AJ Brown creates more tension when he ‘blames’ Jalen Hurts for the Eagles’ first loss

For three quarters, the Philadelphia Eagles looked like the team everyone expected. Then, as the fourth quarter unfolded at Lincoln Financial Field, all the flaws they’ve managed to mask through four weeks reappeared at once.  Their 21-17 defeat to the Denver Broncos didn’t just end a perfect season. It revealed how thin the line between dominance and dysfunction has become for one of the league’s most talented rosters.

One play, many questions

The defining moment came late in the third quarter. Jalen Hurts spotted AJ Brown sprinting free beyond the secondary, an opportunity to stretch the field and take control of the game. Hurts delivered a deep ball that looked destined for a highlight reel until Brown slowed down.  “From my point of view, we just missed. I didn’t think the ball was coming. When I looked up, I didn’t see the ball. When I looked back, I didn’t see the ball,” Brown said afterward.

The ball fell harmlessly to the turf, and the drive soon stalled. Hurts was sacked on third down, the Eagles punted, and the Broncos seized momentum they wouldn’t give back.  “I’ll have to really watch the film to be able to assess that,” Hurts said. “Obviously, that’s one that you want to hit in a big moment of the game.”

Momentum shifts, and so does the game

For much of the night, the Eagles looked like a team slightly out of sync, the confidence shaken just enough to open the door for mistakes.  A pair of penalties sealed their fate. Saquon Barkley’s illegal shift wiped out a critical fourth-down completion to DeVonta Smith, erasing what could have been a go-ahead drive. Minutes later, Zack Baun’s unnecessary roughness penalty gifted the Broncos a new set of downs, allowing them to drain precious time.

By the time the clock ran out, the Eagles’ 10-game winning streak and 12-game home streak were both gone.  For all their firepower, Philadelphia has struggled to finish games with precision. The offense sputters between brilliance and frustration, unable to sustain drives when it matters most.

Hurts’ chemistry with his receivers, usually the backbone of the passing game, has wavered just enough to turn big plays into near misses.  Meanwhile, Vic Fangio’s defense continues to live by its bend-but-don’t-break mantra, limiting explosive plays but often giving up ground at crucial moments. Against Denver, the approach backfired, allowing the Broncos to extend drives and control possession late.