EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Jalen Hurts overthrew DeVonta Smith when the receiver was wide open with the chance for an easy touchdown. That was one lowlight of the Philadelphia Eagles' second consecutive
loss, but Hurts also had another on Thursday night.
Hurts was picked off early in the fourth quarter by Cor'Dale Flott, who returned it 68 yards to set up the New York Giants' fifth touchdown in a 34-17 rout. It was Hurts' first interception of the season and just the second — counting the Super Bowl he won as MVP — in 15 games over the past 11 months.
Plenty else went wrong. The Eagles' defense did them no favors, allowing New York to convert on 11 of 16 third-down chances, and Saquon Barkley's fumble with 6:50 left sent many fans to the exits.
Still, Hurts was a big part of going 1 of 9 for third down. And the elite quarterback being off his game shows what's wrong with the defending champions after blowing a 17-3 lead and losing at home to Denver on Sunday and falling completely flat as a 7 1/2-point favorite at the Meadowlands.
It was easy to point to where it unraveled this time.
The Eagles trailed by three early in the second half and had third-and-6 on their own 11. Smith beat Flott and was running uncovered down the field, but Hurts' throw sailed a few yards over his head and set up the second of four Philadelphia punts.
Jaxson Dart led the Giants on a nine-play, 56-yard drive, culminating in one of fellow rookie Cam Skattebo's three touchdown runs. The Eagles gained just 8 yards apiece on their next two drives.
They got into the red zone with the game still in reach when Flott stepped in front of Hurts' throw intended for Jahan Dotson and almost took it to the house. Hurts' interception was his first in the regular season since Nov. 10 at Dallas, a blowout win.
The Eagles did not lose back-to-back games all last season. The last time they did was three in a row from Dec. 31, 2023-Jan. 15, 2024, including a defeat at the Meadowlands to the Giants and a playoff elimination at Tampa Bay.
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