In a hard-fought NFC Wild Card matchup, the Philadelphia Eagles fell to the San Francisco 49ers 23-19 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The loss marked a disappointing end to the season for the Eagles, with quarterback Jalen Hurts struggling to find his rhythm.
Hurts completed 20 of 35 passes for just 168 yards and managed to throw one touchdown, yet his performance was not enough to propel his team into the next round of the playoffs. Despite some flashes of talent, he ultimately fell short in leading the Eagles to victory.
Following the game, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley reflected on Hurts” season. Barkley expressed admiration for his quarterback”s leadership qualities. “I think he did a great job,” Barkley remarked when asked how he would evaluate Hurts” performance throughout the season. “I think the things you guys can”t see, I think he”s always been a great leader, but I feel like just the way he”s interacting with the guys this year, he did an amazing job with that.”
Barkley emphasized that while many focus on statistics and win-loss records, he believes Hurts” intangible qualities as a leader are invaluable. “I know people get caught up in QB stats and wins and losses. I don”t agree with that,” the three-time Pro Bowler stated.
Although Hurts did not earn a Pro Bowl selection for the 2025 season, he delivered impressive numbers, throwing for over 3,200 yards for the third consecutive year and achieving a career-high of 25 touchdown passes against just six interceptions, maintaining a completion rate of 64.8 percent.
Ultimately, both Barkley and Hurts faced disappointment as the Eagles fell short of their goal of a Super Bowl parade for the second consecutive season. In the playoff game against the 49ers, Barkley rushed for 106 yards on 26 carries but was unable to reach the end zone, further contributing to the team”s struggles.
