SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
That’s Jalen Hurts who has paved the way to the Philadelphia Eagles’ possible flight to the Super Bowl.
But first he has to contend with the San Francisco 49ers when his top-seeded Philly play host Sunday to San Fran Sunday to decided the National Conference championship.
In the American Conference title game the same day, it’s the No.1-seeded Kansas CIty Chiefs home to the 2nd-seeded Cincinnati Bengals.
In this one, it’s a match-up of quarterbacks when Patrick Mahomes takes the field for KC and Joe Burrow for Cinci. And the Buffalo Bills were ousted at home by the Bengals and their quarterback Josh Allen is included as one of the finalists.
Then there’s the lone non quarterback in wide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings, whose team was eliminated by the New York Giants.
But still in the field to the Feb. 9 Super Bowl at Sco-Fi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., the home field of the Los Angeles Rams are Philadelphia, San Francisco, Kansas City and Cincinnati.
Hurts, though, didn’t win the Heisman Award Trophy while at Oklahoma. He was in the final four and finished second after the Sooners won back-to-back Heismans behind Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.
“Was I disappointed he was asked,” “Of course, I was, I was hoping for a three-some from Oklahoma. It was close, but I settled for being the runner-up.”
But don’t fret, Hurts, Former Sooners Troy Aikman, Sam Bradford, Landy Jones, and Josh Heupel, who just signed a new contract as head coach of Tennessee. And Hurts did win the Johnny Unitas, Warner and Maxwell awards his senior year.
He was then drafted by the Eagles and didn’t start until Philadelphia failed to move the ball with its first two quarterbacks out there. So Hurts was given the ball, took over and has been the drive behind the franchise.
Now he has a genuine shot as a finalist for the AP awards. No doubt there’s plenty of genuine competition coming from four other QBs plus the highly regarded Jefferson.
Recent injuries had slowed Hurts down, but he appears to be in tip-top shape now and ready for the 49ers. He has 3,701 passing yards, 760 yards rushing and 35 touchdowns in leading the Eagles to 15-3 record, and they are going for their second NFC championship in the last six seasons.
Then there’s the other position player, Jefferson. He led the NFL with 128 catches and 1,809 yards receiving in his third campaign. He was one of two unanimous choices for AP All-Pro along with Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce.
Mahomes, in turn, led the NFL with 5,250 yards passing and 41 TDs. He received 49 of 50 votes for AP first-team All-Pro. Burrow has been right up there in leading Cincinnati this far again. It made it to last year’s Super Bowl by defeating KC then losing to the Rams.
Except for the stretch run, Allen had a smooth season before faltering in the playoffs, especially when he faced a tough Bengals’ defense in the freezing weather and slippery turf at Buffalo.
They are all hopeful, but for the likes of Hurts, Burrow, Mahomes and San Francisco’s stellar quarterback rookie Brock Prudy, it the conference championships first. At 13, Prudy is the youngest signal-caller of the quartet. Hurts is 24, Burrow 26, and Mahomes the oldest at 27 of the youngest groups of starting quarterbacks to make it to this round.
