INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Jalen Hurts is a game manager – not that there’s anything wrong with that.

In some quarterback circles, it would be blasphemous to be labeled as such. But Hurts probably doesn’t mind the characterization, as long as the Eagles keep winning. And they got the win on Sunday, with a convincing 37-20 victory over the Rams at SoFi Stadium.

Saquon Barkley was the hero again. He rushed for a career-high and franchise record 255 yards on 26 carries, and scored from 70 and 72 yards to break the game open in the second half. The Eagles’ commitment to the ground game was once again crucial.

But Hurts contributed as well, and for the most part he didn’t have the hesitations in the passing game that often plagued the offense in the first quarter of games. He had better pocket awareness and vision – even though he only had 22 pass attempts in total.

Hurts still had important throws to make. He still had to make good decisions leading up to the snap. He still had to contribute in the run game. And he still had to touch the ball on every play and not make the kind of mistakes that wouldn’t even get him called a game manager.

“He was efficient,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. ‘He was playing with his legs. He made plays with his arm. Took care of the football. And so I thought he was super efficient.

“Our run game was really cooking, but when we had to pass it off, he had some big completions to AJ (Brown).”

Hurts had no turnovers. He was fired only once. And he rarely forced the ball into bad spots. But for the seventh straight week since the Eagles decided to emphasize the run game during the bye week, the game plan revolved around Barkley.

The Rams tried to limit his effectiveness. They had relatively early success. But Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore never wavered from what got the Eagles into the No. 1 NFC seed contention and the Super Bowl conversation.

They continued to feed Barkley, and when the running back finally struck with a 70-yard touchdown scoot to open the second half and extend the lead to 20-7, the Rams were unable to mount a comeback.

» READ MORE: Saquon Barkley reaches historic heights as the Birds march to seventh straight victory

The Eagles’ run-heavy formula, complemented by a stingy defense, has made them seemingly invincible when playing from up front. But there will come a time when they need Hurts and the passing game to carry the load.

“Obviously we have multiple ways we can attack teams,” Hurts said. “It’s going to hit at some point when we’re asked to do some of these certain things. But duty hasn’t summoned some of those moments yet.

“If that happens, I’m confident we’ll be ready.”

Hurts has done it before. The Eagles believe he is still capable. But by shifting their offense, they lower the percentages of the quarterback potentially harming them. The change in run-pass numbers since the bye is staggering.

In the first four games, the Eagles averaged 36.3 pass attempts to 30 rushes for a 55-45 ratio. In the seven games after that, they averaged 24.7 passes to 41.3 runs, good for a difference of 37-63.

Hurts has become more efficient as a result. In the first four games, he completed 68.1 percent of his throws, averaged 232.5 passing yards and threw four touchdowns. He also had four interceptions, two fumbles and was sacked thirteen times.

In the last seven games, he had a 69.9 completion percentage, averaged 206.5 yards through the air, threw nine touchdowns and had just one interception and one fumble. He still has a relatively large number of sacks (16) during that period.

But he was sacked just once on Sunday when he appeared to stare down Brown in a third-quarter deficit. The Eagles were stuck in the red zone, settling for field goals on two of their first three possessions.

But on their fourth drive, Hurts had his best period after Barkley opened the drive with three carries for 28 yards. On a crucial third down conversion, the quarterback scrambled for 5 yards.

Two plays later he was flushed from the pocket, but kept his eyes downfield and found Barkley on the sideline for a 13-yard completion. Another two plays later, he connected with Brown for a six-yard touchdown and the Eagles’ first lead at 13–7.

Brown led the Eagles with six catches for 109 yards – with 47 yards after the catch. He was targeted just seven times, matching his per-game average for the season. A year ago, the receiver was targeted 9.3 times per game.

“It was a great game that he was able to show up in some of those moments,” Hurts said. “And to be able to do that without our guy, DeVonta Smith.”

Smith, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury, averaged just 6.2 goals. Both receivers want the ball, but they got the right answers when asked about the Eagles’ offensive evolution from the pass.

Winning is what matters in the end, and they just have to make the most of their limited number of opportunities. They would concede that Barkley makes it less likely that the Eagles will suffer an implosion at the same point as they did last season.

» READ MORE: Eagles numbers: Saquon Barkley could be the NFL’s MVP after dominating the Rams

But some defense — perhaps the Ravens on Sunday — will keep the NFL MVP candidate in check. Right?

“It works until it doesn’t,” Eagles tackle Lane Johnson said. “Every week is a challenge. We know we are playing against teams that have a very good defense. So it will be a challenge. They’re going to try to stop it.”

The Rams tried, according to Johnson. He said they moved defensive linemen to throw off the Eagles’ combo blocks. But they countered with more man blocking schemes and on the first play of the second half, center Cam Jurgens and guard Landon Dickerson opened a huge hole in the middle and Barkley took care of the rest.

He struck again in the fourth quarter during the four-minute drill.

“I think back to times in the past where we might have lost the game, or maybe mismanaged a four-minute situation, where he really made it easier for us,” Hurts said.

When asked if Barkley took some of the run game away from him, Hurts joked, “He gives me some time on the back end,” but he runs as much now (10.4 carries a game) as he did before the bye (10.5). .

» READ MORE: The Eagles made it clear Sunday night: they are a Super Bowl-caliber team

The burden that has been lifted has been like a passerby. But what happens when the defense sells out to stop the run? Or what happens if Barkley, who is on pace to have 50 more carries than his career high, just doesn’t have it? Or when Vic Fangio’s defense can be stopped and the Eagles’ offense has to play from behind?

Pain and the passing game will have to carry the weight. He knows it’s coming.

“We’re not satisfied,” Hurts said. “In the past we were not satisfied. I’m not satisfied now. We have the past year to learn from.”

Can Hurts handle a tough offense better than he did a year ago? Time will tell.