Eagles

Jalen Hurts Didn’t Hear Play Call Prior to Huge 3rd and 14 Conversion

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Jan 3rd, 2022 · 9:49 AM EST

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The Eagles clinched a playoff berth on Sunday night thanks to their Washington win, combined with San Francisco beating Houston and Green Bay hammering Minnesota.

If there was a turning point in the Philly game, it was the opening drive of the second half, a 3rd and 14 situation following a Lane Johnson false start. Jalen Hurts scrambled, kept the play alive, and found Greg Ward for a 27-yard gain:

.@JalenHurts has unreal playmaking ability. #FlyEaglesFly

📺: #PHIvsWAS on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/Wd4ymOMFAi

— NFL (@NFL) January 2, 2022

Wonderful play, and the Eagles would go on to score on the drive to cut the Washington lead to two.

Hurts was asked about this sequence, and admitted that he didn’t hear the call that offensive coordinator Shane Steichen made from the sideline:

“We kind of operated a little faster in and out of the huddle, especially going into third downs because you can expect a whole bunch of different looks. What actually happened on that play is that I didn’t get the play. I didn’t get the play. I thought I heard what he said, but kind of had to pull one out of my hat. G Ward made a hell of a play on the scramble drill, adjusting to catch the ball.” 

That’s pretty crazy if you think about the series in totality. The Eagles had a three-yard loss on second down, which set up 3rd and 9. Johnson committed the false start on the next play, resulting in 3rd and long. Then Hurts didn’t even hear Steichen’s call, so he called his own play, scrambled, and found Ward for a huge gain.

On the broadcast, the cameras were showing Johnson, so it was hard to tell if Hurts was having communication issues, but you can tell they were a little ‘off’ going into that play because the game clocked ticked to one and they barely got it off:

It really was the biggest sequence of the game, if you’re looking for a turning point. If the Eagles are stopped there, they’re trying a field goal, and maybe it’s 16-10 instead. That touchdown gave momentum to the defense, which sacked Taylor Heinicke on third down and gave the ball right back to the offense.