Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles' Jalen Hurts looks to settle score against Buccaneers

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 9/21/23

Philadelphia Eagles fans have Nov. 20 circled on the calendar as a revenge game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but quarterback Jalen Hurts has unfinished business in Tampa Bay on “Monday Night Football” in Week 3.

After poor play by former Eagles starting quarterback Carson Wentz in 2020, Hurts was named the starter toward the end of a miserable 4-11-1 campaign. By the end of the 2021 season, he had Philadelphia back in the postseason, but things didn’t go well against Tampa in the NFC wild-card game.

Tampa Bay #Bucs LB Shaq Barrett with a 1 handed interception after deflecting it to himself from #Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. #NFL pic.twitter.com/jbz2jhKVTq
— Justin Time Sports (@JTIMESPORTS) January 16, 2022

Hurts led the team in rushing with 39 yards but struggled to find open receivers all day. Tampa’s defensive coordinator (and now head coach) Todd Bowles confused the young quarterback, holding him to 23 completions on 43 attempts for 258 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

“We didn’t play good enough today. I didn’t play good enough today," Hurts told reporters after the game. “This game does not define us, does not define who we are. We know all the different things that we’ve overcome. I know as a football team we’ll be back."

After the game, fans (and the Eagles front office) questioned if Hurts would ever be “the guy.” Thanks to trades with the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts, the team held three first-round picks heading into the offseason. The Eagles reportedly considered using them to get former Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson but decided to stick with Hurts in 2022.

He rewarded their faith with the best season of his career, an NFC Championship and one of the best performances by a quarterback in Super Bowl history. Still, he’s never beaten the Buccaneers.

Monday’s game will be Hurts’s first against the Bucs since that ugly playoff loss. A quick look at his cellphone will tell you he’s one to keep receipts. Whether he can cash one in Tampa remains to be seen.

More must-reads: