A.J. Brown’s 100-Yard Games Are Masking Costly Mistakes - And the Eagles Are Feeling It
On paper, A.J. Brown had himself another solid outing in the Eagles’ 22-19 overtime loss to the Chargers.
Six catches, 100 yards - his third straight game hitting the century mark. But if you watched the game, you know the numbers don’t tell the full story.
In fact, they might be hiding it.
Because while Brown was productive, he also left a lot on the field - and it wasn’t just a little. Three drops, each one more painful than the last, played a significant role in how this one slipped away from Philadelphia.
Let’s break it down.
Three Drops, Three Gut Punches
The first came on the opening drive - a promising start that fizzled out when Brown let a potentially explosive play bounce off his hands. That one stung, but it was just the beginning.
Later, with the Eagles trying to claw their way back into the game, Jalen Hurts threw a ball that hit Brown squarely in the hands - only to pop up and land in the arms of a Chargers defender. That was Hurts’ third interception of the day, but the blame doesn’t fall solely on the quarterback here. That’s a play Brown has to make.
And then there was the one that could’ve changed everything: late in the fourth quarter, with Hurts dropping a dime into the end zone, Brown had a chance to put the Eagles ahead. The ball was there.
The moment was there. But the catch wasn’t.
A Chargers defensive back made a timely play, sure, but Brown had it in his grasp.
To his credit, Brown owned it after the game.
“For me, it was like three plays I wish I could have back the entire game,” he said. “First one at the beginning of the game, I wish I could somehow find a way to make that one.
The ball over the middle: no, it wasn’t perfect, but I’m more than capable to make that catch. That last one in the end zone, [the Chargers DB] just made a play at the right time.”
That kind of accountability matters. But so does cleaning up the mistakes.
The Bigger Pattern Emerging
This wasn’t a one-game anomaly. Over the past three weeks, Brown has been racking up yards - but also racking up errors.
Against the Cowboys and Bears, it wasn’t the drops that haunted him, it was the penalties. Pre-snap issues like false starts, and an offensive pass interference in the Chicago game, have become part of the pattern.
It’s a strange stretch. Brown is producing - three straight 100-yard games is no small feat - but the Eagles are 0-3 in that span.
That’s not all on him, of course. Football is a team game, and the Eagles have had other issues across the board.
But it’s fair to say Brown’s mistakes have come at critical times.
And that’s what makes this stretch so frustrating. Because when Brown is locked in, he’s one of the most dominant receivers in the league.
He’s physical, explosive, and can take over a game. But lately, the little things - the drops, the flags, the missed chances - have overshadowed the big plays.
What’s the Fix?
Is it time to change the way the Eagles are using him? Probably not.
The game plan is still getting him the ball, and he’s still making plays. The opportunities are there.
The production is there. What’s missing is the consistency.
This isn’t about scheme. It’s about execution. And for Brown, it’s about cleaning up the mental mistakes and getting back to the level we’ve seen from him in the past - the Pro Bowl-caliber version who makes the tough catches, keeps the chains moving, and shows up when it matters most.
The Eagles are still in the thick of things, but the margin for error is shrinking. If Brown can pair his recent yardage with sharper execution, the offense will look a whole lot more dangerous - and the win column might start reflecting it.
Because the truth is, the stat sheet isn’t lying. But it’s not telling the whole truth either.