"Skilled players on offense." – @1kalwaysopen_#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/Grs1J2iXh9
Buy Eagles Tickets— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 11, 2022
Jalen Hurts entered the 2022 NFL season needing to secure his contract extension with improved accuracy and decision-making from the pocket.
If the season opener is any indication, Philadelphia has its quarterback of the future and a handful of weapons to help strike fear in opposing defenses.
Hurts accounted for 333 yards and a touchdown.
At the same time, A.J. Brown had a Terrell Owens-like debut, racking up a career-high-tying 155 yards receiving helping the Eagles escape Ford Field with a 38-35 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Eagles were running away early
After trailing 7-0 early, the Eagles scored 24 points in the second quarter and had a 17-point lead in the fourth that was cut to three after DJ Charks’ beautiful 22-yard touchdown catch over Darius Slay with 3:51 left.
Four different ball carriers
Philadelphia had four different players rush for touchdowns and amassed 216 total yards rushing, capitalizing on the NFL’s best offensive line for the second time in less than a year.
Eagles have 4 rushing TDs from different players
Last year here in Detroit they had a season high 4 rushing TDs
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) September 11, 2022
Game has slowed down for Hurts
Hurts had moments of inefficient play, but overall he was just what the doctor ordered for the Birds’ offense in crucial situations.
Hurts was 18 of 32 for 243 yards, including a 54-yard dime to A.J. Brown that set up Jake Elliott’s 23-yard field goal to give Philadelphia a 24-14 lead at halftime.
The third-year quarterback also accounted for 90 yards on 17 carries and a 1-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.
A.J. Brown already breaking records
Brown had a record-setting debut, logging ten catches for 155-yards.
Acquired from the Titans on draft night, Brown’s ten 155-yards are the most receiving yards ever for an Eagles player in his first game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, eclipsing a mark set by Donte’ Stallworth (141 yards) in 2006.
Only Anquan Boldin and Randy Moss had more impactful debuts with new teams.