The 2022 Philadelphia Eagles are the NFL’s best team. They have a 13-1 record, with their only loss as an odd misstep against the Washington Commanders in Week 10. The offense is explosive, diverse, and just about impossible to stop. The offensive line is the NFL’s best, and it isn’t particularly close. The defense has come around in 2022, especially the pass rush and coverage. And third-year quarterback Jalen Hurts has gone from a big maybe in 2021, to unquestioned franchise quarterback in 2022.
This team hasn’t faced a lot of adversity this season, but they’re about to get a dose of it. Hurts suffered a sprained throwing shoulder in Philly’s 25-20 win over the Chicago Bears last Sunday, and he won’t play in this Saturday’s crucial matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. So, it’ll be Gardner Minshew at the helm. In 2021, his first season with the Eagles, Minshew completed 41 of 60 passes for 469 yards, four touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 104.8. He might have starter potential on a team with a less-defined quarterback situation, and he’s one of the NFL’s best backups, so that’s nice.
Minshew had run the scout team in practice throughout the season, which didn’t give him reps with the number-one guys, but it did allow him the opportunity to deal with the Eagles’ first-string defense — a defense that currently ranks seventh in DVOA, and second in the NFL against the pass, behind only the Denver Broncos.
“We’re all doing our jobs getting ready to play this game and we have full confidence in each other,” tight end Dallas Goedert said this week. “Gardner will do his job. He’s the man. We all love him. The best way we can support him is to play our best and that’s what we’re preparing to do. Nothing changes.”
Well, some things will change. But how can the Eagles maintain their offense — or most of it — without the quarterback who has become the defining player on that side of the ball? We’ve already hopefully debunked the canard that Hurts is a “system quarterback” who’s easily replaced, so now, it’s on to the other side of the argument: How should head coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen arm Minshew with the best chance to take this team to 14-1 on the season?
The Eagles clinch the NFC East, the NFC’s one-seed, and home field advantage through the playoffs with a win, so it’s a fairly important question.