A week of drama did nothing to slow the Eagles' roll.
Following last Sunday's 22-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers in which Philadelphia's offense struggled to just 83 yards through the air, A.J. Brown pinpointed improving the passing game as a point of emphasis, setting off a domino effect that included Brandon Graham questioning Brown's friendship with quarterback Jalen Hurts before taking it back, coach Nick Sirianni giving a thumbs up on the duo based on what he sees and the QB-WR pair agreeing everything was copacetic.
Turns out it was all much ado about nothing, as the Eagles exercised complete control over a formidable Pittsburgh Steelers defense thanks to Hurts passing for 290 yards and Brown collecting 110 receiving yards on the way to a 27-13 victory, their 10th in a row.
"Absolutely," Brown said postgame when asked if what he said last week helped the passing operation improve. "I said it for a reason. I didn't have ill intentions behind it. It wasn't for me to get the ball. It was for us to all get on the same page and put the best foot forward. It wasn't our standard. We spoke about it. It's just crazy though because everybody in the locker room is saying the same thing. I kind of got crucified for it. But it's cool."
While Brown's end goal in voicing his opinion was team-oriented rather than for individual gain, he certainly got his against Pittsburgh.
He was second on the team with 11 targets. His eight receptions marked his most in a game all season, while his 110 receiving yards were his highest since Oct. 13. The touchdown he scored, just his second in the past eight games, was Philly's first trip to the end zone and gave the team a lead it would not relinquish on Sunday.
His score was also notable for the chemistry it took with Hurts, when Brown found a sliver of space across the middle and fulfilled his QB's trust in him by high-pointing the ball away from Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson.
A choreographed celebration between Brown and Hurts followed, but if that wasn't convincing enough for eagle-eyed Eagles fans looking for cracks, the two connected on multiple timing routes and a beautiful back-shoulder throw during the contest, as well.
"That was our moment to tell everybody to shut up, you know?" Brown said of his celebration with his QB1.
Philly's disruptive week likewise served to wake up DeVonta Smith, who saw one target more than Brown and caught a TD of his own while setting season highs with 11 catches for 109 yards.
Considering Saquon Barkley managed his fewest rushing yards (65) in two months' worth of games, Philadelphia's previously maligned passing offense very much deserves credit for Sunday's hard-fought win.
Such a result, a continued win streak and an improved air attack, is exactly what Brown hoped for when he made his opinion known.
"What's it like? It's very uncomfortable," Brown said about having such conversations. "First of all, I didn't call anybody out. Behind closed doors we talk about that. We call each other out, and that's very uncomfortable because you don't want to feel like you're getting attacked. But we're not in it for feelings. We're trying to get on the same page. We're trying to win, most importantly. It is uncomfortable. But you know what the end goal is so you move past."
And as the Eagles continue winning, their goals grow both larger and more attainable.
Now 12-2 with a playoff trip secured, Philadelphia is deadlocked with the Detroit Lions for the NFC's top seed and a first-round bye with three games remaining.
The last time the Eagles went into the postseason as the No. 1 seed, two seasons ago amid Brown's best year as a pro, they went on to play in the Super Bowl.
