Eagles’ opening touchdown drive personifies the Jalen Hurts Problem for defenses

Jalen Hurts is presenting all kinds of issues for the Chiefs’ defense early in Super Bowl LVII.

When you’re rushing Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, you have to deal with two things: Jalen Hurts as a runner, and Jalen Hurts as a quarterback. The Chiefs did a lot of mush-rushing on Philly’s opening drive in Super Bowl LVII, waiting for Hurts to run, as opposed to going all-out after him to being pressure. Hurts responded by completing four of five passes for 54 yards on the opening drive that went 75 yards on 11 plays, and ended with Hurts running for a one-yard touchdown.

Mush-rushing game Hurts extra time in the pocket, and when the Chiefs finally did bring pressure, Hurts responded with an 11-yard run, and then, a 13-yard pass to tight end Dallas Goedert.

The San Francisco 49ers did more cautious pass-rushing than anything else when facing Hurts in the NFC Championship game, and it seems that the Chiefs will be mixing it up, as well.