Rusty Weiss
Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho tackled the subject of Jalen Hurts in a recent podcast, suggesting the quarterback has the talent to get the team to the Super Bowl but not win it.
Which, on its surface, is incredibly silly. Hurts has the ability to win wild card games, divisional playoffs, and conference championships, but everything would go to pot against whatever team he might face in a Super Bowl?
Yes, according to Acho.
“Jalen Hurts is a good quarterback, he is not an elite quarterback,” Acho said. “Jalen Hurts is good enough to get you there, he’s not good enough to win it. I don’t think he’s as good as he was in his Super Bowl year.”
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Can Jalen Hurts Win A Super Bowl?
There are two aspects of Acho’s comments that need to be analyzed. First, the notion that Jalen Hurts is “good enough to get you” to the Super Bowl, but “not good enough to win it.”
There’s actually a fairly recent body of work to go by. Super Bowl LVII, where the Eagles faced the Kansas City Chiefs. Hurts led his team to the big game. And while he might not have won, he had one of the greatest quarterback performances in Super Bowl history.
In the nailbiting 38-35 come-from-behind win for the Chiefs, Hurts threw for 304 yards, rushed for another 70, and accounted for all four of the team’s touchdowns.
That kinda sounds like somebody who has the ability to both lead his team to, and carry them over the top of, a Super Bowl. It’s not his fault the Eagles gave up 17 points in the fourth quarter to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
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Not As Good As His Super Bowl Year
Now comes Acho’s other point.
“I don’t think he’s as good as he was in his Super Bowl year.”
That might be a fair take. I’m not saying it’s correct going forward, but you can see where he’s coming from on this one. Hurts struggled mightily down the stretch last season as the Eagles lost 5 of their last 6 games.
He passed for 5 touchdowns and an equal 5 interceptions while averaging just 194 yards per game.
The Eagles then lost 32–9 in the Wild Card round of the playoffs against the Buccaneers.
It should be noted, however, that Jalen Hurts was injured in the final game of the regular season against the Giants when he dislocated his middle finger.
Obviously, he wasn’t as good as his Super Bowl year. But Hurts has only been a quarterback in the league for four seasons, just three full as a starter.
In those three starting seasons he’s been named to two Pro Bowls and had the aforementioned spectacular Super Bowl performance.
Is Acho right, was last year a sign of more bad things to come? Or was it simply an off-year with a return to greatness coming in 2024?
Only time will tell.