoln Financial Field went silent after Hurts took a hit to his knee and limped to the sideline before halftime against the Cowboys.
Hurts returned against Dallas and threw for 207 yards and two touchdowns and added another on the ground in a 28-23 Eagles victory.
Marcus Mariota is solid, but there’s no doubt that A.J. Bown, DeVonta Smith, and that supporting cast would lose explosiveness with Mariota in the lineup.
Hurts has outplayed the elite
Hurts has always been dangerous as a rusher, but it’s his drastic improvement as a passer that will keep him the MVP conversation for years to come.
I'd argue that this was my FAVORITE Jalen Hurts throw from the season so far
🏈 Post-Snap Read
🏈 Defeat #Cowboys Disguised Coverage
🏈 Pocket Poise
🏈 Layered ThrowFor more breakdowns on this game, don't miss my All-22 Review #FlyEaglesFly
🎥 https://t.co/vG6QxspbfH pic.twitter.com/g1FE5Focgs
— Fran Duffy (@EaglesXOs) November 7, 2023
Hurts is ‘elite’, and he’s now among the NFL’s most accurate quarterbacks. Per Nex Gen Stats, Hurts’ 68.9% completion percentage comes in 6.9 percentage points ahead of expectation — the best mark for any quarterback.
The 72.4 QBR inside the pocket for Hurts ranks as the NFL’s best mark this season.
Hurts is going to do more than everyone else
Outside of MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, nobody does more for their team at the position than Jalen Hurts.
Hurts is 5th in the NFL with 2,347 yards passing, 6th with 15 touchdown passes, and 5th in the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 7.
Hurts has run for 39 first downs this season, and he’s on pace to match his league-high 67 first downs from last season.
History is on Jalen Hurts' side
The past 10 MVP winners were quarterbacks, with Adrian Peterson being the last non-QB MVP in 2012.
Since 2003, only Peterson, Shaun Alexander and LaDainian Tomlinson have been non-QB MVP’s and they were elite, All-Pro running backs.
For more history, 15 of the last 16 MVPs were quarterbacks.
Hurts will be in the race if he can remain healthy, efficient and elite while continuing to win.
