A.J. Brown’s Patriots debut didn’t last long, and neither did the idea that Drake Maye was going to carry the night in Seattle.
Brown caught three passes for 26 yards before leaving injured in a 13-10 loss, and the quarterback play behind him never found its footing. Maye was targeted at Brown four times, including an underthrown touchdown on a flea flicker, and later threw his third interception of the game to end it with 21 seconds left.
Maye finished 23-for-33 for 178 yards, one touchdown and those three picks. He was sacked three times for 10 yards and posted a 54.9 rating, along with 5.4 yards per completion. He also added 7 carries for 47 yards.
The final turnover was the kind of play that sticks in the mind because of how avoidable it looked. Maye threw off his back foot to Mack Hollins, who never got into position to knock the ball down. The simple play there was to throw it away, force the field goal and let the game go to overtime.
Instead, the Patriots walked out with the loss, and the larger point around Brown’s new setup got put on blast immediately. The source of the frustration was plain enough: this was supposed to be the spot where Brown finally had a real quarterback.
That was the argument, anyway. But in Seattle, Maye wasn’t close to making it hold up.
The Patriots now head home to face Pittsburgh before road games at Jacksonville and Buffalo. Brown was seen wearing a walking boot after the injury, and the Patriots may start 1-3.
In Other News...
A.J. Browns Patriots Debut Brought Back A Familiar Eagles Concern
A.J. Browns first game with the New England Patriots gave Philadelphia fans an immediate reminder of why his departure came with so much built-in drama. Brown was on the field for the season opener, but he left in the third quarter with an ankle injury, and his day ended without much production beyond three catches for 26 yards. He was also held without a completion on throws of 10 or more air yards, a quiet debut for a player whose impact usually shows up much earlier and much louder.
For Eagles observers, the more familiar part of the story was not the stat line so much as the concern around his availability. Brown dealt with injuries at different points during his time in Philadelphia, and the latest issue only adds to the questions about how often he can stay on the field going forward. Even in a new uniform, the same old durability conversation seems to be following him. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Reason To Watch Two AFC Injury Situations
A.J. Brown's first season away from Philadelphia has already started to intersect with two injury situations the Eagles have every reason to follow closely. The former Eagles wide receiver was hurt in the Patriots' game against Seattle, and the early word is only that the ankle injury's severity is still unclear. For a team that knows Brown's value as well as anyone, any update matters, even if the injury is happening far from the NFC East.
Seattle's quarterback situation adds another layer of interest for Philadelphia observers. Sam Darnold left with a hip injury and Drew Lock had to finish the game, which naturally raises questions about where the Seahawks turn next if the issue lingers. Any quarterback ripple in Seattle can end up touching the Eagles' world, whether through future roster movement or because it keeps names like Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee in the conversation in a way few would have expected just a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Are Suddenly Tied To A Sensitive Big Dom NFL Inquiry
The NFLs attention has drifted toward a very familiar figure in Philadelphia, with reports indicating the league is looking into Dom DiSandro after comments surfaced from former player Emmanuel Acho on his podcast. DiSandro, the Eagles senior advisor and head of security, has long been one of the most visible behind-the-scenes presences around the team, so any hint of league scrutiny naturally lands with some weight in Philly.
Achos remarks centered on an incident from his playing days involving team security and police, though he did not name DiSandro directly. For now, the league has not publicly confirmed any inquiry, leaving the matter in an awkward holding pattern as the Eagles wait to see whether a quiet discussion becomes something more formal. [Read more 🡒]