The Washington Commanders are the only team that A.J. Brown has more fun playing against in 2023.
The Commanders were the ideal solution for him when he required a get-right game. Brown’s current run of success was sparked by a nine-catch, 175-yard, two-touchdown effort in Week 4.
Brown saved his best performance for Week 8 at FedEx Field against Washington.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hit a back-shoulder pass to the left sideline with 39 seconds remaining in the first half. Brown spun around, reached out with his right hand, and grabbed the ball out of the air as he engaged in a brawl with cornerback Benjamin St-Juste.
Brown brought the ball to his chest and brought his knee down in one move to score the touchdown.
Brown and Hurts were hardly done. Upon realizing that Brown could not be stopped by a single defender or the sideline, the Commanders chose to cover the receiver with a safety. The Eagles effectively said, “No problem.”
Hurts threw the ball short for this score after spotting the assistance. Brown braked at the last second to secure the pass, fully understanding what had to happen. Due to the resulting collisions between his opponents, Brown was able to get between them and score his second touchdown of the contest.
Brown has seven catches for 113 yards and the two touchdowns at that point. Additionally, he broke the NFL record for the most consecutive games with 125 receiving yards or more in the fourth quarter with his eighth reception of the day.
The record was once held by Detroit Lions great Calvin Johnson, who played in five games. In Week 3, against the Buccaneers, Brown gained 131 yards; against the Commanders, he gained 175 yards; against the Rams, he gained 127 yards; the Jets allowed Brown to collect 131 yards; and finally, against the Dolphins, Brown gained 131 yards and a touchdown.
The Eagles receiver has already scored a touchdown in the Commanders game on Sunday.
Why not double it?
He accomplished precisely that in the third quarter, racing through a defender to make a reception and enter the end zone to tie the score at 17–17.
Brown made a 25-yard touchdown reception down the left sideline. That play was the result of a fourth-and-four pass from quarterback Jalen Hurts to DeVonta Smith, which resulted in a 17-yard gain. Replay review may have reversed that play. However, Ron Rivera, the head coach of Washington, chose not to raise his challenge flag as Philadelphia hurried to the line for their subsequent play.
Hurts found Brown along the left sideline a few plays later to score.
So far on Sunday, Brown has caught all seven of his targets for 113 yards and two touchdowns.
The Eagles have fumbled within the 5-yard line twice now, and they ought to be up by more scores. Hurts fumbled the ball before he could cross the goal line in Philadelphia’s first effort at a “Brotherly Shove” of the game on the opening possession of the second half. It was retrieved by Washington for a turnover.
Jalen Carter, a defensive tackle with the Eagles, may not be able to play again due to a back issue.
