October 13, 2024   6 MIN READ

A.J. Saves The Day

A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith TD Catches Help Birds Overcome Follies Vs. Browns

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PHILADELPHIA – One could hear a pin drop at Lincoln Financial Field for much of Sunday afternoon’s clash between the Eagles and listless Cleveland Browns – until deep into fourth quarter.

With just over eight minutes to play, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed a short pass to the right to wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who scampered the rest of the way, completing a 45-yard touchdown on a shallow cross to give the Eagles a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

The DeShaun Watson-led Browns (1-5) countered with= a nine-play, 82-yard march late in the final frame but only mustered a field goal, narrowing their deficit to four.

But the Eagles (3-2) offense, a unit that navigated through malaise throughout much of the day, controlled the clock and protected the football, putting the game out of reach with a last-minute dagger from Hurts to wide receiver A.J. Brown for 40 yards on the heels of the two-minute warning – the finishing touch on a 20-16 win.

Hurts completed 15-of-24 pass attempts for 224 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the victory, while Brown – returning from a three-game absence – led the way with 116 receiving yards and a touchdown on six receptions (nine targets).

Defensively, seven players contributed to the sack column as the Eagles totaled five, while linebacker Nakobe Dean logged 12 combined tackles.

AJ Brown vs. Browns Getty

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles WR A.J. Brown caught six passes for 116 yards in his first game back from a hamstring injury, including a 22-yard TD.

Let’s get to the observations.

* The Eagles inactives included QB Tanner McKee (3rd QB), CB Eli Ricks, OL Nick Gates, OL Darian Kinnard, OL Trevor Keegan, and DT Byron Young. It’s worth noting that veteran OL Jack Driscoll was elevated from the practice squad. Curious decision, considering three offensive linemen on the 53-man roster were listed as inactive.

*Browns top CB Denzel Ward, listed as questionable entering Sunday, surprisingly didn’t travel with WR A.J. Brown. Instead, Ward remained on the left side primarly, drawing both Brown and WR DeVonta Smith in coverage. On a 2nd-and-6 during the Browns’ second defensive series, Ward aligned to the right, drawing Smith in the slot.

* QB Jalen Hurts and the offense came up empty on the first two possessions, punting on both occasions. And while Hurts began 0-for-5, both he and OC Kellen Moore showed a willingness to push the ball downfield in an attempt to manufacture explosive plays. The offense was again blanked in the first quarter – they’re the only team in the NFL without a point in the opening frame – but would convert a 14-play, 58-yard third possession into a Jake Elliott field goal.

* The Eagles bore down on a hapless Browns offensive line – which lost second-string C Nick Harris for the game early – to impact QB DeShaun Watson. Rookie DB Cooper DeJean, who usurped veteran Avonte Maddox at nickel, got to Watson in the first for a half-sack, but I also noticed second-year DT Moro Ojomo quite a bit, proving to be disruptive and taking up residence on the other side of the line of scrimmage on several occasions. It’s worth noting that DeJean sack’s was helped by pressure from Ojomo and EDGE Bryce Huff.

*With TE Dallas Goedert (hamstring) exiting early, the Eagles turned to TEs Grant Calcaterra and Jack Stoll to fill the void. Calcaterra answered in the second quarter, reeling in a short toss to the right on first down from the Eagles’ 16-yard line on a catch-and-run that covered 34 yards, jumpstarting the 10-play, 84-yard scoring drive, which was capped by a 22-yard touchdown strike in the left corner of the end zone to WR A.J. Brown. Brown outmuscled Browns CB Martin Emerson on a well-placed ball from Hurts. Depending on the extent of the hamstring injury, Calcaterra, who hasn’t been much of a factor offensively in his career, will need to be counted on to assume an elevated role.

* Special teams woes struck at the worst possible time for the Eagles, who saw Browns EDGE Myles Garrett knife in to block a Jake Elliott 57-yard field goal attempt. Browns and former Eagles S Rodney McLeod scooped up the loose ball and returned it 50 yards the other way to even the score, 10-10. The Eagles, if you’re keeping score, now have endured a punt block in New Orleans, a pair of blunders in Tampa Bay, and now a blocked field goal that sparked a lifeless Browns team. This play occurred on the heels of a pair of debilitating plays from RB Saquon Barkley, who exhibited a lapse in situational awareness in getting out of bounds before getting the first down and following that up with a poor rep in pass protection.

* The Browns came into this game having surrendered a league-high 26 sacks, seemingly setting the stage for the Eagles to generate some pressure. Unlike the previous four games, the Eagles’ pass-rush dominated this matchup, harassing Watson throughout the afternoon and making him uncomfortable in the pocket. For perspective, DT Jalen Carter (one), Milton Williams (one), Nolan Smith (one), Josh Sweat (one), Huff (0.5) and DeJean (0.5) factored into the stat sheet. In a game in which there weren’t many optimistic takeaways, it was encouraging to see the Eagles pounce under favorable circumstances.

*On NB Cooper DeJean: The Eagles’ elected to insert the rookie second-rounder in hopes of sparking the defense, and what an opportune spot to get the start-up costs out of the way along with DeJean getting legitimate game reps. The Eagles sent DeJean on blitzes multiple times, and the Iowa product was extremely effective attacking and pursuing his target. On the Williams sack, when the Browns were operating from the shadows of their own end zone, DeJean flew in off the right side to put a hit on Watson, while Williams ultimately wrangled the Browns QB for the sack. As a punt returner, DeJean looked far more comfortable and in groove compared to previous opportunities. The instincts, vision and burst are evident, and it feels like a matter of time before he breaks off a big return.

* In the game’s final moments, the Eagles stars put the game out of reach, with Hurts completing a 40-yard bomb down the left sideline to WR A.J. Brown, whose return has the Eagles’ offense looking considerably more advanced than previous weeks.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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