NFL fines Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts $16,391 for making horse collar tackle

How’s this for an unusual fine? On Saturday, the NFL ordered Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to pay $16,391 for making a tackle.

It wasn’t an ordinary tackle. Hurts grabbed Giants cornerback Adoree Jackson from behind after an interception and pulled him down to keep him from scoring. The tackle attempt didn’t work and Jackson scored to cut the Eagles advantage to 20-18. Days later, the league determined the tackle was a horse collar and threw a hefty fine.

The NFL fined #Eagles QB Jalen Hurts $16,391 for a horsecollar tackle last week — yanking down #Giants CB Adoree Jackson on this pick-six.pic.twitter.com/5vRxrIXX8L

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 30, 2023

There were all sorts of unusual details about the play in this Eagles-Giants game. For one, quarterbacks usually don’t give big effort to make a tackle after an interception. But Hurts sprinted to catch Jackson, who’d picked the pass at the Giants 24. The Eagles quarterback finally caught him at about the 10. He appeared to grab Jackson’s jersey and finally got him down in the end zone. It was too late.

Hurts’ fine fell under the category of “player safety rules and/or flagrant personal foul.” A first-offense for a horse-collar tackle is $16,391. A second offense is $21,855. There are 11 different fines that are in this category. The largest fine of $21,855 is for “impermissible use of the helmet/launching.” And to delve deeper, the cheapest fines are for late hit or face mask. Those cost $10,927.

Hurts shook off frustation, led Eagles to win over Giants

No doubt, Hurts was frustrated with the situation. He’d guided the Eagles on a 13-play march down field. On the 14th play — a second-and-20 from the Giants 28 — the Eagles receiver appeared to slip, giving Jackson an un path to cluttered path to score. Giants running back Saquon Barkley converted the two-point attempt to cut Philadelphia’s advantage to two points.

But to Hurts’ credit, he stayed focused and led the Eagles on an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on the next series. Philadelphia stretched the lead to 27-18. The Eagles eventually won 33-25 to snap their losing streak at three-straight games.

The Eagles take on the Cardinals, Sunday, at Lincoln Financial Field. They’re looking to clinch the NFC East title for the second straight season. Here’s how that can happen. If Philadelphia wins its final two games, then the Eagles take the division. It doesn’t matter what the Cowboys do. However, if Dallas loses to Detroit Saturday night at home, Philadelphia can secure the division with a victory over the Cardinals.

Philadelphia currently is the No. 2 seed behind the 49ers. But if the Eagles and Lions each win their last two games, Detroit earns the second seed because of its record against common opponents.

Eagles fans probably should root for the Cowboys (we know, impossible). If the Lions lose to Dallas, Philadelphia has a shot at the top seed in the NFC. In this situation, if the Eagles win their final two, and the 49ers drop a game, then Philly can be No. 1.