Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts has a lot of respect for the San Francisco 49ers.
The Philadelphia Eagles face the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card round of the 2026 NFL playoffs, a battle between two of the most storied franchises in football history.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, who won the Super Bowl MVP Award this season, isn't overlooking the 49ers despite the team dealing with multiple defensive injuries.
"They're a really good team," Hurts said. "They have really good coaching. They play very hard, fly to the ball, very physical. You see a theme in the style of defense that they've played throughout the years, and that's why they're always up there playing for championships."
The Eagles went 11-6 in the regular season. They were 19th in the NFL in points per game and fifth in points per game allowed.
Meanwhile, the 49ers went 12-5. They were 10th in the league in points per game and 13th in points per game allowed.
"You just take it a day at a time, truly," Hurts said. "Take it a day at a time. I mean, obviously, it's 0-0. It's a new season. You got everything you want in front of you, but you got to take it a day at a time.
"I think experience is the biggest teacher. So, a lot of moments you can lean on experience in itself. So, I think just being able to reflect on not always someone else's opinions but your own experiences, that's valuable."
Hurts finished with 3,224 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, 421 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns this season. In nine career postseason games, The Pro Bowler has 1,813 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns and only three interceptions. He has a 6-3 record.
If Hurts doesn't play like a superstar in the playoffs, the Eagles will not repeat as Super Bowl champions. The dual-threat QB needs to make quick decisions and get the ball in the hands of his playmakers in open space.
During the regular season, the Eagles ranked 23rd in the NFL in passing yards and 18th in rushing yards under first-year OC Kevin Patullo. It will be interesting to see how the Birds' offense plays against the 49ers' defense at home.