'You're stupid' not to listen. Why Jalen Hurts vs. Tua isn’t best Eagles-Dolphins matchup

PHILADELPHIA − All of the attention will be on the two quarterbacks Sunday night when the Eagles' Jalen Hurts goes against the Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa.

But that won't be the best matchup in a possible Super Bowl preview. It's the first time a pair of 5-1 teams have met in a Sunday Night Football matchup since 2015.

Sure, both teams are 5-1 in large part based on the quarterback play. The Dolphins have the top offense in the NFL, they've already put up 70 points in a game, and Tagovailoa is leading the NFL in passing yardage at 1,856 yards and passer rating at 114.1. He has also completed 71.7% of his passes.

Then again, the only time the Dolphins played a team above .500 this season at the time of the game, they lost 48-20 to Buffalo.

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The Eagles, meanwhile, have the No. 2 offense in total yards and rushing. And while Hurts is not playing at the MVP level that he played at last season, he is 22-2 in his last 24 regular-season starts. And he's third in the NFL in total yards among QBs with 1,795, trailing only Tagovailoa and Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence.

And certainly, a main topic during the national telecast Sunday night will revolve around Hurts getting benched for Tagovailoa at halftime of Alabama's national championship game in January 2018, and how Hurts never pouted even while serving as Tagovailoa's backup before transferring to Oklahoma for his senior year.

This is the first time they're facing each other in the NFL. Hurts admitted that he admires Tagovailoa, but they don't talk frequently. When asked if he planned to in the days leading up to the game, Hurts replied: "Game week," and that they'll catch up afterward.

"It’s been great to see the things he’s been able to do over his career," Hurts said. "Hoping for continued success."

This is where wide receivers A.J. Brown of the Eagles and Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins will have an integral role in making that happen for both Hurts and Tagovailoa, along with the Eagles' DeVonta Smith and the Dolphins' Jaylen Waddle.

Hill leads the NFL with 814 yards receiving through six games, on pace for 2,306 yards receiving. That would shatter the NFL single-season record for yards receiving in a season. No one has ever had 2,000 yards receiving in a season.

Brown ranks second with 672 yards. But Brown has had at least 125 yards receiving in four straight games, tying an Eagles record originally set by Harold Jackson overlapping the 1971 and 1972 seasons.

If Brown can extend his streak to five, he'll tie an NFL record set by the Lions' Calvin Johnson, who did it in 2012.

Brown's success is no surprise to newest Eagle Julio Jones, who was signed to the practice squad on Wednesday after amassing 13,629 yards in his previous 12 seasons, making him the NFL's active leader in receiving yards and 16th all-time.

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Jones, who had seven seasons of at least 1,000 yards receiving with the Falcons from 2011-19, was traded to Tennessee in 2021, at Brown's behest. And the two have remained close ever since. In fact, Brown said he wanted to become a wide receiver in the first place because of Jones.

"Before I started talking to Julio, I always say, 'Man, Julio taught me everything he knew without even talking to me,'" Brown said. "That’s how much I studied his game. The way I play the game of football is from him. … You don’t (play) the way I play if Julio Jones doesn’t put the laces over his cleats."

But now Brown and Smith have the added advantage of talking to Jones at every practice, going over plays, routes and what Jones has seen throughout his illustrious career.

"If you don’t listen to him, you’re stupid," Brown said. "I’m going to just call it like it is. Guys are going to look up to him. He has a lot of knowledge, and he’s great people."

Jones is equally impressed with Brown. And Jones wasn't shy about answering whether the 26-year-old Brown reminds Jones of well, Jones, from his prime.

"Yeah, absolutely," Jones said. "He’s the total package, and like I said, the consistency that he’s having and showing, he just keeps building on that each and every week. He’s like a little brother to me. Anything he needs from me, I’m here to give it to him. But he has all the tools, the ability, everything."

And Brown hopes to show that against the Dolphins, and indirectly, against Hill.

"Tyreek, he’s a really special receiver in this league," Brown said. "I think he’s probably the most explosive player in this league. If you don’t cover him, he’ll change the game."

Brown can, too. They just go about differently. Hill has blazing speed, while Brown is built like a running back who plays wide receiver, meaning he can outrun and outleap a defender, not to mention run him over.

Brown said he learned that from Jones early in his high school career.

"At the time, I didn't really like football," Brown said. "I was kind of scared, to be honest. I was around 9th or 10th grade. I wasn’t really fond of football. And Julio, watching him play the position just made me say, ‘You know, I can do that.'

"He inspired me."

And now Jones can do that every day at practice.

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The Dolphins' offensive numbers are not only impressive, they're almost record-setting. They average 498.7 yards per game, and if they get 282 yards of total offense Sunday, they'll move into the top three in NFL history after seven games.

The Dolphins have scored 70 points with 726 yards in a 70-20 win over the Broncos and surpassed 500 yards in two other games.

Even with top running back De'Von Achane, who was averaging an incredible 12.1 yards per carry, on injured reserve, the Dolphins still lead the NFL in rushing yards per game behind Raheem Mostert.

So clearly the Eagles' best defense will be its offense. And here, the Eagles have a chance. As good as the Dolphins' offense is, the defense ranks 20th overall, and they gave up 48 points in a 48-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

The Eagles, meanwhile, can control the clock. They had a season-high 19-play drive that took up 9 minutes, 47 seconds against the Jets. Their downfall, of course, were the four turnovers, including three interceptions from Hurts.

Needless to say, they'll lose ugly if they do that against the Dolphins.

The Eagles have the No. 2 rushing offense in the NFL. They'll have right tackle Lane Johnson back after he suffered a sprained ankle last week. And they can also mix in the pass.

That will be their best defense.

Score: Eagles 36, Dolphins 30.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Why Jalen Hurts vs. Tua Tagovailoa isn’t best Eagles-Dolphins matchup