LANDOVER, Md. — A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts walked off the field together and up the corridor to the visitor’s locker room after the Eagles’ seventh win of the season, and you would not have known that they just made history. There was no added verve in their strides, no extra enthusiasm on their faces, and no heightened adulation around them.
This could have been after a recruiting trip or an offseason workout or a training camp practice. They acted as if what they achieved in a 38-31 win over the Washington Commanders was like any other game, and perhaps that’s because they’re making the extraordinary look ordinary.
Brown topped 125 receiving yards for the sixth consecutive week, becoming the first player in NFL history to achieve that feat. Hurts threw four touchdowns for the second time in his career and posted his highest passing rating of the season (135.7). A compelling case could be made that Brown is the NFL’s top wide receiver, and the Hurts-Brown combination is the best in the NFL.
“There will be a time when I say, ‘Go A.J!’,” Brown said. “But it’s not here right now.”
When Hurts was asked if going 29-of-38 for 319 yards and four touchdowns was the best he played this season, he didn’t break character. “Must be, (if you’re) asking me,” he said.
One of Brown’s touchdowns was a one-handed catch in the corner of the end zone. You could try to suggest it was one of those once-in-season-type catches — except it happened in Friday’s practice session. Same play. Same coverage. Same spot in the end zone. Same catch. So teammates said they knew Brown would do it, because he already has.
It can help explain the way Brown is playing. It’s special, but it’s almost become routine.
Consider this: The last time Brown failed to reach 125 yards, the Phillies were 79-67 after a 4-1 loss to the Braves and were 17 games back in the National League East. The Diamondbacks trailed the Cubs in the wild card standings. The last time the Eagles even had a player reach 125 yards in back-to-back weeks was Jeremy Maclin in 2014.
“I want that jersey before the NFL can get their hands on it!” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “Any time our guys can get a record, the history of this league and the history of this game is special to me. …A.J. has done it better over a six-game stretch than anybody to ever play this game. That’s pretty special. …There’s not a better person on this team than A.J. Brown. Might not be a better player than A.J. Brown, but not a better person.”
Washington tried any way to cover Brown, changing cornerbacks based on the down. Rookie Emmanuel Forbes, who was taunted by Brown in the first meeting, didn’t do any better in the second game. The Commanders couldn’t find a solution. When Sirianni asked how big Brown’s catch was — the implication was the one-handed touchdown that tied the game at 17 after the Eagles had been trailing by a season-high 11 points — the coach asked which one of the 10. There were only eight, but the point was well taken. All of Brown’s catches were big, and there were many of them.
“He’s playing like one of the best in the league,” Commanders coach Ron Rivera said.
Brown similarly made standout catches at a practice two weeks ago. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie was in attendance. Sirianni went to Lurie and thanked him for paying Brown $100 million. Even that nine-figure contract might seem like a discount with the way Brown is playing.
When the Eagles traded for Brown in April 2022, Brown and Hurts shared a memorable FaceTime call. The close friends who’ve known each other since recruiting trips finally joined on the same team, and what they’re achieving together in the year and a half since is beyond perhaps even the most optimistic projections of the partnership.
“He’s playing at a very high level and consistent and as a friend, I know what his mentality is and where it’s coming from,” Hurts said. “It’s no surprise in the way he works, what he does in the offseason, where his mental is, and…his why. So I’m proud of him as a friend and as a quarterback and I’m proud that he’s truly invested into winning.”
The same could be said about Hurts. Gritting through an injured knee, Hurts pinpointed throws and found holes in Washington’s defense. He was not as effective of a runner as he is at full health, but his arm was proficient. Hurts did not go into detail on his injury — ”I’m here,” he said — but the way he moved gingerly between plays was a sign that he’s not yet at full health. His arm and mind gave the Eagles what they needed.
“He played outstanding,” Sirianni said. “I think what you’re seeing is how good he’s playing in the pocket where maybe he’s not feeling the best he can feel and can’t run or isn’t running as much. I thought he played lights out.”
The Eagles fumbled twice inside the 10-yard line — one by Kenny Gainwell and another by Hurts at the goal line. Had the Eagles scored on those drives, they could have pushed 50 points. Cleaning up those turnovers was a major talking point in the locker room, as it will be this week.
But their firepower was undeniable. It was how they came back from an 11-point deficit to build a 14-point lead. The Eagles won on this field four years ago with Greg Ward as their top receiver. Ward was on the sideline as a practice-squad wide receiver while Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Julio Jones caught touchdowns. That should offer perspective on how the wide receiver depth chart has transformed.
Jones was the last receiver in the NFL to have six consecutive games of at least 100 yards. He did it in 2018. He’ll go to the Hall of Fame one day. Brown broke his record.
“The guy’s an absolute beast,” Jones told reporters. “He’s going to be great for a while.”
The past six games are evidence. He has Hurts throwing him the ball. There will be a time when Brown says, “Go A.J.” But it’s not here, not now, and even more encouraging to Eagles fans than the past six games is to imagine what “a while” will include.
