Week 1 of the 2000 NFL season, the Eagles and Cowboys squared off in the Pickle Juice Game. The reason it’s called that stopped being interesting sometime around Week 2 of the 2000 NFL season… so, forget that part. No, the best part of that game, for me, is that it’s being played all over again, 21 years later.
In 1999, the rookie duo of head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Donovan McNabb led the Eagles to just five wins. McNabb didn’t get his first official start until Week 10. It was a rough season, but the Birds were learning and building something special with their newly drafted QB. Doug Pederson had to step aside for that to happen.
Wait, why does this sound familiar?
That first game of the following season was a changing of the guard for the NFC East. It was Troy Aikman’s last season, and the Cowboys would go on to finish 5-11. Then, 5-11 in 2001, and 5-11 in 2002– it was awesome. Conversely, the Eagles flipped their 5-11 finish in 1999 into an 11-5 campaign in 2000. The Birds would dominate the division for most of the decade. It all stemmed from that first game, and I think there’s a similar situation brewing (pickling?) again for Philadelphia.
Today, Jalen Hurts, like McNabb, will begin his sophomore debut for the Eagles. It’s kinda funny that Doug Pederson (as QB and HC) seemingly had to step aside for both of these things to happen. Hurts, like McNabb at that point in his career, is a dangerous scrambling quarterback, who seems to also be dangerously underrated.
Remember, Tim Couch was the first QB off the draft board in 1999. There were rumors that some execs in the Eagles front office preferred notorious QB bust Akili Smith, who went one pick after McNabb. He wasn’t seen as a can’t-miss. Even now, we probably don’t give McNabb proper respect after the fact.
He finished the 2000 season as a First Team All-Pro. He led the Eagles in rushing yards, and finished runner-up for MVP. No one saw it coming, but I see the potential for history to repeat itself in Philadelphia.
Jalen Hurts could be that guy. He only started four games last year and still managed to be just the second player in league history with back-to-back games amassing over 300 yards passing and 50 yards rushing. Still, somehow the expectations remain low. Hurts is currently ranked 12th in most fantasy football QB rankings, and the Eagles are slated at 6.5 wins according to VegasInsider.com.
I’m high on both Hurts and the Eagles, and I think this is their moment. I placed an over bet on the team’s win total, and even little something on Hurts to win MVP. I’m all in. And in a few short hours, I’ll probably find out just what kind of pickle I’ve gotten myself into.
