If the average football fan just looked at the box score of the Philadelphia Eagles' heartbreaking 22-19 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, they would think A.J. Brown had a great game, and Jalen Hurts was horrible. While Hurts' poor play comment would be valid, Brown's performance is more than just stats.
The numbers for Brown looked good with six catches for 100 yards, the third straight game that he has recorded over 100 yards in a game. Unfortunately, that doesn't show the devastating three drops he had in the game that could have changed the outcome.
On the opening drive, he had a potentially long play that he dropped for an incompletion. Hurts' third interception was on Brown for not catching it as it bounced off his hands, and late in the fourth quarter, he dropped a perfect Hurts touchdown pass in the end zone. Brown took accountability after the game for not making those plays.
"For me, it was like three plays I wish I could have back the entire game. 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."
Brown keeps having mental mistakes for his team
The stats are covering up his play over the last three games, but Brown has made his fair share of mistakes that have hurt the team. For the Chargers game, it's all about the drops and the potential yardage he left behind, as he could have maybe over 150 yards instead of just 100.
In the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears games, it was all about penalties. Specifically, he struggled with pre-snap penalties, with false starts in both games. He was also called for an offensive pass interference in the Bears game.
It's great that Brown is back on track, and he did make some big plays over the last few weeks, but, ironically, he has had three straight 100-yard games, and the Eagles are 0-3 in that span. Maybe it's a coincidence, but there might be something to it.
Read more: Eagles fans can't ignore the Jalen Hurts conversation after horrendous MNF loss
Should any changes be made to the game plan for getting Brown the ball? Not necessarily, but maybe it's more on Brown as an individual to clean up his mistakes and get back to being the Pro Bowl receiver we have seen in the last few years.