Rams vs. Eagles: Matthew Stafford, Jalen Hurts aim | College News
Matthew Stafford performed in a single Super Bowl with the Rams and gained. Jalen Hurts performed in a single Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles and fell short.
Both quarterbacks aim to return to the NFL’s greatest stage.
One will take a step towards that purpose on Sunday when the Rams play the Eagles in an NFC divisional-round recreation at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
“I’m enjoying the hell out of it,” Stafford, a Sixteenth-year professional, stated of the preparation. “I know the guys on our team are doing the same.
“Just trying to lead as best I can to help us give ourselves the best chance we can to get a win and keep it moving.”
Hurts, a fifth-year professional, is equally wired.
“I don’t play the game for anything other than to win,” he advised Philadelphia reporters this week.
Eagles working back Saquon Barkley dominated strategy dialogue within the lead-up to the sport, particularly targeted on whether or not he may come close to repeating his 255-yard speeding efficiency towards the Rams in November.
But Stafford and Hurts may dictate which workforce strikes on to play the winner of Saturday’s recreation between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders within the NFC championship recreation.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, left, and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts have met at SoFi Stadium in 2023 and 2024, each Philadelphia victories.
(Michael Owens / Getty Images)
Under coach Sean McVay, the Rams are 1-4 towards the Eagles.
Twice, Hurts performed a key position in defeating them.
In 2023, he handed for 303 yards and a landing, with an interception, and rushed for 72 yards and a landing in a 23-14 victory at SoFi Stadium.
Two months in the past, additionally at SoFi Stadium, Hurts handed for 179 yards and a landing and rushed for 39 yards in a Barkley-dominated 37-20 win.
Hurts’ capacity to go and run on designed and off-schedule performs makes him “a nightmare,” to play towards, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula stated.
“He’s very calm back there in the pocket,” Shula stated. “He has a great O-line that he trusts and he’ll stand back there forever if you let him.”
And if the pocket collapses?
“He’s able to find the little holes here and there, the little creases,” Rams edge rusher Jared Verse stated. “He doesn’t always want to run. Sometimes, he can just make that big play, which is different from most quarterbacks.”
In final Sunday’s 22-10 wild-card victory over the Green Bay Packers, Hurts accomplished his first six passes. But his subsequent seven fell incomplete. In the second half, he accomplished seven of eight, ending the sport with 131 yards passing and two landing passes.
“He wins,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni advised Philadelphia reporters this week. “He’s been playing efficient, and we do what we need to do to win every game.
“And Jalen does what he needs to do to win every game, and will continue to do that and not apologize for it.”
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts stiff arms a Green Bay Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine during the Eagles’ wild-card playoff win on Jan. 12.
(Derik Hamilton / Associated Press)
Hurts’ position, and the Eagles’ method, is completely different each recreation, the quarterback advised Philadelphia reporters.
“And you just want to go out there and do your job, take advantage of opportunities,” he stated, including, “Ultimately, it’s about winning the game. We’re talking about playoff football.”
In every of the final two video games towards the Eagles, Stafford handed for more than 222 yards and two touchdowns.
In final Monday’s wild-card victory over the Minnesota Vikings, he accomplished his first 10 passes and completed 19 of 27 for 209 yards and two touchdowns.
His most savvy play might need been his determination to flick the ball ahead simply as he was about to be sacked within the second quarter with the Rams holding a 10-3 lead. Officials initially ruled that Stafford had fumbled and that the Vikings had returned it for a landing. But upon review, it was ruled an incomplete go.
“You don’t coach that,” McVay stated. “That’s not something that we would be telling a young quarterback to go ahead and do if that same situation arises. Matthew has earned the right to be able to do some things differently.”
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford throws a go during an NFC wild-card playoff win over the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 13.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Stafford’s “talent and his know-how” stand out, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio advised Philadelphia reporters.
“He’s still one of the top passers in the league,” Fangio stated. “Very, very smart, can read coverages better than most, if not one of the top two or three.
“Still has tremendous arm talent. Can put the ball anywhere.”
Stafford and Eagles cornerback Darius Slay have been Detroit Lions teammates for seven seasons.
Slay, a 2017 All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl decide, went towards Stafford in observe, watched him in video games and has performed towards him twice since signing with the Eagles in 2020.
Stafford stays a top-five quarterback, Slay stated.
“I don’t know why folks [are] leaving him out of that conversation,” Slay stated, “because there’s not many quarterbacks that have the arm talent, the guy that’s seen every coverage that’s possible, and can make all the throws.”
The Eagles should stress Stafford, sack him now and again and disrupt the Rams’ go routes, Slay stated.
“Because if they’re not disrupted enough, it’s going to be a good day for him,” he stated, “and we don’t need a good day for him.”
Stafford is 5-1 in postseason video games with the Rams. Hurts is 3–3 within the playoffs.
Three seasons in the past, Stafford achieved a profession spotlight when he handed for 2 touchdowns within the Rams’ victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.
A yr later, in Super Bowl LVII, Hurts ran for 3 touchdowns and handed for one more solely to see the Eagles fall short within the closing seconds towards the Kansas City Chiefs.
Whichever quarterback emerges with a victory Sunday places one other Super Bowl look within attain.
“I think back to the first day of training camp, how you’re feeling, and all the things that are going through your mind,” stated Stafford, who will flip 37 two days earlier than the Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. “Looking at the end of the calendar and thinking about how long of a journey that is is sometimes overwhelming and a little bit daunting.
“But to be here now, to have worked through all the things that we’ve worked through as a team and as an individual, to get to this point and have the opportunities that we have in front of us is really fun.”
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