Two compelling topics in these NFL playoffs are the fact that a must-have for teams is a running quarterback, and that they have learned how to exploit rules aimed for their safety into big advantages.
Sunday's conference championship games will feature four quarterbacks adept at extending plays, gaining yards and putting defenders in limbo: Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders, Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes. While the other three finished Top 5 in quarterback rushing yards, it's Mahomes' antics - er, strategy - that has shined a light of the league's rules on protecting quarterbacks.
No quarterback has drawn more roughing-the-passer penalties that the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Allen, Mahomes is the one most adept at putting defenders in the precarious decision of hitting him or not.
The Commanders, according to defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., will not deal with that dilemma Sunday against Hurts and the Eagles. Hurts suffered a concussion against Washington in Week 16 when he was sandwiched between linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu and slammed his head into the turf. He missed two games.
In last week's playoff win over the Los Angeles Rams, Hurts was again hit violently outside the pocket and came up gimpy after awkwardly bending his leg.
"We've had a number of these guys that we've had to prepare for," Whitt said. "If he's going to run the ball and the offensive coordinator makes the decision for him to run the ball, we're going to treat him like a running back."
Though Eagles' NFL rushing champion Saquon Barkley rushed for 290 yards and four touchdowns in two games against Washington, the threat of Hurts' running is a major asset for Philly. In the Rams game he scampered for a 44-yard touchdown and - despite missing the most of three games - finished third behind only Lamar Jackson and Daniels in quarterback rushing yards.
"We are going to hit him that way, like a running back" Whitt said. "That's their decision if they want to get him hit the way that he gets hit. If not, they'll keep him in the pocket."
