For the first time in four months, Jalen Hurts is preparing for a Sunday without taking the first snap. The Eagles quarterback says he fully trusts the coaching staff and their long-term plan, but the decision arrives at a moment that feels anything but comfortable for a fanbase staring down the playoffs.

Hurts insists the choice is out of his hands. Competitive by nature, he made it clear that if given the opportunity, his mindset would not change. Still, trusting the coaches means accepting a pause, even as the Eagles continue to wrestle with offensive inconsistency heading into the season’s most important stretch.

Sunday’s 13–12 win over the Buffalo Bills captured that concern perfectly. Philadelphia opened strong, built a 13–0 halftime lead, then watched the offense grind to a near standstill. The Eagles managed just 17 yards on 17 plays in the second half, punting on every possession outside of the final kneel-down.

That lack of rhythm has become a recurring theme. Early-down inefficiency has forced the offense behind schedule, putting added strain on protection and limiting creativity. Against playoff-caliber teams, those margins shrink fast, and clean execution becomes non-negotiable.

Hurts acknowledged those frustrations, but his focus remains on execution rather than control. He emphasized that his job is to run the plays as called, operate efficiently, and trust that the coaching staff will put players in the best possible positions to succeed.

That trust extends beyond game-day decisions. This season has required Hurts to reestablish chemistry with another new offensive play-caller, continuing a pattern that has followed him since entering the league. Continuity has been elusive, even as expectations have grown.

With Hurts sidelined, attention now turns to Tanner McKee, who is expected to make his first career start. McKee has been a steady presence in the quarterback room, serving as a sounding board for Hurts over the past two seasons. Preparation now becomes the priority, with the coaching staff focused on getting backups ready for meaningful snaps.

Nick Sirianni framed the decision as part of the bigger picture. The Eagles have already clinched the NFC East and secured at least one home playoff game. Protecting key players, even amid visible offensive flaws, reflects a belief that health and timing matter more than momentum.

Still, the underlying tension remains. Philadelphia’s defense has shown it can protect slim leads. The offense has not consistently proven it can finish games when given the chance. Sunday’s win reinforced both truths.

As the regular season closes, the Eagles sit in position to contend. But the margin for error is thin. Trust, preparation, and execution must align quickly. Because once the playoffs begin, there will be no room left to manage games instead of finishing them.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive front delivered another defining moment in a gritty 13–12 road win over the Buffalo Bills, and this time, the spotlight belongs to

Jalen Carter.

After returning to action on Sunday, Carter made his presence felt in the most critical way possible. With 5:15 remaining in the game, the second-year defensive lineman exploded through the line and blocked an extra-point attempt that ultimately proved to be the difference in Philadelphia’s narrow victory at Highmark Stadium.

That single play shifted the entire complexion of the game.

On Tuesday, the NFL officially recognized Carter’s impact, naming him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 17. He was one of three players league-wide credited with a blocked kick this week, but none came in a moment with higher stakes.

This marks the first Player of the Week award of Carter’s NFL career, and he becomes the second Eagles defensive lineman to earn Special Teams honors this season, joining Jordan Davis, who won the award back in Week 3.

Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis have been sensational on special teams this season

They single handedly won the Eagles 2 games against the Rams and Bills pic.twitter.com/8Gmkw9KtPf

— Real Talk With MJ (@RealTalkWithMJ1) December 29, 2025

For a team that leaned heavily on defense down the stretch, Carter’s play symbolized exactly what the Eagles have become: opportunistic, physical, and relentless in high-pressure moments.

After the game, Carter brushed off individual praise and instead pointed to the collective effort that made the play possible:

“That block wasn’t just me,” Carter said. “It’s everyone doing their job up front, trusting the timing, trusting the rush. I just tried to get my hands up and make a play for the team. That’s what matters.”

In a low-scoring battle decided by inches and seconds, Jalen Carter’s rise from dominant defensive presence to game-altering special teams contributor added another chapter to a rapidly growing résumé, and gave Eagles fans yet another reason to believe this defense can carry them deep into January.