The second half of the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams game has sparked the most conversation, as the Eagles rallied to a 33-26 victory. Many praised the defending champions for their effort in erasing a 19-point deficit, but some theories suggested Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had taken over the play-calling. However, Hurts’ version of the game tells a different story.

The reporters asked a simple question to the QB about what inspired the Eagles’ second-half heroics. In response, he credited Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, dismissing all the rumors about him taking over play-calling.

“We had to! We put ourselves in a position and we approached the game in a different way,” Hurts said during the press conference. “You have games like that, and I think as a unit we found a way to get it going, and I give a lot of credit to KP and that give a lot of credit to KP in that being able to adjust and see and get us in the direction that we need to, especially early in the season.”

The discussion centers on contrasting approaches between coordinator Patullo’s conservative play-calling and the aggressive strategy deployed in the second quarter. The tactical differences have sparked analysis about Philadelphia’s offensive identity and decision-making process.

Beyond the coaching debate, Hurts made headlines by directly addressing the team’s first-half struggles, calling the performance “unacceptable.” The quarterback didn’t shy away from responsibility, stating: “We completely did that to ourselves in the first half.”

His candid assessment highlighted the self-inflicted nature of Philadelphia’s early mistakes, contrasting sharply with their dominant second-half execution that showcased the offense’s true potential.

He didn’t mince words after the Eagles’ 33-26 win over the Rams. Despite the team ultimately pulling off a comeback, Hurts was critical of how they started the game, pointing out that they had only 33 total yards before halftime and trailed 19-7.

The Eagles’ offense struggled through the first half against the Rams, with Hurts throwing for only 17 yards and wide receiver A.J. Brown without a catch. The QB believes the issues stemmed from the mindset. Hurts stressed that the team needed to shake off a “play not to lose” mentality and come out aggressive. The changes in the second half revived the offense with three touchdown drives led by Hurts. 

Jalen Hurts orchestrated a dominant second-half performance, completing 17 of 24 passes for 209 yards and 3 touchdowns. The quarterback found excellent rhythm with his top receiving targets as Philadelphia pulled away.

A.J. Brown led the aerial attack with 6 catches for 109 yards and a touchdown, while DeVonta Smith contributed 6 receptions for 44 yards and a score. The duo’s combined production provided Hurts with reliable targets throughout the comeback effort.

This change led many to believe that Hurts was calling the play.

Perhaps not in play calling, but both Hurts and the coach Patullo had a unique role in elevating the team. Head coach Nick Sirianni knows this better than anyone.

Coach Nick Sirianni opened up about the game

Coach Sirianni clarified that OC Patullo handled play-calling, but Hurts’ field of vision and communication played a key role. “Kevin called the plays yesterday in that second half,” the coach said. “But make no mistake about it, Jalen does a great job of communicating. Jalen sees the field really, really, really well. He can come back and tell you what happened without even looking at a picture. And then you look at the picture like, ‘Yeah, that’s exactly what happened.’ Jalen has a great feel for how that’s going.”

He even went on to praise Hurts’ strong relationship with the OC and perhaps to dismiss any ounce of doubt sparked by an incident earlier. One instance where Hurt was seen talking to the coach was observed by the media and fans as a heated moment. When asked about the sideline exchange, Patullo downplayed it, saying it wasn’t a heated moment.

He explained it as simple competitive energy between him and Hurts. “I think it was just a play that had happened, and we were—I don’t even remember, to be honest—what we were talking about,” Patullo said. “Him and I get very excited in general. We’re both excited people and very competitive.”

The Eagles will need more of that when they face the Buccaneers.