Live analysis: Eagles vs Buffalo Bills in heavyweight QB battle – The News Journal
PHILADELPHIA − The Buffalo Bills will likely try to do what every team has tried lately − take away wide receiver A.J. Brown.
It’s easy to see why. Brown had a stretch of six games with at least 125 yards receiving in each, setting an NFL record. He already has 1,013 yards receiving, on pace to shatter the Eagles’ franchise record for receiving yards in a season that he set in 2022 with 1,496.
The Kansas City Chiefs did this Monday night, holding Brown to 1 catch for 8 yards.
The Eagles still won 21-17 because DeVonta Smith took advantage when teams tried to bracket or double-team Brown.
Smith has had 99 yards receiving in each of the previous two games. Against the Chiefs, Smith had two catches on consecutive plays that set up the game-winning touchdown with 6:20 left. The first was a 13-yard completion on third-and-8 to the Chiefs’ 42 yard line.
On the next play, quarterback Jalen Hurts threw deep to Smith who hauled in the pass at the 1 yard line. Hurts scored on a tush push on the next play.
“Well, what happened on that play?” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said about Smith’s third-down catch. “They doubled A.J., and then DeVonta was able to create some single coverage with something that went down on that.
“We definitely see (teams bracketing Brown) and we definitely plan for that.”
A.J. Brown says he’s ‘cool’ with DeVonta Smith’s big plays
Brown, of course, is prideful. We already saw him bristle early in the season when he only had 4 catches for 29 yards in a heated sideline exchange with Hurts (Brown denied he was upset at not getting passes thrown his way). TV cameras caught another exchange with Hurts and Smith against the Chiefs.
But Brown said he’s happy for Smith when he makes big plays. Smith, after all, had 1,196 yards receiving last season. He’s on a similar pace this season with 632 yards.
“I’m all about winning,” Brown said. “If I get (the ball), cool. If DeVonta gets it, cool. If Dallas (Goedert) gets it, cool. If Quez (Watkins) gets it, it doesn’t matter. Like I said after the game, (Smith) was the MVP of that game. He made some crucial plays all night.”
Brandon Graham sets Eagles franchise record
When Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham takes the field, he’ll set an Eagles franchise record by playing in his 189th game. Eagles kicker David Akers set the mark with 188 games from 1999-2010.
Graham, the Eagles’ first-round pick in 2010, won’t be the only Eagle to pass Akers in games played this season. Center Jason Kelce is playing in his 187th game, and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is playing in his 183rd.
“Being with the same team, being part of this organization, has been nothing but fun, these last eight years,” Graham said. “The beginning was a little rough, but it’s been getting better and better every year.”
Eagles get another player back from IR
The Eagles activated wide receiver Quez Watkins from injured reserve on Saturday. Watkins takes the roster spot vacated by DE Derek Barnett, who was waived on Friday.
Watkins missed five games while on IR with a hamstring injury. He missed two more earlier in the season with the same injury.
Watkins has just four catches for 21 yards this season. But it’s likely that Watkins won’t get much playing time with Julio Jones considered the third receiver.
The Eagles also gave practice squad elevations to LB Ben VanSumeren, his third and final elevation, and TE Noah Togiai.
Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.