Eleven games into the 2022 NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles had a 10-1 record. They went on to win the NFC Championship before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII.
Eleven games into the 2023 NFL season, Philadelphia had a 10-1 record. But this time, the Eagles won only one more game the rest of the way and bowed out with a 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the NFC playoffs.
What that shows Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is that Philadelphia has a team capable of getting to the Super Bowl.
“I think we’re in a great place,” Hurts said on Wednesday after the Eagles’ first practice of training camp. “I think anytime you have any frustration, anytime you have any adversity that you have to overcome, it’s supposed to test you. And I think it’s a matter of being on the same page. I think if we’re on the same page, maybe we could have accomplished the things we would have. But we didn’t. And I think that’s a learning experience.
“It’s as simple as: If I made it happen, I can make it happen. And this team has made it happen before. There’s no doubt we can make it happen again, but it takes what it takes. And it takes being together.
“My message to the team after we did our conditioning test and even after our first day of practice, which I thought was a good day of practice: Talent, I’ve been on very talented teams. Pretty much my whole career I’ve played around talent, and talent wins you games. It’ll take you very far. But it don’t last. Teams is what wins championships, and that’s what we’re trying to do, trying to take that next step. It’ll be an exciting journey.”
The “same page” comment amplified the idea that perhaps Hurts and coach Nick Sirianni were not on it during Philadelphia’s free fall, which fits with an offseason narrative of friction between the QB and the coach.
At Hurts’ press conference on Wednesday, the first question was going to inquire about that issue. But the former Alabama quarterback interrupted the questioner
“I know everybody’s hungry, and there’s a ton of opportunity in front of us this year,” Hurts said. “I’m excited to be back. I’m excited to go through this journey and go through this season with everyone here – everyone. I truly trust (team owner) Mr. (Jeffrey) Lurie, I trust (general manager) Howie (Roseman), I trust coach Sirianni to lead us in the right direction. I know there are different roles in place. Everybody has different responsibilities. There may be more demands from some than others, but I think to win championships, to be the team we want to be, everyone has to buy into their role and everyone has to be fully committed to doing their part in helping the team, so I’m excited to go on that journey.
“I feel like for me, as a player, as a leader, everything that we went through last year, I just feel like I’m equipped to handle whatever’s to come, and so I’m excited to forge whatever this year is supposed to be.”
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The Eagles open their three-game preseason schedule on Aug. 9 against the Baltimore Ravens and kick off their regular-season slate on Sept. 6 against the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
