The Philadelphia Eagles sit at 8-2, firmly atop the NFC East. They are preparing to face a 4-5-1 Dallas Cowboys team fighting for its playoff life. Yet, if you listen to A.J. Brown, you might think the standings were reversed. The star receiver isn’t buying the idea that only one team in this matchup has its back against the wall, claiming his squad feels the heat just as much as their struggling rivals.
Why Does A.J. Brown Believe the Eagles Are Desperate?
Philadelphia heads to Arlington, Texas, this Sunday for a massive divisional clash. While the Cowboys need a win to keep their postseason hopes alive, the Eagles are currently the class of the conference. On paper, Philadelphia is cruising with a first-place record in the NFC.
A.J. Brown on playing a desperate Cowboys team: “We’re desperate, too! We’re trying to get it going. We’re desperate, too.”
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) November 21, 2025
Despite that success, Brown offered a surprising perspective on the team’s mindset. On Friday, writer Zach Berman reported, “A.J. Brown on playing a desperate Cowboys team: ‘We’re desperate, too! We’re trying to get it going. We’re desperate, too.'”
This comment fits a pattern for Brown, who has endured a tumultuous season in Philadelphia. He frequently appears in the headlines for critiques of the team, and this week proved no different.
Most people in the Eagles’ locker room likely view the situation differently. A look at the numbers suggests Dallas is the side in trouble. The Cowboys rank 31st in PFSN’s Defensive Impact metrics, while Philadelphia’s defense sits at eighth. However, the offensive side tells a different story. Dallas sits second in PFSN’s Offensive Impact rankings, compared to the Eagles at 16th.
Overall, Philadelphia has been the superior team. Brown’s comments likely reflect his personal frustrations with production and usage rather than the team’s actual standing. These frustrations have boiled over publicly before. In a controversial moment on a Twitch stream, Brown told his fantasy managers to drop him and described his situation with the team as a mess.
His numbers tell the story of that decline. Brown has caught 38 passes for 457 yards and three touchdowns this season. He has cracked 80 receiving yards in a game just three times. Consequently, he ranks 37th in PFSN’s Wide Receiver Impact rankings with a 76.0 score and a C grade.
The drop-off is stark. In the rankings last year, Brown sat third with an A- grade. He tallied 67 receptions for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns.
Brown is understandably unhappy with his diminished role. However, venting to the media doesn’t solve the on-field issues. While he claims the Eagles are desperate, the 4-5-1 Cowboys would surely trade places with them in a heartbeat.
