Jalen Hurts is the Eagles Starting QB

Author: Sal Vassallo

Editor: Mark Awadallah

For the Philadelphia Eagles, quarterback Carson Wentz was an MVP candidate in 2018 before suffering a brutal knee injury. The Eagles, would of course, later win the super bowl that year with backup QB Nick Foles. Now that Foles has since moved onto Jacksonville and now Chicago, what ever happened to the Philadelphia Eagles? In 2019, the Eagles came back fresh off a super bowl win, and star QB Carson Wentz returned to lead the team to a 9-7 record. Wentz threw for a 63% completion percentage and had a touchdown to interception ratio of 27/7. Now, it has all gone downhill for him. His completion percentage is now at a barren 57% and he’s thrown 15 interceptions in just 12 games played. One positive for Wentz is that he has managed to stay predominantly healthy these past two seasons. However, he just does not look like the same quarterback in 2020, mental errors galore have led to the spike in turnovers. The Eagles have tried to remain loyal to Wentz, still only 27 years old, and fresh off a large contract extension given to him in 2018. However, his play has helped the Eagles sink to the bottom of an NFC East division that has seen the Giants and Redskins tied at 5-7 atop the division. While the Eagles sit just 2 games behind for the division lead, the way they have played feels like they are 20 games back.

With the Giants and Washington playing good football lately, the Eagles have finally made a change to quarterback rookie Jalen Hurts, who defeated an NFC titan, the New Orleans Saints, this Sunday. Yes, the Saints were without Drew Brees, however that does take away from how well Hurts played in his first NFL start. Hurts threw for 17-30 for 167 yards and a touchdown. Amazingly enough he also pulled a Lamar Jackson and rushed for 115 yards himself. Hurts and teammate Miles Sanders combined to run over the Saints defense with 221 rushing yards. While Hurts did fumble once, he made smart decisions with the football as failing to throw any interceptions. This is just game one, so perhaps Hurts’s passing game will improve, however in a league of young mobile quarterbacks, the Eagles could pull off a lot of big time wins with Hurts running the ball. People may have been confused by the Eagles selecting Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft, however now it looks as though they could look to Jalen Hurts to save their season. At just 4-8-1 and with the Washington Football team playing as well as they are, the playoffs may no longer be a realistic goal for the Eagles, but it’ll be interesting to see how Jalen Hurts fares to end the season. The more he plays, the more film there will be on him.

A former two time SEC champion, Hurts is also no stranger to adversity. During his junior year in college, he was benched for Tua Tagovailoa. Tua is, of course, currently the starter down on the Miami Dolphins who have looked awfully good this year. Overall, Hurts ended up transferring to Oklahoma his senior year and despite the big change, he still managed to lead the Oklahoma Sooners to a big 12 championship and a spot in the college football playoff before being knocked out by Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers. Hurts would also finish 2nd to Burrow in the Heisman Trophy voting that season (2019). While I wouldn’t count Wentz out yet, Jalen Hurts has a chance to force the Eagles hand if he continues to play as well as he did against the Saints. It will be interesting to see what the former Alabama and Oklahoma star can do at the pro level.

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE

NFL Week 14 Sunday Scoreline Predictions

Author: Dylan Nijankin

This is a new column analyzing and predicting the results for NFL games every Sunday. We will start by taking a look at every NFL game for Sunday, December 13th.

1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST Window

Tennessee Titans (8-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-11) - The Jaguars are having a season to forget at 1-11. Their loss to Minnesota 27-24 encapsulates their season; although the Jags have consistently scored over 20 points, their defense has not been able to keep opponents from outscoring them. The Titans also come off a loss, 41-35 to the Browns. This loss shouldn’t be anything for Tennessee fans to worry about - Cleveland has a strong team this season. And with a high-powered offense led by a Derrick Henry who's ready for the postseason, the Titans should see a very comfortable victory.

- W - Tennessee Titans 42, L - Jacksonville Jaguars 27

- Players to Watch: Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown, James Robinson

Minnesota Vikings (6-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5) - Tom Brady hasn’t had the season he expected to have with the Bucs, with their 7-5 record decent but nothing to write home about. The Vikings also have had a disappointing season, even with Dalvin Cook putting up huge yards every week. However, the recent break out of Justin Jefferson gas helped the Vikings considerably. If Cook and Jefferson play well, the Vikings might tightly squeeze past the Bucs.

- W - Minnesota Vikings 28, L - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24

- Players to Watch: Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, Ndamukong Suh

Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) at Miami Dolphins (8-4) - The Chiefs are in full gear heading towards the postseason. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill have all looked at the tops of their games the past few weeks, forming what could be the strongest offense in the league. However, the Dolphins do make some formidable competition. It all depends on how well their defense holds up, which has helped propel them to an 8-4 record. Tua Tagovailoa will also have to put in the best performance of his young career. However, the odds are stacked against the Dolphins.

- W - Kansas City Chiefs 28, L - Miami Dolphins 17

- Players to Watch: Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Tua Tagovailoa

Denver Broncos (4-8) at Carolina Panthers (4-8) - The COVID/IR list has not been very kind to the Panthers this week, with eight of their players being put on the list. On the other hand, the Broncos came off a foreseeable loss to the Chiefs, but there were some bright spots in their loss. The Denver defense played pretty well against Kansas City, and their run game was solid. Thus, a Broncos victory is unsurprising, especially with Panthers star Christian McCaffrey doubtful to play.

- W - Denver Broncos 21, L - Carolina Panthers 13

- Players to Watch: Drew Lock, Phillip Lindsay, Robby Anderson

Houston Texans (4-8) at Chicago Bears (5-7) - Deshaun Watson will be looking to come back after a tough loss to the Colts in week 13. He will be facing a tough Chicago defense, who are eager to improve on their not-so-positive season. However, Chicago’s offense has been shaky the entire season, often finding it difficult to score. If Deshaun Watson and Houston’s run game play well, they might see themselves come out with a win.

- W - Houston Texans 22, L - Chicago Bears 17

- Players to Watch: Deshaun Watson, David Johnson, David Montgomery

Arizona Cardinals (6-6) at New York Giants (5-7) - The Giants are a surprise story of the NFC this year, rising out of the initially terrible NFC East (along with the Football Team) to resemble an actual solid team. With four straight wins, backup Colt McCoy and the 5-7 Giants have a very good shot at topping their division, or at least taking over the Vikings for a Wild Card spot. Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins make a hard matchup, but the Giants defense is energized and excited.

- W - New York Giants 17, L - Arizona Cardinals 13

- Players to Watch: Colt McCoy, Leonard Williams, DeAndre Hopkins

UPDATE: DANIEL JONES WILL BE STARTING OVER COLT MCCOY, COMING BACK FROM THE IR.

Dallas Cowboys (3-9) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-9-1) - The Bengals aren’t in the best shape. Neither are the Cowboys. But someone will win this game. The Bengals are wiithout Joe Burrow and lack a defense, while Amari Cooper and Ceedee Lamb have been getting more receptions from Andy Dalton for the Cowboys. Dallas should win this game.

- W - Dallas Cowboys 24, L - Cincinnati Bengals 14

- Players to Watch: Amari Cooper, Ceedee Lamb, Tyler Boyd

4:05 PM EST/1:05 PM PST

Indianapolis Colts (8-4) at Las Vegas Raiders (7-5) - The Colts have been a formidable opponent this season. T.Y. Hilton has been improving in recent weeks, with a scary defense led by Xavier Rhodes at cornerback. The Raiders meanwhile look to improve on a very, very slight win over the Jets (which probably should have been a loss). Darren Waller had an incredible game last week, but him repeating this performance against the Colts defense isn’t a given.

- W - Indianapolis Colts 28, L - Las Vegas Raiders 14

- Players to Watch: T.Y. Hilton, Xavier Rhodes, Darren Waller

New York Jets (0-12) at Seattle Seahawks (8-4) - The Seahawks aren’t in the same form as in the beginning of the season. Their defense, especially the secondary, isn’t the same as it used to be. Despite this, they are playing Adam Gase and the New York Jets. Russell Wilson and DK Metcalf will have a highlight play. Maybe Jamison Crowder will score a touchdown here and there for the Jets. Won’t matter much in this Seattle victory.

- W - Seattle Seahawks 35, L - New York Jets 16

- Players to Watch: Russell Wilson, DK Metcalf, Jamison Crowder

4:25 PM EST/1:25 PM PST

Green Bay Packers (9-3) at Detroit Lions (5-7) - The Lions defense hasn’t been that good this season, especially against the rush. Aaron Jones should have himself a game, while Detroit also has to fend off the Aaron Rodgers-Davante Adams connection. Matt Stafford might have a few good plays, as he has been having himself a pretty decent season. In the end though, the Packers offense should overpower the Lions.

- W - Green Bay Packers 42, L - Detroit Lions 21

- Players to Watch: Aaron Jones, Davante Adams, Matt Stafford

Atlanta Falcons (4-8) at Los Angeles Chargers (3-9) - After getting thrashed by the Patriots, Rookie of the Year candidate Justin Herbert will be looking to come back. The Falcons are a good team to do that against, as they haven’t looked that sharp as well this season. A healthy Austin Ekeler is also a big plus for the Chargers. The Chargers should pull this one out, with Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo probably being his team's highest scorer again.

- W - Los Angeles Chargers 24, L - Atlanta Falcons 19

- Players to Watch: Austin Ekeler, Justin Herbert, Younghoe Koo

Washington Football Team (5-7) at San Francisco 49ers (5-7) - The 49ers are starting to look better, with Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert not on the IR anymore. However, the Football Team does have a very tough defense. Chase Young has looked sharp for them, giving Washington a real shot at the Playoffs. Their offense has also improved, led by Terry McLaurin and a miraculously resurgent Alex Smith. The 49ers are at a disadvantage, due to their stadium situation during COVID lockdowns, having to relocate to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The game should remain highly competitive, but the advantage goes to Washington.

- W - Washington Football Team 20, L San Francisco 49ers 17

- Players to Watch: Alex Smith, Chase Young, Raheem Mostert

New Orleans Saints (10-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-8-1) - The Saints are looking sharp, and their defense is a powerhouse in the league. Taysom Hill has been a plus for New Orleans while Drew Brees is out, who may be making a return this. The Eagles on the other hand haven’t had the best fortunes, and are watching the NFC East runaway from them. Jalen Hurts hasn’t looked that bad in the starting job, but it won’t be nearly enough to beat the Saints.

- W - New Orleans Saints 28, L - Philadelphia Eagles 13

- Players to Watch: Taysom Hill, Marshon Lattimore, Jalen Hurts

Sunday Night Football, 8:20 PM EST/5:20 PM PST

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-1) at Buffalo Bills (9-3) - Josh Allen has been a standout among quarterbacks this season, with him leading a redhot Bills team towards a spot in the AFC playoff bracket. Along with an ever-improving defense with a dangerous Tre’Davious White, the Bills are a team to watch. The Steelers are going to be competitive, however, with them tied for the best record in the league, supported by their defense. Their fortunes have been undermined in the last few weeks, with Washington exposing their weaknesses. Along with their rather weak schedule, it will be a difficult challenge for them to beat Buffalo, who are fielding their best team in decades. This game is a must watch, as Buffalo looks to secure a big win over the Steelers, in the process stirring up the AFC playoff picture.

- W - Buffalo Bills 29, L - Pittsburgh Steelers 24

- Players to Watch: Josh Allen, Tre’Davious White, T.J. Watt

- TheSportUniverse Game of the Week

Monday Night Football, 8:15 PM EST/5:15 PM PST

Baltimore Ravens (7-5) at Cleveland Browns (9-3) - The Ravens are having a decent season, but not up to their preseason expectations. Teams have seemed to figure out Lamar Jackson, and his receiving core isn’t the best. The Browns have looked the best they have in 20+ years, and have completely shaken off Odell Beckham Jr.’s injury. Jarvis Landry has been receiving well, Nick Chubb has been gaining yards, and Myles Garrett has held their defense down. The Ravens will put up a fight, but the Browns will most likely be the ones improving on their record.

- W - Cleveland Browns 24, L - Baltimore Ravens 17

- Players to Watch: Myles Garrett, Nick Chubb, Lamar Jackson

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE

Can the Jets Turn it Around In 2021?

Author: Trevor Schwartz

Editor: Mark Awadallah

The abysmal 0-11 New York Jets are on their way to the 1st overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. People are saying no way can this team can turn it around in a year but before you think that, just know the Jets have the second highest cap space in the NFL after this season and they have a surplus of draft picks, courtesy of their GM, Joe Douglas.

Let us start with the 1st overall pick. If the Jets do indeed lock up the 1st pick, you can expect them to lock in Trevor Lawrence and trade Sam Darnold. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, he thinks the Jets can get a 2nd and a 5th for Sam Darnold. That is the same thing the Cardinals got for Josh Rosen back in 2019.

The Jets already have two 1st rounders, a 2nd rounder, and two 3rd round draft picks. If the Jets could in fact get a 2nd rounder for Sam Darnold, they would have two picks in each of the first three rounds. With these picks, Joe Douglas can do a lot to turn around the direction of this franchise.

Add Trevor Lawrence, plus Joe Douglas’s other draft picks in the 2021 draft and now we are talking. Joe Douglas had a solid first few rounds of his first draft as GM of the Jets. In the first round in the 2020 draft, he took arguably the best tackle in the draft, Mekhi Becton, who happens to be in the race for his first Pro Bowl. Becton has showed that he is the savior the Jets needed and is already playing like a top-5 tackle in the league. Douglas then traded back in the 2nd round and still got the man he wanted: Denzel Mims. Mims did not play the first 6 weeks but after seeing his performance in his first five games, it looked like Joe Douglas was on the money about him. Mims is a star in the making and could be a very good WR number two. Mims has had at least 40 yards in all of his games and above 60 in 3 out of 5 games. In the 3rd round, he drafted safety Ashtyn Davis. Davis did not get much playing time early on but after placing McDougal on IR, the rookie safety has impressed people.

Besides the surplus of draft picks, the Jets have $80,859,956 in cap room next year, second most in the NFL, just behind the Jaguars. The Jets need a true number one WR and there are plenty of them that are projected to be on the market this upcoming offseason: Chris Godwin, Allen Robinson, Kenny Golladay, and Will Fuller (Pending they don’t get franchise tagged or resigned). The Jets just need one of those guys, preferably adding Godwin or Allen Robinson to the mix of Mims and Crowder and then bringing back Perriman and Trevor Lawrence. With that kind of lineup, the Jets will have a ton of weapons to throw at any team. This would also be a dream offense for a rookie QB, and the Jets have the money to make it happen.

There are two great guards who are also potentially available this upcoming offseason: Joe Thuney and Brandon Scherff. Assuming both of these guys don’t get either franchised, tagged, or resigned and Joe Douglas signs one of them, adding a guard like Scherff or Thuney, plus a WR like Godwin or Allen Robinson, will put the Jets in a prime position to turn it around next year.

Don’t forget also that the “QB guru” Adam Gase will most likely not be the head coach next year. The Jets can bring in any coach from Eric Bieniemy to Arthur Smith to Joe Brady. The 2021 New York Jets can be good if Joe Douglas has a solid draft and free agency. If all goes as planned, watch out NFL: The Trevor Lawrence led Jets may be a problem for years to come.

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE