ASHBURN, Va. (AP) 鈥� played the worst game of his career two weeks ago and one of the best of this season last week. Another good one could help do something that hasn’t happened in two decades: winning consecutive NFC East titles.
It’s the longest drought in any division in history.
The reigning (9-5) have bigger goals than being the best part of a mediocre quartet, of course, but Hurts and Co. can check clinching that off their list by beating (4-10) on Saturday in a rematch of last season’s conference title game.
Asked this week what sort of accomplishment it would be to become the first club with back-to-back NFC East crowns since the Eagles claimed four in a row from 2001 to 2004, Hurts replied: 鈥淚t鈥檚 something we鈥檝e got to do first, but something that鈥檚 always been on the back of my mind.鈥�
He went from a four-interception, one-fumble disaster in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 8 鈥� Philadelphia’s third straight defeat, raising plenty of questions about Hurts, specifically, and the team as a whole 鈥� to in a 31-0 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 14.
It’s this time of year that 鈥測ou definitely look forward to,鈥� Hurts said.
鈥淪eptember, October 鈥� (they鈥檙e) important games. You鈥檙e kind of finding yourself; it鈥檚 a new team; you find your groove,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut real things are found in December, January and February.鈥�
While his team is on the verge of securing a return trip to the postseason, the Commanders have been eliminated, thanks to an eight-game losing streak they finally ended last week. They’re also without , who made only seven appearances this season and has been shut down after hurting his left elbow.
It’s been quite a slide backward for the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and his team.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to miss games at all,鈥� Daniels said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been frustrating.鈥�
Mariota takes over at QB for Daniels
Marcus Mariota is Washington’s starting QB the rest of the way in place of Daniels. Mariota, Hurts’ backup with the Eagles in 2023, has completed 62% of his passes this season for 1,600 yards, with 10 TDs and seven interceptions. The Commanders are 2-5 in his starts. 鈥淗e was very helpful when he was here,鈥� Hurts said. 鈥淎 lot of maturity, a lot of wisdom.鈥�
Brandon Graham is still producing for the Eagles
Last week, Brandon Graham had his first two sacks since he ended his after the Super Bowl and returned to Philadelphia in late October. At 37 years, 255 days old, Graham became the oldest player in Eagles history with a sack. 鈥淚 feel like my training camp has been over with now,鈥� Graham said. 鈥淚 feel like myself now.鈥� So is a re-retirement imminent? 鈥淲e ain鈥檛 there yet, man,鈥� Graham said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just trying to finish this year and enjoy the whole thing.鈥�
Dallas Goedert just keeps scoring for Philadelphia
Dallas Goedert continues to shine at tight end following an uncertain offseason where he ultimately took a pay cut to stay in Philadelphia. He’s been as good as ever 鈥� especially in the red zone 鈥� after sticking around on a restructured one-year, $10 million deal plus incentives. Goedert鈥檚 two TD catches against Las Vegas gave him nine for the season, the second most by a tight end in franchise history (Pete Retzlaff had 10 in 1965). 鈥淎ny time you go in the huddle and hear that play knowing you have an opportunity to get in the end zone, it gets you kind of excited, for sure,鈥� Goedert said. 鈥淚 think when I get a ball in my hand down there, I鈥檓 tough to tackle. I can find my way in, fight my way in.”
Many happy (punt) returns for Washington’s Jaylin Lane
Jaylin Lane’s 63-yard punt return for a touchdown last week against the Giants and his 90-yarder in Week 3 make him the first Washington player with a pair in his rookie season since the 1950s. The secret to that success? 鈥淚’m only as good as the other 10 guys out there,鈥� Lane said. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 make it happen without those guys showing effort and getting blocks for me.鈥� Next to his locker this week sat a framed picture from the coin toss in New York, showing him with Washington’s other two captains for that game. 鈥淚’m going to hang that up on my wall at home,鈥� Lane said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know I was going to get that photo.鈥�
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AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston in Philadelphia contributed to this report.
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