PHILADELPHIA — It’s almost Halloween, so it’s only fitting that “Swole Batman” made a major impression for the Eagles on Sunday.
Receiver A.J. Brown, who got the nickname from cornerback Darius Slay early in the season, showed off his super hero skills with three first-half touchdown passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers, helping Philly to a 21-7 lead.
On the first TD connection, it looked like Jalen Hurts’ heave could be intercepted by standout safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, but Brown came zooming in and elevated to snatch his third receiving touchdown of the season.
HURTS. AJ BROWN. @Eagles pick up where they left off.
📺: #PITvsPHI on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/kHi66m0LGX pic.twitter.com/ovP9WiEzio— NFL (on London time ☕️🇬🇧) (@NFL) October 30, 2022
On the second, Hurts threw a perfect ball on a third-and-8 pass, which Brown caught in stride for a 27-yard touchdown.
You dropped this dime, @JalenHurts. 👑 @1kalwaysopen_
📺: #PITvsPHI on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/kHi66m0LGX pic.twitter.com/6Trc1NFFFL— NFL (@NFL) October 30, 2022
The third score was similar to the second, with Hurts again hitting Brown down the right side on a 29-yard play.
AJ BROWN. THREE FIRST HALF TOUCHDOWNS.
📺: #PITvsPHI on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/kHi66m0LGX pic.twitter.com/Ih3iKlG2D1— NFL (@NFL) October 30, 2022
Entering the game, Brown had not recorded a 100-yard receiving game since Week 1 against the Detroit Lions — a five-game streak that was tied for the second longest of his career. The third touchdown catch gave him numbers of five catches for 113 yards and 3 TDs on the day.
Brown is the fifth Eagles player over the past 20 seasons with 3-plus receiving touchdowns in a game, per ESPN Stats & Information research, joining Terrell Owens (twice in 2004), Brian Westbrook (2004), Kevin Curtis (2007) and Riley Cooper (2013).
Hurts now has three passing touchdowns of 20-plus air yards on the day, only the second time since ESPN began tracking air yards in 2006 that an Eagles quarterback had three such passing touchdowns (Nick Foles in 2013). This also marks the first time an Eagles receiver has had three receiving touchdowns of 20-plus air yards in a game since 2006.