Eagles squeak past the lowly Browns 20-16 as A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith return with TD catches

PHILADELPHIA — Another week, another high-drama finish for the Eagles.

Back home at Lincoln Financial Field for the first time in 27 days, the Eagles managed to hold off the Cleveland Browns from pulling off a late-game comeback and emerged with a 20-16 victory. The Eagles got well over the bye week with the returns of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Lane Johnson, whose contributions proved critical to the team’s success.

Here’s our instant analysis from the Eagles’ first win at home:

Batmen Return

Smith broke a 13-13 tie in the fourth quarter on yet another mesh concept with tight end Jack Stoll on first-and-10 from the Browns’ 45 with eight minutes left in the game. The receiver generated 40 yards after the catch and into the end zone to put the Eagles up, 20-13. He finished the game with three receptions for 64 yards and the touchdown. Brown racked up six receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown.

The offense didn’t have early success, even with Brown, Smith, and Johnson back in the lineup, continuing a frustrating trend for the team. The offense went three-and-out on their opening drive and failed to score in the first quarter for a fifth straight game, making the Eagles still the only team in the NFL left to do so.

However, Smith got the offense going late in the first quarter. On first-and-10 from the Eagles’ 22-yard line, Smith and Stoll ran a mesh concept that led to a 13-yard gain for the wide receiver. But the offense sputtered when Hurts’ pass was batted at the line of scrimmage by Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on third down. Smith’s reception help set up a 49-yard field goal for Jake Elliott, giving the Eagles the 3-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Brown got in on the action on the following possession. On third-and-7 from the Browns’ 22-yard line, Brown was lined up in the slot opposite cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. in man coverage. Brown ran a slot fade and was well-covered by Emerson Jr., but Hurts placed the ball perfectly over his top receiver’s back shoulder for a 22-yard touchdown to put the Eagles up, 10-0.