The Philadelphia Eagles’ 24-15 loss to the Chicago Bears on Black Friday wasn’t just a tough pill to swallow-it was a full-blown gut punch. And as expected, the fallout has been swift and loud across Philly sports circles. When the final whistle blew, the finger-pointing began, and it hasn’t stopped since.
Head coach Nick Sirianni, passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo, and quarterback Jalen Hurts have been at the center of the storm. From questionable play calling to costly turnovers, the trio has taken the brunt of the blame.
But in a surprising twist, one of the few Eagles who actually showed up in that game-A.J. Brown-is catching heat too.
And that’s where things get interesting.
A.J. Brown Balled Out-but Still Caught Strays
Statistically, Brown delivered one of his best performances of the season. He hauled in 10 catches on 12 targets, racked up 132 yards, and found the end zone twice. That’s a monster outing by any standard, especially in a game where the offense as a whole struggled to find rhythm.
But former Eagle and current radio analyst Seth Joyner wasn’t impressed-not with the numbers, but with the silence that followed.
Joyner didn’t hold back, calling Brown out for what he perceived as selective accountability. His take?
When Brown was getting the ball regularly and the team was winning, there was no issue. But when things went sideways earlier in the season and his targets dipped, Brown was vocal-sometimes too vocal.
Now, after back-to-back losses where Brown still saw plenty of action and scored, Joyner questioned the receiver’s motives.
“A lot of people are going to be pissed at me, and he might even be pissed at me,” Joyner said, “but in a lot of ways he's a typical wide receiver-21st century wide receiver diva and he's selfish... That tells me that all of that bitching and moaning was really self-centered.”
A Harsh Take-But Is It Fair?
Joyner’s comments cut deep, especially considering Brown has started to show more accountability in recent weeks. He hasn’t been as loud on social media, and his postgame remarks haven’t stirred the pot like they did earlier in the season. If anything, his performance against Chicago spoke louder than any tweet could.
Still, the criticism highlights a bigger issue: the perception of leadership in a locker room that’s suddenly looking vulnerable.
There’s no denying Brown’s early-season frustrations were visible-whether through sideline body language or cryptic online posts. But in this game, he did everything he could to keep Philly in it.
Outside of a false start on the opening drive, Brown was nearly flawless. He consistently got separation, especially on crossing routes-something we haven’t seen enough of this year as the offense has leaned heavily on hitches and slants.
The Bigger Picture for the Eagles
The Eagles didn’t just lose to the Bears-they looked out of sync, uninspired, and a step behind in every phase. For a team with championship expectations, that’s a red flag. And while it’s easy to pile on players like Hurts or coaches like Sirianni and Patullo, the criticism of Brown feels like a reflection of broader frustrations.
When a star player puts up big numbers and still gets called out, it’s usually not about that one performance. It’s about leadership, tone-setting, and how a team responds when adversity hits.
Brown isn’t the reason the Eagles lost to Chicago. Far from it.
But in a locker room searching for answers, even the best performers aren’t immune from scrutiny.
What’s clear is this: the Eagles are at a crossroads. They’ve dropped two straight, and the offense is stuck in neutral.
If they’re going to turn things around, it’ll take more than stats and soundbites. It’ll take unity, accountability, and leadership-from everyone, including their stars.
Brown showed up on the field. Now the question is whether he-and the rest of the locker room-can help steer this team back on track.