Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Philadelphia seeks to extend their unbeaten start to the NFL season when they host the Denver Broncos on Sunday. However, there are signs that their erratic offense is breeding frustration in the Super Bowl champion Eagles’ locker room. Wide receiver A.J. Brown acknowledged this week that he let his “frustrations boil over” in a cryptic X post after last week’s 31-25 victory over Tampa Bay, in which he caught just two passes for seven yards.
“If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw,” Brown said in the post, insisting days later that it was not directed at the team or quarterback Jalen Hurts. “My message on Twitter wasn’t directed at anyone in the building, not my coaches, not my quarterback, my (general manager), nobody,” Brown insisted, although he makes no apology for wanting to figure more prominently in an Eagles offense that ranks just 30th in total offense, next to last in passing offense and 16th in rushing. “I don’t think it’s a bad thing for wanting the ball,” Brown said. “It’s not just for targets or anything, or (to) put numbers up. No, I see that we’re struggling and I’m a guy that wants the ball in those times. When we can’t find a way, give it to me. When the game’s on the line, give the ball to me.”
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Hurts said the offense — which still ranks seventh in scoring with 27 points per game — must “band together” as they sort themselves out under first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. “The main focus is going out there, playing team offense, being on the same page and striving to do that,” Hurts said.
The Buffalo Bills, 4-0 for the first time since 2020, host the New England Patriots in a tantalizing AFC East division clash. The game will mark Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ first return to Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium, where he starred for the Bills from 2020-23 before a trade to the Houston Texans in 2024 followed by a move to New England this season. Diggs, coming off his first 100-yard game since he was in a Bills uniform, admits the return to Buffalo is “a little sentimental.” “You get excited, but try not to get too overzealous,” he said. “It’s another game, but it’s a division game, more importantly. All the things outside of that — me being there before — obviously, people are going to make that a huge thing, and it is a huge thing for me. I’ve got a lot of respect and a lot of love for that city, that fanbase, and even the players.”
Elsewhere, the 3-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the 3-1 Seattle Seahawks, with the Bucs boosted by the return to practice on Thursday of quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is dealing with knee and right biceps injuries. The Baltimore Ravens have been cagey on the status of two-time Most Valuable Player quarterback Lamar Jackson for Sunday’s game against Houston. Jackson suffered a hamstring injury in the Ravens’ week four loss to Kansas City, just the latest injury setback for 1-3 Baltimore.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will try to build on their convincing victory over the Ravens when they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday. Sunday action kicks off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, where the Minnesota Vikings take on the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland’s rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel will make his first NFL start, taking over from veteran Joe Flacco, who has been benched in the wake of a 1-3 start.
© 2024 AFP
