A t some point, you stop overanalyzing it. The Philadelphia Eagles are 4â0, but it doesnât feel like it, because their best player is being treated like a prop. Youâve got a thoroughbred, and youâre keeping him in the barn. Throw. A.J. Brown. The damn. Ball.
The Basics: Eagles vs Broncos
- Who: Eagles (4-0, 2-0 Home) vs. Broncos (2-2, 0-2 Away)
- When: Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET
- Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA.
- TV: CBS
- Betting: Eagles -3.5 ; Total: 44.5
- Money Line: Eagles: -220, Broncos +180
Let the Big Dog Eat
Since A.J. Brown got to Philly in 2022, the Eagles are 41â10 when he plays. Thatâs not a stat that’s a statement.
When Brown eats, the offense roars. When heâs ignored, it sputters, looks mechanical, and you can almost feel the frustration humming through the headset.
Two seasons ago, Brown went nuclear – six straight games with 125+ yards, a streak no one in NFL history had ever done before.
From Week 3 through Week 8 of 2023, he posted:
- 9 for 131 vs Tampa Bay
- 9 for 175 vs Washington
- 6 for 127 vs Rams
- 7 for 131 vs Jets
- 10 for 137 vs Miami
- 8 for 130 and 2 TDs vs Washington
Thatâs 49 catches, 831 yards, and 5 touchdowns in six games.
Thatâs what dominance looks like when you make your alpha the priority, not an afterthought.
Apex Predators Need to Hunt
Guys like A.J. Brown arenât normal athletes. Theyâre wired differently.
They donât play for balance, or for box scores, or to make sure everyone gets a turn.
They play to dominate. They play to bury the guy lined up across from them and make sure the world knows it.
Winning isnât enough. Winning while taking someoneâs soul is what fuels them.
A.J. Brown doesnât want cardio. He wants carnage.
You can see it when heâs locked in, the sideline comes alive, Jalen Hurts stands taller, the whole team takes on his edge.
When heâs ghosted for half a game because of ultra-conservatism his energy evaporates. You canât manufacture that juice with bubble screens to Jahan Dotson.
The Other Predators Eat Well
Puka Nacua | Rams
- 42 catches, 503 yards, 2 TDs through 4 games
- Averaging 10.5 receptions and 125.8 yards per game
Sean McVay doesnât apologize for feeding his guy 14 times a week. He builds his script around it.
JaâMarr Chase | Bengals
- 26 catches, 264 yards, 1 TD
- 16 targets and 14 receptions for 165 yards in game three alone with a back-up quarterback
When Cincinnati needs a spark, they donât hold a committee meeting. They throw to JaâMarr until someone stops it, and no one ever does.
What Doesn’t Kevin Patullo Get?
Kevin Patullo coordinating the offensive plays like a guy trying to protect his LinkedIn profile, not win a Super Bowl.
His game plans feel like they don’t have a real plan.Â
Heâs got one of the NFLâs most dangerous weapons in Brown â a top-five receiver with grown-man power â and somehow keeps dialing up swing passes and gap dives like heâs allergic to the forward pass.
This isn’t absract theory. Itâs the NFL and when your top wideout looks like a Greek statue with jet fuel for blood he should not ever go two quarters without a target.
Keyshawn Johnson said it best in his book 27 years ago and it still holds up: Throw Me the Damn Ball.
That wasnât about ego. It was about feeding the alpha so the pack hunts right.
Coached Conservatively
The Eagles arenât broken. Theyâre just being coached way too conservatively. The record is perfect, but the swagger is missing. The NFL is about imposing your will, not good will.
The Birds are the Seventh-Worst 4-0 Team Ever
We went through this last season with the Chiefs. We’re going to go through the same thing with the current reigning Super Bowl champions.
Worst 4-0 Teams Through Four Games Since 1978
RANK |
YEAR |
TEAM |
DVOA |
RANK |
FINAL RESULT |
1 |
2003 |
CAR |
-0.5% |
14 |
11-5, lost SB |
2 |
1983 |
DAL |
1.5% |
13 |
12-4, lost WC |
3 |
2012 |
ARI |
2.3% |
13 |
5-11 |
4 |
2015 |
CAR |
3.6% |
14 |
15-1, lost SB |
5 |
1979 |
CLE |
4.9% |
11 |
9-7 |
6 |
1982 |
WAS |
5.4% |
12 |
8-1, won SB |
7 |
2025 |
PHI |
7.2% |
12 |
— |
8 |
2000 |
MIN |
8.3% |
12 |
11-5, lost CCG |
9 |
2013 |
NE |
11.1% |
8 |
12-4, lost CCG |
10 |
2006 |
IND |
11.2% |
10 |
12-4, won SB |
Notice anything about the weakest 4-0 teams? Four of the nine previous teams made it to the Super Bowl. That’s the thing about a 4-0 start: It sets you up for a successful season, even if your underlying stats aren’t great yet.
Like the 2024 Chiefs, the Eagles have won the benefit of the doubt with seasons of success and last year’s Lombardi Trophy. Yes, something has been off about their offense and defense so far, but it’s expected that the Eagles will come around eventually. Philadelphia has already banked four wins against a difficult early schedule, and its upcoming opponents in October are a lot easier than its September opponents, including two games against rookie Jaxson Dart and the Malik Nabers-free Giants.
ESPN’s Football Power Index still ranks the Eagles fourth in the NFL. The ESPN playoff simulation gives them a 12.9% chance to win the Super Bowl, the best odds in the NFC. The Eagles should be fine despite their “slow start.
PREDICTION: Eagles 23, Broncos 16
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