PHILADELPHIA -- It was another week where Jalen Hurts decided to make history in what could be an MVP season for the Philadelphia Eagles superstar quarterback. Hurts became the first player in the 90-year history of the Eagles to throw for 350 yards, pass for three touchdowns, and rush for a touchdown in a game as Philadelphia blew out the AFC South-leading Tennessee Titans 35-10 at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.
Hurts completed 29 of 39 passes for 380 yards with three touchdown passes with no interceptions and a rushing touchdown in the convincing win. The Eagles have started 11-1 for the first time since the 2004 season, when they went to the Super Bowl with Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens leading the way.
A.J. Brown had a career day against his former team, finishing with eight catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Brown had a 40-yard touchdown and a 29-yard touchdown catch, giving him five touchdown catches of 25-plus yards on the year. DeVonta Smith had five catches for 102 yards and a touchdown in the win as he and Brown became the first pair of Eagles wide receivers to have 100 receiving yards in a game since Riley Cooper and DeSean Jackson in 2013.
The Eagles defense also shut down the Titans offense, holding Derrick Henry to 11 carries for 30 yards on the day. Ryan Tannehill finished 14 of 22 for 141 yards and a touchdown, but exited the game in the fourth quarter with the Eagles up 28 points. Treylon Burks had the lone touchdown catch for the Titans to tie the game at 7-7 in the first quarter, but exited the game with a concussion.
Philadelphia scored 28 unanswered points after that and took control of the game. The Eagles had over 400 total yards of offense when Hurts exited in the fourth quarter, becoming the first team in 35 years to throw for 350 yards the week after rushing for 350 yards in a game.
Here's a breakdown of what transpired in Philadelphia on Sunday.
Why the Eagles won
Philadelphia took full advantage of Tennessee's 31st-ranked pass defense, as Jalen Hurts threw for 380 yards and three scores. Hurts set the stage for A.J. Brown's big day by finding DeVonta Smith for a 34-yard touchdown early then hitting Brown on a 40-yard score (after a Brown 40-yard touchdown was called back because he didn't get his toe in bounds) and a 29-yard score in the third quarter that essentially put the game away.
Brown and Smith each had over 100 yards receiving in the contest as the Eagles averaged 9.0 yards per pass attempt. They were as dominant through the air as they were on the ground the week prior.
Why the Titans lost
Tennessee tried to get the run game going with Derrick Henry against a Philadelphia run defense that struggled of late, but got Jordan Davis back in the fold. Philadelphia's new-look five-man front made a huge difference against Henry, who averaged just 2.7 yards per carry as the Titans had just 87 rushing yards -- 34 of which were by Tannehill.
With no run game and facing a huge deficit because of the pass defense, the Titans averaged just 3.8 yards per play. The passing game was basically absent once Treylon Burks left with a concussion. Tennessee could have used A.J. Brown on Sunday.
Turning point
Josh Sweat's sack on Ryan Tannehill on third-and-6 from the Eagles' 13-yard line held the Titans to a field goal and preserved the Eagles' lead. Chigoziem Okonkwo's 41-yard catch put Tennessee in the red zone, but a false start penalty on a third-and-1 from the Eagles' 8-yard line changed the scenario for Tennessee. Sweat came through with the first of his two sacks on the day as the Eagles forced a field goal and still held a 14-10 lead.
Philadelphia went seven plays for 75 yards on its ensuing possession for a touchdown and never looked back.
Play of the game
Jalen Hurts' 29-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown was one of the more incredible throws and catches you'll see from the MVP candidate and the No. 1 wide receiver this year. Hurts threw it where only Brown could get the ball, as Brown caught the pass with Tre Avery smothering him in coverage.
Didn't matter. Brown hauled in the pass for his second touchdown of the day. Hurts called him a "special player" for a reason.
The quote
"I wanted to retire a Titan. I tried to do everything in my power to remain a Titan. It's a business, once again. In that situation I had to grow up. I just had to learn it was a business. I wanted to make them regret that decision. It's been personal since the trade. That's where I wanted to be. Things didn't work out. You just kind of get pushed to the side.
"In that situation, I had to grow up." -- A.J. Brown on why it was personal getting traded from the Titans
Up next
The Eagles (11-1) head to New York to face the Giants next Sunday while the Titans (7-5) play host to the Jaguars.