What a week it was for the Philadelphia Eagles. It started out with what seemed to be chaos and possible disconnect between Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown. A relationship that has been apparently strained since last season, was brought into the spotlight once again with Brown’s postgame comments after the Carolina game and longtime veteran and leader Brandon Graham publicly mentioning the duo’s relationship “changed”. The week concluded with a franchise-best tenth straight win in a statement making 27-13 win over the Steelers Sunday night with Brown and Hurts appearing to be perfectly fine.
Hurts connected with Brown on the Eagles’ second offensive play of the game and had a strong connection on the drive that resulted in Brown’s touchdown later in the first quarter, throwing three passes the wideout’s way for 41 yards, capped off by the five-yard score where the two celebrated with a choreographed celebration. Brown was targeted 11 times in the game, more than the two prior games against Carolina and Baltimore combined and finished eight catches and 110 yards and a touchdown.
However, the Eagles’ star receiver shared that there were some serious conversations and meetings that took place during the week.
“It’s very uncomfortable,” Brown said standing in his locker regarding the team meetings they had to speak bluntly about the issues at hand.
“First of all, I didn’t call anybody out, but behind closed doors we talk about that, and we call each other out. That’s very uncomfortable because you don’t want to feel like you’re being attacked, but we aren’t in it for feelings, we are trying to get on the same page and we want to win, most importantly.”
Both Brown and DeVonta Smith said that there wasn’t a concerted effort on throwing the ball and that it’s what the Steelers dictated trying to take away Saquon Barkley. The league’s top rusher was held to 65 yards on 19 carries. In turn, Brown and Smith were targeted 23 times.
“The coaches let the game come to them. They were loading up the box and Jalen got into a rhythm and that’s how the game went,” Brown said.
Smith also noted that the Steelers were game-planning to force the Eagles to beat them through the air and the team knew that coming in.
“We did a good job tonight. No matter what we have to do, we are always ready for the challenge,” Smith said.
“I think whatever we have to do to win games is what we will do. Sometimes we will need to run the ball, sometimes we will need to throw the ball. We have all the confidence in Jalen, and we know that can happen. It’s all about getting that one team who wanted to try and stop the run, forcing us to win the game in the air.“
Brown and Smith each had over 100-yards receiving in the Eagles’ victory. The dynamic duo scored a touchdown in the same game for the first time since the Week 6 win over Cleveland.
Asked if his comments last week helped the passing game this week, Brown felt it did.
“Absolutely. I said it for a reason. I didn’t have ill intentions behind it. I didn’t say it for me to get the ball. It was for us to all get on the same page and to put our best foot forward. We know what we are capable of,” Brown said.
Nick Sirianni echoed the same sentiment of how his players, especially the Eagles’ offensive playmakers, want to continue to play at a high-level week in and week out.
“These guys are so focused on just getting better. I saw a chance for us to get better through, again, what seemed like chaos, was something we used to galvanize us and get better from.”
Hurts and the Eagles’ passing attack accrued 290 yards through the air, marking just the second time since Week 6 Hurts has thrown for over 250 yards in a game. Hurts and company did it primarily with underneath routes and quick hitting passes instead of taking deep shots down the field. The longest gain for any receiver was 22-yards by both Smith and Grant Calcaterra. The Calcaterra catch came on the first play for the offense where Hurts placed the ball perfectly over the covering linebacker’s head for the connection.
It was one of the best games of the season for the Eagles’ quarterback who has been under the microscope ever since signing his huge extension last season.
“Scrutiny is never-ending. It’s nothing new,” Hurts said postgame. “That’s something that I find a thrill in. I appreciate being told I can’t and that we can’t. I know that I lead this team, and it takes a lot out of it. It demands a lot out of you. And I just want to show up and be the best teammate, quarterback, and be the best I can be for the guys on the team.”
“It was a good day,” Brown said. “We did what we needed to do in the passing game. Not to look past or forward, but we did what we needed to do. Jalen played a great game, took what they gave him, the wideouts and tight ends with good yards after the catch and that’s needed.“
The Eagles, and specifically Hurts, answered the question if this team can handle scrutiny whether it’s from within or on the outside with a question of his own.
“So that’s what you all wanted to see?“
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
