Hurts’ onslaught included DeVonta Smith’s first NFL reception, an 18-yard touchdown pass. Hurts had a passer rating of 126.3, his highest until midway through the 2022 season.
This should’ve been a mismatch, with the Chiefs coming off a Super Bowl berth and the Eagles limping into the game with a porous defense. Yet Hurts matched Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes pass for pass into the fourth quarter. The Chiefs led just 28-23 when Kenny Gainwell scored with 12 minutes left.
In the end, Mahomes was too much. He threw for 278 yards and five TDs as the Chiefs eventually pulled away for a 42-30 win. Hurts threw for a career-high 387 yards with two touchdowns.
To the Eagles, that game showed why Hurts wouldn’t be intimidated by facing Mahomes and the Chiefs 16 months later in the Super Bowl.
This might have been Hurts’ worst game in the NFL. The Eagles, after finishing with seven wins in their final 10 games to get into the playoffs, fell behind 31-0 in their 31-15 loss to the defending Super Bowl champions. Hurts threw two interceptions as the Bucs exposed every weakness in Hurts’ game, primarily by making him roll to his left.
