5 dream scenarios for Eagles in 2023 season

No. 2 Eagles dream scenario: Jalen Hurts wins MVP

Patrick Mahomes received 48 of 50 first-place votes for last season’s MVP award. Ultimately, it’s hard to argue with Mahomes’ inevitable brand of dominance. He’s the best arm in the sport by a considerable margin and there aren’t many chinks in his armor. That said, if anyone had a case to challenge Mahomes for No. 1 last season, it was Jalen Hurts.

The Eagles’ QB put together a special campaign. He couldn’t challenge Mahomes in the passing category (3,701 yards), but Hurts more than doubled Mahomes as a rusher (760 yards) with 13 touchdowns on the ground to complement his 22 touchdowns through the air.

Perhaps the most important stat for Hurts, however, was his record under center. The Eagles were 14-1 when Hurts played a full game. Without him, Philly went 0-2. The Eagles were the winningest team in football despite playing in the toughest division. A lot of credit inevitably circled back to Hurts, who captained the ship with preternatural poise.

Hurts is the ultimate leader. From his pre-game speeches to his unwavering confidence on the field, he’s the exact type of person NFL teams want leading the charge on offense. Hurts doesn’t get flustered under pressure and he’s more willing than most quarterbacks to sacrifice his body for the greater good. His strength plowing through tackles on QB sneaks and his unfettered aggression on scrambles to the outside makes him a uniquely challenging cover for opposing defenses.

The Eagles have bigger fish to fry as a team, but Hurts winning the league’s top individual award would serve as a fitting ode to his growth and a good sign of Philadelphia’s ability to compete for the ultimate trophy when the playoffs arrive.