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WATCH: Jalen Hurts to DeVonta Smith for game-tying Eagles touchdown

by:Austin Brezina11/07/21

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Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Former Alabama teammates are getting the job done in the NFL, as Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found DeVonta Smith for a late key touchdown. Hurts and Smith played together at Alabama in 2017 and 2018 before Hurts moved to play for Oklahoma. The pair reunited in Philadelphia this season as Smith was drafted in the first round by the Eagles.

Jalen Hurts to DeVonta Smith

Although they took different paths to the NFL, their time as teammates at Alabama have impacted their young NFL careers. After Hurts moved on to Oklahoma, he became a Heisman Trophy runner up and a second-round pick in the NFL draft. Smith won the Heisman Trophy himself in 2020 before being selected in the first round.

On Sunday, that connection almost helped Philadelphia defeat the Los Angeles Chargers. With just over six minutes in the game and down a touchdown, Hurts scanned the field before hitting Smith down the center. Smith’s athleticism turned a big play into an even greater one as he sprinted to the outside and dove for the end zone as he was wrestled down.

The score tied the game for the Eagles, before the Chargers drove down the field to end the game and kicked the game-winning field goal in the final seconds.

Despite his great day on Sunday, Smith has had a slow start to his rookie season. Against the Chargers he recorded 116 yards and a touchdown, his second time catching for over 100 yards on the year. However, for the season this was only Smith’s second receiving touchdown as he has averaged 52.6 yards per game coming into Sunday’s game.

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The Eagles fell to 3-6 after the loss and will travel to Denver to play the Broncos next week. The Broncos defeated their NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, giving a window for the rest of the division to begin catching up to them.

Alabama stars driving jersey sales

According to Fanatics, as the season began the former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback had become the second-highest selling jersey in the NFL. After the Eagles win to begin the season in Week 1, only former Alabama teammate and rookie quarterback Mac Jones of the Patriots was higher at the time. Hurts’ 500% sales increase from before and after the game was the largest of any player in the league.

The Philadelphia Inquirer noted that yet another former Alabama Crimson Tide star, and Hurts’ current teammate DeVonta Smith had the top-selling jersey of all rookie non-quarterbacks afterwards as well. This is notable, considering every skill-position rookie drafted in the top 15 scored a touchdown in Week 1 except Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban continues to have Alabama players represent in the NFL and the domination at the next level is carrying over to new fans throughout the country.

On3’s Sean Labar contributed to this article.