A.J. Brown reveals the truth behind game-changing mistake made by Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles shot themselves in the foot too often on Sunday, leading to the team’s 20-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The overwhelming majority of the blame falls on quarterback Gardner Minshew and the offense. New Orleans held a 13-10 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. While Philly […]
The Philadelphia Eagles shot themselves in the foot too often on Sunday, leading to the team’s 20-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The overwhelming majority of the blame falls on quarterback Gardner Minshew and the offense.
New Orleans held a 13-10 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. While Philly had the ball, Minshew threw a costly pick-six to Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, which was enough to put the game out of reach.
It was the second time in the game that Philadelphia had run that play. Unlike the first instance, Lattimore snuffed out the pattern and jumped A.J. Brown’s route. Minshew admitted his mistake after the game.
“We ran that same play earlier. It was the same coverage and they made a great adjustment to it and jumped the route,” Minshew explained. “I should’ve seen that leverage when we made the motion. I assumed since it was the same coverage he was going to play it the same, but he made a great adjustment and made the play.”
The Blame Game
When Brown was approached following the loss, his story peeled back the curtain on what seems to be a simple miscommunication between him and Minshew. Brown disclosed that he attempted to grab Minshew’s attention before the snap, but Minshew never looked his way.
“It was initially press. We were trying to get Gardner’s attention to look up, but he never looked back at me. (Lattimore) actually called the route out and basically doubled me on the play.”
On whether or not familiarity, or lack thereof, was a factor in the miscue, Brown believes the mistake was preventable.
“I don’t think that’s the case. I just don’t think he looked up. He just saw one look and stayed with that look.”
The Eagles have been caught playing with its food over the last two weeks. Needing just one win to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC, Philly looks to its regular season finale against the New York Giants to stave off a late-season rally from the Dallas Cowboys.
Featured image via Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports
