Hurts, Eagles tie mark with 4th comeback in row
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Tim McManus, ESPN Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA — Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts continues to have a flair for the dramatic.
Hurts scored four of his career-high five touchdowns after halftime in the Eagles’ come-from-behind win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, including a 12-yard scoring run in overtime to end the game in walk-off fashion and send the Lincoln Financial Field crowd into a frenzy.
“It’s a Jalen performance. There aren’t too many guys that I’ve played with — probably nobody that I’ve played with — that’s been more clutch down the stretch,” Eagles veteran center Jason Kelce said after the 37-34 victory. “He’s been so good in crucial situations when things have to happen. That’s a trait not to take lightly. I think if you look at most of the best players, it’s a trait that they have to have.”
The 10-1 Eagles have trailed at halftime in each of their past four games and have found a way to come back and win all of them, which ties an NFL record.
Hurts has been a guiding force. He now has four game-winning drives on the season — doubling his career total coming into the campaign. He also has the second-best winning percentage after trailing by 10-plus points (.450) by starting quarterbacks since 1950, behind only Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs (.560).
“That’s not for me to concern or roll with. I just try to go out there and play to the standard and be the best I can be for my team,” Hurts said of being so clutch. “There were times today I felt like I didn’t do that, but when it mattered most, I felt like we did a good job of doing what we needed to do.”
Hurts is now 16-1 in his past 17 regular-season starts and 27-2 in his past 29. The front-runner for the top seed in the NFC, the Eagles are co-Super Bowl favorites at +425 with the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, per ESPN BET. Hurts is the MVP favorite at +150.
“One-hundred percent, that dude should be [MVP],” Eagles right tackle Jordan Mailata said. “I don’t know the requirements, but I know he’s got the best f—ing record out of all the MVP candidates.
“I love him, man. There’s no words that can describe the love I have for this guy. He really embodies the perseverance, and he leads by example.”
