NFC East now realizes Jalen Hurts is the real deal

If you didn’t believe before, you should now: Jalen Hurts is the real deal.

If the NFC East was not convinced about Jalen Hurts, there is certainly no doubt now.

After a disappointing playoff game against the Tampa Bay Bucs, concluding the Eagles 2021 season, there was much press concerning Hurts playoff game.

However, Hurts rose to the elite tier of 2022 quarterbacks, serving notice to his divisional rivals (Commanders, Giants, Cowboys) he is the real deal.

His 2022 play saw him voted to his first Pro Bowl. The Eagles were 14-1 in the 15 regular season games Hurts started. (Yes, Hurts only loss in the regular season was that MNF home loss to the Commanders).

Hurts put up Pro Bowl-worthy numbers completing 66.5 percent of his passes for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdown passes. All three were quite noticeable improvements over his first two seasons. His touchdown/interception ratio improved from 2021’s 16/9 to 22/6.

The Eagles offense, led by Hurts, made sizeable leaps from 2021 in passing yards per game (209.6/246.7), passer rating (87.2/101.5), and QBR (48.5/66.3).

Did you notice Hurts rushed the ball for 760 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry, 50.7 rushing yards a game, and scoring 13 rushing touchdowns? Hurts was the NFL’s best dual-threat quarterback in 2022.

How did Hurts fare playing in his first Super Bowl? He completed 27 of 38  passes, including a touchdown pass, becoming the first Super Bowl quarterback to throw for 300+ yards (304), while also rushing for 70 yards and rushing for three touchdowns.

Hurts continues to surprise with his rate of progress in his three years in the NFL. His play in the Super Bowl was stellar. If not for his fumble being returned for a touchdown, he is the MVP of the game.

In one season, Hurts has unarguably climbed from the third-best quarterback in the division to, without question, the best quarterback in the division.

And to think, when the Eagles selected Hurts 53rd overall in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft, they were heavily questioned as having wasted such a high draft pick, seeing they already had Carson Wentz as their starter.

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Who will start at QB for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1?

Projecting the Week 1 starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, with NFL futures betting odds and picks.

The Dallas Cowboys suddenly face a quarterback controversy of their own creation after QB Andy Dalton was signed to a bargain free-agent deal while incumbent starter Dak Prescott threatens a holdout due to the franchise tag. Below, we focus on which quarterback will be the Cowboys’ Week 1 starter and the NFL futures betting odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Dallas Cowboys: QB depth chart

  • Prescott (-2000): Has guided the Cowboys to a record of 40-24 without missing a start in four seasons since being chosen in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Threw for a career-high 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2019 with a modest 11 interceptions.
  • Dalton (+600): Signed a one-year, $3 million deal and could be worth up to $7 million after being released by the Cincinnati Bengals. Owns a 70-61-2 record over a nine-year career with three Pro Bowl appearances. Threw just 16 touchdowns against 14 interceptions over 13 games in 2019.
  • Ben DiNucci (+4000): Seventh-round pick of the 2020 NFL Draft out of James Madison.
  • Clayton Thorson (+5000): Fifth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2019 NFL Draft.
  • Cam Newton (+5000): Top remaining free-agent QB following his release from the Carolina Panthers.

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Dallas Cowboys’ Week 1 starter: Best bet

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Wednesday, May 6 at 12:20 p.m. ET.

Prescott is rightfully the odds-on favorite to retain his starting job for America’s Team. He’s coming off the best season of his young career and is the centerpiece of one of the NFL’s best offensive trios along with RB Ezekiel Elliott and WR Amari Cooper. While the other two recently received mega-extensions, Prescott is set to play the 2020 season on the one-year franchise tag for $31.4 million.

There’s no value in betting Prescott with a $10 bet returning a profit of just $0.50.

With the threat of Prescott holding out in favor of a long-term contract, DALTON is worth at least a small wager at +600 to take the Cowboys’ first snap of the 2020 season. He’s a very capable NFL starter and the same $10 bet will return a profit of $60. Back Dalton, or sit this one out.

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