Jalen Hurts under scrutiny as Eagles open 2026 season — SkimNews
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- Jalen Hurts enters the 2026 NFL season facing "more question marks than ever before," per Sky Sports NFL's Neil Reynolds, despite ranking third in offensive touchdowns over the past five years behind only Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.
- Philadelphia Eagles leaned on Vic Fangio's defense through a sputtering 2025 that ended in a playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, prompting the firing of offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and AJ Brown's offseason departure after an apparent breakdown with Hurts.
- Hurts earned Super Bowl MVP honors two years ago by leading the Eagles past Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, denying Andy Reid's side a historic three-peat.
- Jayden Daniels opens the season for the Washington Commanders after missing 10 games last year to injury and failing to build on his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign — though two seasons ago he led Washington to the NFC championship game against these same Eagles.
- Sky Sports' Phoebe Schecter described Hurts as "polarizing" because of his stoic demeanor, arguing fans and media project emotions onto him while critiquing his run game, passing game, and receiving corps — scrutiny now amplified by Brown's exit.
- Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2027, with Sky Sports broadcasting every minute of the playoffs and the final.
Why it matters: Both quarterbacks enter the opener under a harsh national spotlight — Hurts, the former Super Bowl MVP, without his top receiver and a new play-caller calling his offense, and Daniels, returning from a 10-game injury absence. A slow Week 1 showing against a division rival would deepen the doubts each franchise is desperate to put to rest before conference play heats up.
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