A.J. Brown points the finger at the weather for Eagles’ shocking aerial collapse—‘The conditions were crazy

The Philadelphia Eagles are headed to the NFC Championship Game, but their passing attack still remains in the shadows, struggling to find its rhythm. In their 28-22 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, the Eagles’ explosive rushing attack stole the spotlight, accumulating 285 yards on the ground. However, the team’s passing game failed to find any traction, with Jalen Hurts completing only 15 of 20 passes for 128 yards, while being sacked seven times. The Eagles finished the game with just 65 net passing yards.

Wide receiver A.J. Brown, who had a rough outing with just two catches for 14 yards on seven targets, pointed to the blustery weather conditions as a major factor in the Eagles’ lack of passing success. While Matthew Stafford of the Rams managed to throw for 324 yards and two touchdowns, Brown insisted that the extreme weather played a significant role in the game’s struggles for both teams.

Weather Challenges and a Struggling Aerial Attack

Brown was quick to defend the passing game, explaining the difficulties the team faced under the snowy conditions. “You’ve got to give this game a pass,” Brown said. “The conditions were tough. The weather was crazy. We couldn’t even see out there.” He noted that despite these difficulties, the Rams managed to make some successful passes late in the game when the stakes were highest. “I don’t think that would’ve been their first choice, though,” he added.

In the first half, Hurts generated just 66 passing yards before the snow began to fall more heavily. By comparison, Stafford had thrown for 126 yards and a touchdown in the same timeframe. Brown noted the difficulty of trying to catch and throw the ball in such conditions, emphasizing that the weather disrupted every aspect of the game.

“Absolutely, it affected everything,” Brown said. “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. That was not fun at all. But we made the most of it, and I’m glad we got the win.”

A Struggling Passing Game: More Than Just One Game

While the weather on Sunday was undoubtedly a factor, the struggles in the passing game weren’t a one-off occurrence. Hurts has had difficulty hitting the 200-yard mark consistently throughout the season. In the Wild Card Round win over the Green Bay Packers, Hurts threw for just 131 yards. Looking back at his recent performances, Hurts has thrown for over 200 yards in just one of his last six starts—290 yards against Pittsburgh in Week 15. Not including a concussion-affected game in Week 15, Hurts has topped 250 yards only four times in 17 starts (including playoffs), and exceeded 300 yards once, in a Week 3 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

In the Rams game, Hurts struggled with misfires, and Brown himself missed a perfect deep shot late in the first half that could have been a 40+ yard gain. “It’s tough. No excuses,” Brown reflected. “I just wish I could’ve held onto it. The conditions played a part, but it’s just tough. I try to do my best to hold onto it.”

An Ongoing Struggle with the Passing Attack

Despite the struggles, A.J. Brown has not led the Eagles in receiving yards in any of his five playoff games with the team. In fact, Hurts himself acknowledged that they simply didn’t connect during the game. “We just didn’t connect this time around,” Hurts said. “It’s been a minute in general since we’ve done that as a whole. As an offense, we just want to take advantage of all the opportunities we have and continue learning from them.”

Compounding the issue, Hurts was playing through a knee injury, and Brown wasn’t fully recovered from his own knee issue. This left the Eagles’ passing game in a disjointed state, with deep drops from Hurts’ side, possibly exacerbated by the knee injury and the strong Rams pass rush. Coach Nick Sirianni defended the team’s play-calling, saying, “We did what we thought we needed to do in that particular case. We’ll always look at play calls. It’s everything. It’s going to be play calls, it’s going to be that the defense made a play. There are a lot of things to attribute to that.”

Ground Game Leads the Way

Even with the passing game sputtering, the Eagles’ rushing attack was unstoppable. The team leaned heavily on Saquon Barkley, who racked up 205 yards and two long touchdowns, helping the Eagles secure the win despite the passing woes. The running game has been a constant throughout the season, and with a strong offensive line and Barkley in top form, the Eagles can rely on their ground game in tough situations.

Looking ahead to the NFC Championship Game, the Eagles will once again turn to their ground attack as the key to victory. In their two meetings with the Washington Commanders this season, the Eagles averaged 219.5 rushing yards per game. This running success should help the team overcome any continued struggles with the passing attack.

Weather or Not, the Eagles Stay Focused on the Goal

While the passing attack might be in a rough spot, the Philadelphia Eagles have proven their ability to adjust. With the ground game in top form, they head into the NFC Championship Game with confidence. Despite the difficult weather conditions and some inconsistent play, the team remains focused on the bigger goal: securing a spot in the Super Bowl.

Whether or not the passing game can find its rhythm will remain a question, but with their rushing success and a solid defense, the Eagles are well-positioned to make another strong playoff run. The NFC Championship Game will test their ability to adapt, but with the right adjustments, the Eagles will continue to press forward.