A.J. Brown and his post-game moment of clarity

PHILADELPHIA — Eagles receiver A.J. Brown caught nine passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns Sunday, the type of production befitting his $100 million contract.

But it was what the veteran did after the second score that had quarterback Jalen Hurts fuming. After his second touchdown reception, Brown dropped the ball in the end zone next to fallen defender Emmanuel Forbes Jr. to draw a 15-yard taunting penalty.

That meant Jake Elliott had to kick off from the 20, and Antonio Gibson returned it 29 yards to the Washington 36. Sam Howell led them to a TD with two ticks left to send the game into overtime. The Eagles needed Elliott’s walkoff 54-yard field goal to stay unbeaten.

“He’s a good player,” Brown said of Emmanuel. “There was a lot of competition out there. The emotions were high. I made a good play. Jalen gave me a check. But I’ve got to be better than that. I’m a vet, I can’t do stuff like that, put the ball in front of him. It cost us yardage on the kickoff.”

Brown indicated he couldn’t agree more with what Hurts told him, which is “You can’t do that.”

The Eagles survived and are one of just two undefeated teams remaining. The San Francisco 49ers are the other 4-0 squad.

After a rocky start to the season that included a fiery sideline “discussion” with Hurts in Week 2, Brown has put together big time back-to-back games. He is just the fifth Eagles player since 1970 with 130 or more receiving yards in consecutive games, the others being Jeremy Maclin (2014), DeSean Jackson (2009-10), Mike Quick (1983, 1985) and Harold Jackson (1972).

The Eagles were never behind after Brown’s second TD grab, a 59-yarder in which he zig-zagged through the Commanders behind blocks from DeVonta Smith and Olamide Zaccheaus. Brown praised Smith and Zaccheaus as well as Hurts, who, normally stoic, showed a little emotion.

“What did I see out of him?” Brown said. “That fire in him. He kind of woke up a little bit. It gave everybody a boost.”

To stay unbeaten the Eagles next weekend need to beat the Los Angeles Rams (2-2), who fought off a fierce rally Sunday for a 29-23 road victory over the Indianapolis Colts. It’s always a challenge winning on the West Coast.

“We’re still putting it together,” Brown said. “Nobody wants to be playing their best ball right now. But we’re still striving every day to fix the little things and head in the right direction. These are moments that we’re learning from.”