Jalen Hurts' loss has fans embracing the suck. But the Eagles should embrace chaos
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Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni. Photo: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
We're gathered here this morning to mourn the loss of the Eagles' season. Or are we?
Why it matters: Jalen Hurts' scary diagnosis has fans embracing the suck, but the Eagles should consider embracing chaos.
The big picture: Hurts was already on injured reserve when the team announced Monday that doctors had discovered blood clots in his lungs.
- He's likely out for the rest of the season, but the Eagles expect their star quarterback to make a full recovery.
The latest: The team seems pretty certain that Hurts' long-term future is secure, as long as he follows the medical plan that's been laid out for him, including blood thinners and avoiding football-related contact.
- Hurts' blood clots can be deadly if they're not properly treated and monitored.
- And they could've conceivably threatened his career: A similar diagnosis forced former NBA star Chris Bosh into early retirement.
What we're watching: Head coach Nick Sirianni has won nearly 70% of his regular-season games and guided the Birds to a Super Bowl win in 2025, but he's suddenly become a joker to Eagles fans because of his horrific late-game decision-making.
- But if the Eagles have any chance of extending their streak of five straight playoff appearances, they might have to lean into Sirianni's sometimes nutty go-for-broke style.
- But it might be time to double-down and embrace the Joker's credo about being an "agent of chaos."
Hear me out: The NFC East is bad.
- Star running back Saquon Barkley is expected to return Oct. 26 from a hamstring injury against the Cowboys in a pivotal Monday night game that will decide second place in the division.
Yes, but: Tanner McKee is your starting quarterback from here on out.
- He's more of a game manager than a game-changer like the dual-threat Hurts, who forced teams to respect his scrambling ability.
Reality check: Sometimes an underdog's only path to victory is by blowing up the playbook and playing unconventionally.
Case in point: Author Malcolm Gladwell makes a compelling case for this guerrilla style of competition in his book "David and Goliath," highlighting an inexperienced girls' basketball team whose coach leveled the playing field by deploying a full-court press throughout the game.
The result: The strategy created chaos for teams with even the most experienced ball-handlers, helping Vivek Ranadivé's less talented band of beginners reach the championship game.
Reality check: Sirianni should make "Riverboat Ron" Rivera look risk-averse.
- From here on out, the Eagles should run a bunch of trick plays, fake punts, go for it on virtually every fourth down and play an otherwise kamikaze brand of football that prioritizes doing the very things opposing teams least expect.
💭 Isaac's thought bubble: I've seen this reckless style of gambling work at many poker tables, especially against more conservative players.
The bottom line: With Hurts out, Eagles fans have already put a fork in this season.
- So Sirianni really has nothing to lose. He might be out of a job at the end of the season, or sooner, if he doesn't do something axis-shifting.
🗳️ We want to know: Is the Eagles' season a bust at this point?
- Take our poll and let us know.