Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Spencer Brown said he believed that Philadelphia Eagles lineman Jalen Carter intentionally poked his eye in last week’s game, an accusation that Carter denied.
On Saturday, the NFL picked a side in the debate.
The league on Saturday afternoon announced fines for all Week 17 games, with two Eagles players drawing punishment for last week’s game against the Bills — but none for Carter. The decision drew some pushback among Bills fans.
Spencer Brown Leveled Accusation After Last Week’s Game
Brown was asked about the incident following last week’s 13-12 loss for the Bills.
“I took a strong right hook to my eyeball,” Brown told reporters when asked why he needed to leave the game briefly in the fourth quarter, via SI.com.
Brown was then asked if he thought Carter’s poke was accidental.
“I donât think so but it was coming, I guess,” Brown replied.
Eagles reporter Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer later asked Carter, who denied intentionally hitting Brown in the eye.
“Jalen Carter said he didnât intentionally hit Spencer Brown in the eye when I asked him today about the Bills tackleâs claim after the game,” McLane shared in a post on X. “The #Eagles DT said he understands that he has a certain reputation because of prior incidents in games, but he said the thumb that went into Brownâs face mask was accidental.”
The tensions carried over after the game, with broadcast cameras catching Brown jawing with some Eagles players as they walked down the tunnel back to the locker room.
The league did issue fines for two other Eagles players, docking tight end Grant Calcaterra $6,353 for taunting in the third quarter. Safety Sydney Brown was fined $8,432 for unnecessary roughness on a kickoff before halftime.
Loss Dropped Bills From AFC East Contention
Last week’s game was a critical loss for the Bills, who went into the game carrying hope for a sixth straight AFC East title. Their loss, combined with a New England Patriots win over the Jets, gave the Patriots their first division title since the departure of Tom Brady after the 2019 season.
The Bills now head into the final week of the season with little on the line. The Bills are already locked into a playoff spot and can move anywhere from the No. 5 spot to No. 7 depending on the outcome of their game and several others in the AFC.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott said all starters who are healthy will play against the Jets, though it’s not clear how long they could stay in the game. Quarterback Josh Allen played just one snap in last year’s meaningless season finale, extending his record streak of starts among quarterbacks.
Allen said he would be preparing for Sunday’s game like any other.
“There is that thin line between you guys are already in the playoffs, don’t want to do anything too crazy, try to get healthy,” Allen said, via SI.com. “Come gameday, I’m going to ready, whether that’s this week or next week. I just gotta prepare as if I’m ready to roll.”
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