The Philadelphia Eagles are heading into a heavyweight road matchup against the Buffalo Bills, fresh off clinching their second consecutive NFC East title with a win over the Washington Commanders. It was a gritty, statement victory that locked in their playoff spot and kept their hopes alive for a repeat run at the Lombardi Trophy.
But just as the team seemed to be hitting its stride, a bit of off-field news stirred some concern among Eagles fans: A.J. Brown was absent from practice on Wednesday.
That raised a few eyebrows-especially given the star receiver’s recent frustrations with his role in the offense. The good news?
The absence appears to be nothing more than a dental detour. Brown reportedly had his wisdom teeth removed this week, which explains the midweek downtime.
Still, it’s impossible to ignore the bigger picture when it comes to Brown and his role in this offense. The All-Pro wideout has been visibly frustrated at times this season, with limited deep targets and some cryptic social media activity fueling speculation. He’s not the only one feeling the strain-quarterback Jalen Hurts has been navigating a tough 2025 campaign, marked by inconsistency and injuries that have hampered the offense’s rhythm.
That said, this Eagles team still boasts one of the most talented rosters in the league. From top to bottom, they’ve got the kind of depth and experience that makes them a nightmare draw in January-especially if they can get their offense humming.
Brown is a major part of that equation. When he’s locked in and fully integrated into the game plan, he gives Philly a vertical threat that can change the complexion of any contest.
Last week’s win in Landover wasn’t just another division W-it was a ticket back to the postseason, and a shot at defending their Super Bowl crown. Now, the focus shifts to Buffalo, where the Eagles will face a Bills team that’s no stranger to high-stakes December football.
Kickoff is set for Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET, and if Philly can put together a complete performance-especially on offense-they’ll remind the rest of the league that they’re still very much in the hunt for back-to-back titles.
The pieces are there. The question now is whether they can put them all together when it matters most.