Despite Beating the Lions, WR A.J. Brown Still Bowed His Head to Take Blame After the Eagles’ Gritty 16–9 Win – But It Was Jalen Hurts’ Quiet Gesture That Left All of Philadelphia Emotional
The Philadelphia Eagles walked out of Detroit with a hard-earned 16–9 victory, a game defined by bruising defense and relentless pressure. But inside the locker room, there was no loud celebration. A.J. Brown — usually fiery, usually expressive — sat silently at his locker, helmet by his feet, frustration etched across his face.
It had been a complicated night: a rare dropped touchdown, a miscommunication on a key route, and only 47 yards for a receiver who always demands more of himself.
A.J. Brown on the win:
“Winning doesn’t erase everything… I’m supposed to set the tone. Tonight I didn’t.”
After the game, Brown finally spoke, voice low:
“If we had lost this one, that’s on me. I wasn’t sharp, and I put the offense in bad situations. Watching my guys grind twice as hard to make up for my mistakes — that hurts me more than anything. But they never doubted me. They still believed. And that makes me swear I won’t ever fail them again.”
Detroit shadowed him all night, rolling coverage his way and forcing Jalen Hurts to distribute elsewhere. It was not a glamorous performance, but Brown still delivered clutch first downs that helped preserve Philadelphia’s narrow lead.
And then came the moment all of Philly is still talking about.
As Brown stepped away from the podium, shoulders stiff with disappointment, Jalen Hurts quietly approached him, slid an arm around his shoulder, and pulled him aside for a private talk. Brown nodded. Hurts spoke again. And for the first time all night, Brown’s face finally eased — a faint, tired smile.
But this moment carried more weight than fans knew.
Because not long ago, the two had their public friction — sideline arguments, emotional flare-ups, and whispers of locker-room tension. There were weeks when outside noise painted their relationship as strained, even fractured.
What Hurts did in that hallway showed what was true all along.
Later, Hurts explained:
““I know that feeling — when you think the whole world expects perfection from you. A.J. is one of the toughest, most passionate players I’ve ever been around. Tonight wasn’t about stats. It was about heart. And he showed plenty of it.
”
The gesture went viral instantly.
“That wasn’t just leadership — that was forgiveness, loyalty, and love for the city,” one fan wrote on X.
A.J. Brown may not have played his cleanest game. He may carry the weight of his own expectations heavier than anyone else ever will. But with that humility — and with a quarterback who sees through noise, through ego, through every past disagreement — the Eagles are built on something deeper than football.
They are built on brotherhood. Built on battles shared. Built on the promise that in Philadelphia, you fight with your family — no matter what came before.
Cowboys Eyed as a Top Team for Speedy Former $20 Million 42-Game Starter
The Dallas Cowboys revamped the team’s defense in several last-minute deals at the NFL trade deadline. Dallas could also look to veteran free agents to add even more depth to the unit. Dallas has just a 4% chance to make the NFL playoffs heading into the team’s Week 11 primetime matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, per The Athletic.
This did not stop owner Jerry Jones from making significant moves at the NFL deadline, including acquiring star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox identified the top available free agents and each player’s best landing spot. The analyst is pushing the Cowboys as well as the Baltimore Ravens to make a run at former top-10 pick Isaiah Simmons.
“Isaiah Simmons was a first-round pick in the 2020 draft, but he has struggled to find a true position in the NFL,” Knox wrote in a November 7, 2025, story titled, “Best Team Fits for Top 10 Bargain Free Agents After Trade Deadline.” “A hybrid defender at Clemson, NFL teams have tried him at both linebacker and safety but have never seen truly impressive results at either position.
“The Green Bay Packers gave Simmons a shot this offseason, but he was released in late August and failed to sign with a practice squad. … Simmons would be a logical gamble for a team that regularly uses multiple safeties in a rotation or for one that could use an athletic run defender at the second level.”
Potential Cowboys Target Isaiah Simmons Is a Former Top-10 Pick in the 2020 NFL Draft
After a standout college football career at Clemson, Simmons was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Simmons inked a four-year, $20.6 million rookie contract with the Cardinals.
The defender also had a short stint with the New York Giants. Most recently, Simmons signed with the Green Bay Packers, but the linebacker was unable to make the final roster and was released ahead of Week 1.
Simmons’ NFL career did not quite live up to the hype as teams struggled to know exactly where to play the versatile defender. The former highly touted prospect spent time at both linebacker and safety. It just so happens Dallas could use help at both positions.
Isaiah Simmons Started 42 Games With the Cardinals & Giants
During his five NFL seasons, Simmons started 42 games for the Cardinals and Giants. Simmons’ best statistical season came in 2022 when the veteran posted 99 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions in 17 appearances for the Cardinals, including 13 starts.
The defender notched an impressive 4.39-second time in the 40-yard dash ahead of the 2020 draft. Additionally, the 6-foot-4, 238-pound defender posted a 39″ vertical. Heading into the draft, analyst Matt Miller (now with ESPN) described Simmons as a “unicorn.”
“Simmons is a true unicorn as a prospect,” Miller wrote for Bleacher Report in April 2020. “Evaluators are stumped on who to compare him to or even what his ceiling will be.
“A smart defensive coordinator will simply look at the matchup each week and let Simmons erase the opposing offense’s biggest threat. He’s a rare game-changer at the linebacker position and should be allowed to play multiple roles and alignments within a single game. If Simmons doesn’t succeed in the NFL, it will be one of the biggest surprises of the 2020 draft class.”
