Falcons prepping for ‘one of the best players in the world’ with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Entering just the second game of their 2024 schedule, the Atlanta Falcons have to plan for yet another mobile quarterback with the Philadelphia Eagles up next.

Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake is less than thrilled.

“I don’t think any of that is enjoyable,” Lake said in response to a question about preparing for a quarterback who can do major damage with his legs.

Lake laughed, but he also knows Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is no joke.

“I guess I could say we all enjoy the challenge of playing against the best players in the world, and Jalen Hurts is definitely one of those; he is one of the best players in the world,” Lake said. “There is some carryover from last week in terms of an athletic quarterback who can throw it and can run it. It’s a two-dimension thing. You have to worry about that.”

The Falcons faced Justin Fields of the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday. Though Atlanta lost, the defense held Fields to 57 yards on 14 carries. That’s good for an average of 4.1 yards per carry.

Last year, Fields averaged 5.3 yards per carry by season’s end. But he was with the Chicago Bears then, which makes it difficult to compare the stats.

Still, regardless of his team, Fields was the No. 2 rushing quarterback in 2023. He finished with 657 yards on the ground.

The No. 3 rushing quarterback that same year? Hurts, with 605.

So, the Falcons are indeed taking on last year’s Nos. 2 and 3 in this year’s Weeks 1 and 2, respectively. There’s at least helpful film on Hurts since he has been with the Eagles since they drafted him in 2020, taking over the starting role in 2021.

“The first thing we got to do is make him stay in the pocket,” Falcons assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray said. “And then, make him throw on time. You can’t give him three, four seconds. They’ll tear you apart.”

Hurts put up 278 passing yards in the Eagles’ Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers. He completed 20 of his 34 passes, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Falcons have only played Hurts once in 2021, when Philadelphia walked away from Atlanta with a 32-6 win during Hurts’ first .

Considering the Eagles have been in the last three postseasons, though, Hurts’ success is no secret. He went 33-14 in those regular seasons and then 2-3 in the playoffs. Everyone knows what he can do.

“I think when you play a team like this, especially one that has a really good decision-maker and play-maker at quarterback, there will be times throughout the game where there might be a couple series in a row where it could be a three-and-out, a three-and-out,” Falcons safety Justin Simmons said. “Then, you start feeling like, ‘Oh, we have this thing settled, we understand what’s going on.’ All of a sudden, adjustments are made. His decision-making is a little bit quicker. Both sides get into a calmness and a flow and an understanding, and that’s where the advantage can be taken.

“You’ve seen that in games prior, where maybe Philly hasn’t started fast, but once they do, I mean, they’re ripping off three or four touchdowns in a row.”

Hurts isn’t the only offensive weapon the Falcons have to worry about either. The Eagles also have running back Saquon Barkley, who had 24 carries for 109 yards and three touchdowns total last week. They also have wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, who had a combined 12 receptions for 203 yards and a touchdown. Philadelphia even had tight end Dallas Goerdert get in on the action with four catches for 31 yards.

Suffice to say, the Eagles know how to use their entire offense in order to get what they want, and that, of course, is a victory. Monday night at Lincoln Financial Field will be no different.

“In order to win in that stadium, we’re going to have to have a heck of a defensive outing, and that’s against one of the top offenses in the league,” Simmons said. “We understand that, and we’re up for the challenge.”