The Philadelphia Eagles secured a gritty 16-9 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday night, grinding out a win that leaned heavily on a championship-caliber defensive effort. While quarterback Jalen Hurts provided the offense’s lone touchdown on a signature ‘tush push,’ his post-game comments were entirely focused on the side of the ball that saved the day.
Hurts didn’t mince words when describing the play of his defensive teammates, singling out recent trade-deadline acquisition, defensive end Jaelan Phillips.
“One of the best performances I’ve ever seen,” Hurts stated, offering the highest praise for Phillips’ impact on the game.
Phillips, who arrived via trade from Miami, quickly repaid the investment by being a game-wrecker against a high-powered Lions offense that entered the contest averaging over 31 points per game.
The defense completely shut down Detroit, which failed on a staggering five fourth-down attempts. Phillips’ individual stats tell a compelling story: he was credited with a sack, four quarterback pressures, and five tackles, constantly collapsing the pocket and making life miserable for Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
The glowing endorsement from the franchise quarterback served as a clear message, highlighting the “team win” mentality required for the 8-2 Eagles to continue their path toward the top NFC seed. Despite an anemic offensive outing—where Hurts threw for just 135 yards and the team settled for three Jake Elliott field goals—the defense proved they can carry the load when needed.
Hurts’ decision to focus his praise on the defensive unit, especially amidst growing scrutiny over the offense’s recent struggles, underscores his commitment to team unity. The Eagles proved they can win in the trenches and overcome inconsistency, giving the Super Bowl hopefuls confidence that their identity lies in finding a way to win, regardless of the score.
