Can New York Jets Slow Down 'Unstoppable' Philadelphia Eagles WR A.J. Brown?

PHILADELPHIA – After the last three games, it’s fair to ask: Is Philadelphia Eagles receiver A.J. Brown unstoppable?

“I would hope not, but he’s definitely a tough receiver to cover, definitely in the elite category, and definitely a handful to deal with," said Eagles cornerback James Bradberry.

Added center Jason Kelce: “Everybody’s got their own traits, and he’s large, he’s athletic, he’s strong, he’s smart, and he’s competitive. You put all those traits together in one person, they’re probably going to be good at whatever position they’re playing.”

As for Brown himself, when asked by SI Eagles Today if he feels unstoppable while he is in his current zone, he said: “I feel like I can probably do whatever, but I still got a job to do. I don’t win every route, but I damn sure try to.”

In his last three games, he has 24 catches for 433 yards that break down like this:

Nine catches, 131 catches in Week 3 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Nine catches, 175 yards in Week 4 vs. Washington Commanders.

Six catches, 127 yards in Week 5 vs. L.A. Rams.

Only Brown and Harold Jackson have totaled at least 125 yards in three straight games. Jackson did it spanning two seasons, 1971 and 1972. Brown’s 541 yards over five games are the most in that span for an Eagles receiver since Terrell Owens in 2005 when T.O. had 556.

The 541 yards are also the fourth-highest in the league at the moment.

With 125 receiving yards on Sunday against the New York Jets, Brown will become the third player in the Super Bowl era to record at least 125 yards receiving yards in four of his team’s first six games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Lance Alworth (1968) and Andre Rison (1990).

It would also make him just the fifth player since 2000 to have at least 125 yards receiving in four straight games, joining Odell Beckham, Josh Gordon, Andre Johnson, and Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson.

“In the moment, it feels great, but after, I’m back to zero,” said Brown. “I gotta lock back in and make this week my best week, and just trying to stay dialed in. I’m not looking at numbers. My confidence is really high, I can say that. But as far as that, I still gotta come in, come to work each and every day, and get better, challenge myself and prepare mentally.”

There may be only one player who can stop him right now and that’s his teammate DeVonta Smith.

Not because Smith is moving to cornerback anytime soon, but because he is coming off a one-catch game last week against the Los Angeles Rams. That could change on Sunday against the Jets.

Maybe the Eagles have the Jets right where they want them. Load up on the historic stretch of games Brown has had the past three weeks, forget about Smith, and he stings them.

Maybe Sauce Gardner proves to be the Brown equalizer, but Gardner typically stays rooted to one side of the field. The Eagles could alternate sides of the field for both Brown and Smith, leaving one on Gardner. The other starter at corner, D.J. Reed, has been ruled out with a concussion.

Brown gave his take on Gardner and the Jets’ 14th-ranked defense.

“I think the Jets defense period; they got a good D-line, good linebackers, and a really solid back end,” he said. “We have to get open quick. Everybody has their work cut out for them, from the O-line to wideouts to running backs, everybody. The offense has its work cut out this week and we have to put our hard hat on and come ready to play.

“He (Gardner) is a really good player, up and coming. Good feet, good length, getting in and out of breaks. He’s a really good player.”