Jalen Hurts throws two touchdown passes as the Eagles hold off the Browns 20-16

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Perhaps outraged that Eagles fans had cheered his firing, Nick Sirianni couldn't close his mouth in the final seconds. Philadelphia's coach – already a habitual nonsense talker – put a finger to his right ear and chirped to the fans in the front rows of the Linc.

Yes, after the Eagles earned a four-point win over the dysfunctional Browns, Sirianni felt the need to speak sharply and report on social media and in the tabloids about a coach whose job security is up for debate on a daily basis and who – even in victory – won I will not win a popularity contest in Philadelphia.

“I’m just excited to win,” Sirianni said. “Appreciate the Linc support.”

He needed to appreciate the Eagles offense a little more.

Jalen Hurts threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns, including a 45-yard throw to DeVonta Smith in the fourth quarter, and Philadelphia beat Cleveland 20-16 on Sunday.

Hurts also threw a 22-yard TD to AJ Brown, who returned along with Smith after both wide receivers were sidelined with injuries. The Eagles can't afford to lose either for an extended period of time if they want to have a strong run in the postseason.

After a bye, the already nerve-wracking Eagles (3:2) had to prevail against the Browns (1:5) in front of a largely listless crowd. Before Smith's touchdown, Eagles fans showed only some fire as they chanted for Sirianni to be fired.

Sirianni said several players told him, “We need you back, Nick. We need your energy. We need your focus.”

“I encourage him to be himself. That’s him,” Hurts said.

Trailing 20-13, the Browns moved into Eagles territory late in the game, but had to settle for Dustin Hopkins' 31-yard field goal. Deshaun Watson was forced out of bounds on a scramble at the 2-yard line and threw incomplete on third down.

The Eagles took over with 3:54 left and didn't allow Cleveland to get the ball back, with Hurts taking advantage of Brown for a 40-yard gain to tie the game.

Sirianni promised changes that would come from the bye week, and he delivered – the fourth-year coach shaved his head.

On the field, it was mostly the same old Eagles, turning running back Saquon Barkley into a spectator, failing to get Hurts to consistently connect with his star receivers, and showing poor performance — particularly on special teams.

The saving grace? They played the Browns.

Watson's dismal play did nothing to quiet calls for the team's $230 million quarterback to be benched. He finished 16 of 23 for 168 yards, and the Browns failed to score an offensive touchdown — they still haven't scored 20 points in a game this season.

“We are putting ourselves at risk of not achieving what we want to achieve,” Watson said.

Cleveland scored its only touchdown a blocked field goal by All-Pro Myles Garrett that Rodney McLeod Jr. scooped and returned untouched to the end zone. Watson was sacked three times and threw for just 49 yards in the first half.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, who decided last week that he will remain a player, is sticking with his commitment to Watson, who is in the third season of a fully guaranteed five-year contract.

Stefanski said after the game that he would stick with Watson even though the Browns appear to have no chance of repeating the playoff run they made last year behind then-replacement Joe Flacco.

“I know the guys are fighting like crazy and I appreciate that, but we have to find a way to win against a good opponent,” Stefanski said. “We had our chances and didn’t come through.”

Brown had six catches for 116 yards and the score after missing the last three games with a hamstring injury. Smith had three catches for 64 yards after missing a game with a concussion.

“I haven’t played football in a month, so I’ve got to focus on the little things I need to focus on,” Brown said. “Make sure I’m actually running instead of just looking for the ball.”

After a scoreless first quarter in the fifth game of the season, Jake Elliott broke through with a 49-yard field goal. The Eagles found a rare offensive spark on their next drive: Hurts to Grant Calcaterra for 34 yards, Hurts to Brown for 16 yards and Hurts to Brown for a 22-yard strike that made it 10-0.

Dustin Hopkins hit a 43-yarder for the Browns, increasing the lead to 10-3.

The Eagles appeared close to taking a small halftime lead when Elliott lined up for a 57-yard attempt. Garrett got the ball in his hands when he jumped over Tyler Steen – a nice effort for a 6-foot-1, 272-pounder – and blocked the ball. Former Eagles safety McLeod grabbed the loose ball and ran 50 yards for the score, capping it with a somersault into the end zone to make it 10-1 with 14 seconds left in the half.

Eagles fans, fed up with Sirianni since last season's late collapse, booed the team from the field. The truly angry began a chant of “Fire Nick!” while those at home took to social media to ponder whether a coach might be fired at halftime.

“We thrive on the crowd when they cheer us on. That’s all I’m going to say,” Sirianni said.

Injuries

Browns: C Nick Harris was carted off the field on the first drive with an ankle injury. Third player Michael Dunn replaced Harris. RB Jerome Ford suffered a hamstring injury. Harris only got the start because starter Ethan Pocic was inactive with a knee injury. Pocic was missing along with safeties Grant Delpit (concussion) and Ronnie Hickman (ankle).

Eagles: TE Dallas Goedert suffered a hamstring injury. CB Darius Slay left the team with a knee injury. OT Jordan Mailata left in the fourth, also with a hamstring injury.

Next

Browns: Host Cincinnati next Sunday.

Eagles: At the New York Giants next Sunday.

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