It's been a year of streaks for the Philadelphia Eagles. They started out 4-0, then they dropped two straight games. Then they went on another four-game win streak to regain control of the NFC! Now they're tumbling again in the midst of a three-game skid. When it's rained, it's poured in Philadelphia.
The same could be said on Monday Night Football in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Jalen Hurts threw one interception, which quickly snowballed into four. Heck, he even turned it over twice on one play. Talk about your problems multiplying.
A.J. Brown also saw his issues intensify. Despite catching six passes and getting over 100 receiving yards for the third straight game, his three crucial drops undoubtedly altered the outcome in primetime. Brown is a lot of things, but he is not a dropper of the football; that is for sure.
Nick Sirianni defends A.J. Brown after game-altering drops vs. Chargers
Head coach Nick Sirianni knows that as well as anyone. That's why he made it a point during the post-game press conference on Monday night to defend his star wide receiver and set the record straight about his shortcomings against the Chargers.
"That’s just uncharacteristic stuff," Sirianni said. "I don’t know if A.J. has had a drop in the last 2 years. I don’t know what the stat sheet will say he had, but it’s just uncharacteristic stuff."
Of course, Sirianni is right. Brown hasn't recorded a drop since a game against the New York Giants in Week 15 of the 2023 NFL season. That was on Christmas Day in 2023. It is nearly Christmas 2025. Brown doesn't ever do this.
But, as a microcosm of the season, Brown's drop problem swelled up on Monday, as his first came on the opening drive and could have easily resulted in a touchdown. That would have sent a much different message than eventually punting the ball away, so that was a missed opportunity.
His second drop came early in the fourth quarter, as a Hurts pass bounced off his hands and into a Chargers defender's. Los Angeles turned that drive into three points and tied the game, which they eventually won in overtime.
Brown's final drop came with just over two minutes remaining in the contest, as the Eagles puzzlingly threw one deep to him in the end zone. Although the coverage was tight, Brown couldn't haul it in, and this was a key reason Philadelphia had to settle for a field goal, which came back to bite them.
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Obviously, this Eagles team has bigger fish to fry than worrying about a few drops by Brown. It is likely that things simply escalated amid the chaos surrounding the Philadelphia offense on Monday, and Brown should revert to form next week. Sirianni clearly believes he will, and so should the fan base.