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Tim McManus, ESPN Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA — After a week of drama surrounding Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown, it was only fitting the first touchdown of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday was delivered by the duo.
Hurts found Brown in the back of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown pass with 1:13 remaining in the first quarter to put the Eagles up 10-3 over their intrastate rivals.
Jalen Hurts to AJ Brown! TOUCHDOWN.
📺: #PITvsPHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/rx60yj7zQc— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024
Brown said he intentionally brought the focus onto a slumping pass game following their narrow win over the Carolina Panthers so they could correct it before it comes back to bite them. He couldn’t have predicted all that followed — teammate Brandon Graham suggested Brown and Hurts were no longer tight like they once were, a notion both disputed — but early returns suggest the aerial attack was back on track.
Deviating a bit from their Saquon Barkley run-heavy tendencies, Hurts threw the ball on the first three plays of the game to spark a field goal drive. Brown had four catches for 48 yards in the first quarter, surpassing his totals (4 catches, 43 yards) from the Panthers game.
Hurts threw for under 180 yards in the previous three games and went downfield just twice during that stretch, but he showed more of a willingness to let it rip early against Pittsburgh.
Hurts followed up with a two-yard TD pass to DeVonta Smith midway through the second quarter. That continued a red-hot start for Hurts (a lost fumble aside), who opened 12-of-13 for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He threw for 108 yards total against Carolina.
Hurts to Smith! @Eagles take a 17-3 lead.
📺: #PITvsPHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/JyZdw5R3l7— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024