The New England Patriots and the reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles go head-to-head in primetime on Sunday, which is the same day Tom Brady is expected to make his much-anticipated return to Gillette Stadium.
This season, we are going to take a look at the x-factor of the Patriots’ opponents each week and break down why they must be stopped in a new “Do Your Job” series. The x-factor is the catalyst for the opposing team’s success and the one player the Patriots will try to neutralize on either side of the ball.
Buy Patriots TicketsThis week, that player is none other than Eagles All-Pro quarterback Jalen Hurts, who is an electric athlete that can improvise at a high level by turning nothing into something.
Hurts can make plays with his feet, arm and mind, which is a dangerous combination that makes him one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. He thrives on the ability to improvise and takes what the defense gives him. If the Patriots wish to slow him down, they’ll need to contain him.
That’s obviously easier said than done. However, if the Patriots can keep Hurts as a pocket passer in this game, they have a chance at slowing down the electric Philadelphia offense.
The Eagles will likely run a lot of RPO, read option and designed quarterback runs in their modern NFL offense that many have tried to model after in recent years.
The Patriots will likely need to use multiple fronts and stay in a ton of big nickel with Marte Mapu and Jabrill Peppers likely getting a ton of run to help slow Hurts and running back DeAndre Swift in the run game.
Hurts will likely find ways to keep the Eagles in the game, and the Patriots will have their hands full trying to throw the kitchen sink at him. Here’s to hoping Week 1 rust and a possible Super Bowl hangover help the Patriots in stopping the truly dynamic playmaker.
