The Jalen Hurts to A.J. Brown connection was on full display Sunday for the Philadelphia Eagles. Hurts hit Brown on three of his career-high four touchdown passes as the Eagles routed the Steelers 35-13 at Lincoln Financial Field to move to 7-0 for the first time since 2004.
Brown had six receptions and career-highs of 156 yards and those three touchdown receptions, and he became the first Eagle to produce three receiving touchdowns of 25-plus yards in a game since 1969. Brown had touchdown catches of 39, 27, and 29 yards.
Hurts had a great day on Sunday as he was 19/28 for 285 yards and those four touchdowns, but despite the success, the third-year quarterback felt he could have done more.
“I guess I was in the zone,” he said. “I feel like I could have done more. You look at the third quarter; I think there was an opportunity to make some plays. [We] had some negative plays there before halftime, took some sacks I feel like I could’ve avoided and probably [could have] gotten the ball out. And then we started hitting some; it’s a testament to the receivers we have [and] the protection we had all day. We were unwavering. I think we kept focused on playing to the standard and chasing that. Hell of a game by [WR] A.J. [Brown] making big-time plays. I know he wants some back for sure but a hell of game by him.”
After seven games, Brown has 39 catches for 659 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Hurts, who has a close relationship with Brown off the field, says he trusts his number one wide receiver.
“I have a lot of trust in A.J.,” Hurts said. “I think that’s a lot of the reason why he’s here. We’ve always had a great relationship. It’s been beautiful to see how it’s unfolded throughout the year, personally for him and I, and us on the field. I always had a lot of admiration for his mentality. He’s been doing great things for us; I’m proud of him as a friend and as a quarterback.”
Brown added: “I think we just want to be great. This(Jalen Hurts) is somebody that I call a friend. He knows what I want to accomplish, and I know what he wants to accomplish. When you’re playing for somebody that you love, who you call family, it’s a different meaning behind it. And I know I can’t let him down. We’re just having fun and playing for one another. I’m pretty sure he knows that I’ve got his back, and I know he’s got mine, too. I think that’s exactly what this is.”
The Hurts to Brown combination has been perfect together. At the end of the 2021 season, the Eagles knew they needed a big-play wideout and another game-changer. Brown has been that and more after seven games.
