DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown appeared to be rivals in shocking Eagles loss to Broncos

The Philadelphia Eagles’ impressive winning streak has officially come to an end, as Nick Sirianni’s squad suffered a tough home defeat to the Denver Broncos at Lincoln Financial Field. Despite their strong start to the season, the loss exposed a few cracks within the team’s cohesion.

The Eagles had been flying high in the NFL, stringing together 10 straight wins in official competition. However, that streak came to a halt on Sunday at home, as the former Super Bowl champion suffered its first loss of the season. The defeat not only ended their unbeaten run but also raised serious questions about the team’s cohesion among their players.

What truly caught fans’ attention, however, wasn’t just the result on the scoreboard but a tense moment on the field, an exchange between star receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown. The brief play has sparked speculation about frustration within the locker room following the Eagles’ first major setback of the year.

The moment Smith and Brown appeared to be rivals on the field

In recent days, both DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown have spoken openly about their frustration with the Eagles’ offensive execution, voicing concerns over the team’s inability to find rhythm on key drives. Their remarks have sparked growing unease within the locker room and fueled questions about how head coach Nick Sirianni plans to address the unit’s struggles moving forward.

However, tensions seemed to boil over during the matchup against the Broncos, where both offensive stars were involved in a heated moment on the field. As the clock wound down on the final play, one that could have secured a dramatic win for the Eagles, frustration took center stage, turning what could’ve been a heroic finish into a scene of visible discord.

With only seconds remaining on the clock, Jalen Hurts launched a deep pass from near midfield, sending the ball soaring through the Philadelphia sky toward his two star receivers. But what could have been the game-winning moment quickly turned chaotic, as both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith leapt simultaneously amid a swarm of Broncos defenders.

Man, what the hell was AJ brown and Devonte Smith doing there?😭😭. pic.twitter.com/RC1U0V3SAf

— RMCF JK🤍🍒 (@jkrmcf) October 5, 2025

Incredibly, no Broncos defender managed to make contact, but the shocking twist came from within the Eagles’ own ranks. As the ball descended, DeVonta Smith inadvertently grabbed A.J. Brown’s facemask, pulling him down and preventing the catch. The unusual play left fans stunned.

🚨🚨THIS IS INSANE🚨🚨

AJ BROWN TACKLED, PULLED THE FACEMASK OF HIS TEAMMATE DEVONTA SMITH TO STOP HIM FROM CATCHING THE HAIL MARY…

This is pretty damn crazy. Have never seen this happen between teammates on the final play of a game.

(📸@RyanGreeneDNVR) pic.twitter.com/x9JFz6AmJK

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 5, 2025

Eagles urged to regain momentum ahead of upcoming challenges

The Philadelphia Eagles must sharpen their performance to maintain their strong start to the season. Their next challenge comes in Week 6, as they face the New York Giants in a highly anticipated Thursday Night Football matchup.

Heading into their matchup against the Giants, the Eagles are determined to maintain their offensive rhythm. Jalen Hurts will once again lead the charge, supported by Saquon Barkley, who’s quickly become a cornerstone of the attack. However, for the Eagles to find true balance and their star wide receivers, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, must work in sync as teammates, not rivals.