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Jalen Hurts, Eagles Win vs. Browns as NFL Fans Credit A.J. Brown, DeVonta Returns

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVOctober 13, 2024

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 13: A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates scoring a touchdown with teammate DeVonta Smith #6 during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field on October 13, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Heather Barry/Getty Images)
Heather Barry/Getty Images

Welcome back A.J. Brown.

The Philadelphia Eagles star receiver missed the last three games with a hamstring injury but returned in dramatic fashion Sunday and led his team to a 20-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.

NFL @NFL

AJ BROWN IS BACK.<br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CLEvsPHI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CLEvsPHI</a> on FOX<br>📱: <a href="https://t.co/waVpO909ge">https://t.co/waVpO909ge</a> <a href="https://t.co/U1QF0FGRjI">pic.twitter.com/U1QF0FGRjI</a>

NFL @NFL

HURTS DEEP TO BROWN. <br><br>Clutch deep ball connection.<br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CLEvsPHI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CLEvsPHI</a> on FOX<br>📱: <a href="https://t.co/waVpO909ge">https://t.co/waVpO909ge</a> <a href="https://t.co/zMI5ASMBmH">pic.twitter.com/zMI5ASMBmH</a>

Brown finished with six catches for 116 yards and one touchdown and fittingly hauled in a deep ball to clinch the win in the final two minutes. He wasn't the only receiver who made a difference upon return from injury, as DeVonta Smith had three catches for 64 yards and the game-winning touchdown after missing the last game with a concussion.

NFL @NFL

DeVonta Smith strolls in for the 45-yard TD!<br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CLEvsPHI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CLEvsPHI</a> on FOX<br>📱: <a href="https://t.co/waVpO909ge">https://t.co/waVpO909ge</a> <a href="https://t.co/0clWcCRL9z">pic.twitter.com/0clWcCRL9z</a>

Philadelphia is now 3-2 on the campaign, and social media had plenty of love for the two receivers:

Kendall Beck @KBeckEagles

AJ Brown is the greatest wide receiver in Eagles franchise history.

Prez💊 ' @PresidentEmbiid

People don't think AJ Brown is a top 3 receiver in the NFL, back to back years with 1500 yards and only 2 games he played this year 100+, people are so dishonest about him on this app

Mina Kimes @minakimes

Cover 1 vs the Eagles when AJ Brown is back up in the lineup….a little different lol

Skip Bayless @RealSkipBayless

WHAT A DEEP THROW AND OVERHEAD CATCH - JALEN HURTS TO AJBROWN, TO ICE WHAT TURNED INTO A DOGFIGHT WITH THE BROWNS, WHO PLAYED THEIR BEST GAME OF THE SEASON AT PHILLY.

David @PHLEagleNews

Welcome back AJ Brown <a href="https://t.co/7CQUHCxAAs">pic.twitter.com/7CQUHCxAAs</a>

Charlie O'Connor @charlieo_conn

AJ Brown is far and away the Eagles' best player and if they have any chance of being better than mid this year, it's gonna be because he drags them there kicking and screaming.

Ty 🥋 @Tyreke17

Thank God for AJ Brown and Devonta Smith

Shady @ShadyMikeGaming

Eagles offense is literally just "AJ and Devonta gotta be down there somewhere" 😭 with a touch of "oh yeah we DO have Saquon Barkley"

Jordan Hirsh @JordanHirsh_PxP

After that game I'm willing to give this team a pass for the Tampa game. Goes to show just how crucial AJ and Devonta are.<br><br>As long as a game like 2 weeks ago doesn't happen again…

Ryan Clark @Realrclark25

Funny how the Eagles can create explosive plays when AJ and Devonta are healthy!

The Eagles had Super Bowl aspirations coming into the season, and an opening win over the Green Bay Packers did nothing to change that. However, they dropped two of the next three and came into Sunday's matchup against a struggling Browns team with the hope it would be a get-right game.

The return of Brown, Smith and Lane Johnson (concussion) suggested it would be, so it made sense it was the former who got things started for the home team following a slow offensive start.

While Philadelphia went scoreless in the first quarter, Brown broke free for the game's first touchdown on a deep ball in the second quarter. It was the type of vertical play from Jalen Hurts that was largely missing for stretches when Brown was sidelined, although those positive vibes quickly disappeared.

That is because Myles Garrett blocked a field goal that Rodney McLeod Jr. returned for a touchdown, which had Eagles fans booing their team into the locker room with the halftime score tied at 10.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

MYLES GARRETT BLOCKS THE FG AND THE BROWNS TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE 😱 <br><br>WHAT A PLAY BEFORE THE HALF <br><br>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFL</a>) <br> <a href="https://t.co/9PGyfANrGr">pic.twitter.com/9PGyfANrGr</a>

Booing was appropriate for a rather ugly game, as the second-half offense included the Browns missing a field goal, both sides trading punts and then both sides stalling for field goals. Watson struggling was not surprising, as it's his new reality, but Philadelphia also missed multiple chances to seize control.

But it finally seized one of those chances when Smith broke wide open on an underneath crossing route and took it the rest of the way for a 45-yard go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Cleveland had a chance to answer but settled for a field goal in the red zone after multiple false starts, and it never got the ball back thanks to another clutch connection between Hurts and Brown.

That gives the Eagles some momentum heading into an important road divisional game against the New York Giants.