Philadelphia, PA – Following the viral video of AJ Brown swearing right after scoring his second touchdown in the Eagles’ thrilling 24-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night (October 19, 2025), the Philadelphia Eagles’ star wide receiver has finally broken his silence. In his post-game press conference, Brown admitted that the clip spreading across social media—where he yelled “F
k this st”—stemmed from extreme frustration with the referees’ decisions, not disappointment in quarterback Jalen Hurts as some speculated.
“I’m not mad at my teammates. Jalen threw a perfect ball, and I just wanted to celebrate the moment. But throughout the game, the refs were deliberately siding with the Vikings. I exploded because they ‘stole’ so many opportunities from us. It was blatant injustice, and I couldn’t hold it in anymore,” Brown shared, his voice laced with anger. The video quickly trended on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, racking up millions of views, with many Eagles fans agreeing it captured the team’s collective frustration.
The Eagles vs. Vikings matchup—part of NFL Week 7 in the 2025 season—saw a barrage of referee controversies, prompting even ESPN’s renowned commentator Stephen A. Smith to call it out. Smith had previously stated: “The refs were clearly on the Vikings’ side, but luckily, it still couldn’t change the outcome. They tried to tilt the game against Philadelphia in such an obvious way.” In his explanation, Brown specifically pointed out a series of what he called “intentional” errors by the officiating crew that directly impacted the Eagles’ performance.
A Laundry List of Referee Blunders Called Out by AJ Brown
Brown didn’t hold back in listing the situations where he and his teammates felt “screwed over,” based on in-game analysis and replay footage:
- Missed False Starts on Tush Push: “They overlooked at least three clear false starts by the Vikings’ defensive line when we ran the Tush Push. Those pushes helped them maintain their drive, but if it were the Eagles, we’d have been flagged immediately. It was blatant bias, just like Stephen A. said.”
- Missed Holding Calls on Vikings’ Offensive Line: “There were two obvious holding penalties on their O-line, especially on their third drive of the second half, where Justin Jefferson got a free lane. If it were DeVonta Smith or me, the refs would have whistled it right away. That gave the Vikings an extra 50 yards they didn’t deserve.”
- Overturned TD for T.J. Hockenson—But Biased Replay: “They overturned Hockenson’s touchdown in a baffling way, but that was just ‘theater’ to cover it up. Earlier, replay ignored a clear pass interference on me in the end zone, costing us crucial points. The replay officials in New York seemed to be ‘playing’ for the Vikings.”
- Unfair Unsportsmanlike Conduct Calls: “After I took a late hit, they called nothing, but a single ‘dirty look’ from the Eagles’ side gets a warning. That’s how they tried to ’tilt’ the game’s momentum.”
- Clock Management and Erroneous Delay of Game: “At the end of the first half, they wrongly gave the Vikings a delay of game penalty that actually helped them retain the ball for an extra 10 seconds. Those seconds could have been the difference between a touchdown and a field goal.”
According to Brown, these blunders not only disrupted the Eagles’ offensive rhythm but also gave the Vikings a psychological edge—the team led 17-10 at halftime before the Eagles mounted a comeback fueled by Brown’s two late touchdowns (121 receiving yards, 2 TDs).
Fan and NFL Community Reactions
Brown’s explanation quickly garnered support from Eagles fans, with the hashtag #RefsRobbedEagles trending on X. One fan posted: “AJ’s spot on—the refs ‘assisted’ the Vikings all game. Lucky we still won!” However, some Vikings voices, like tight end T.J. Hockenson, claimed the Eagles benefited from other calls, but Brown dismissed it: “We won because of talent, not ‘help’ from the refs.”
Stephen A. Smith, on this morning’s First Take, praised Brown: “AJ’s a true warrior. That video wasn’t unprofessional—it was the voice of truth. The NFL needs to review officiating before they lose fan trust.”
With this win, the Eagles solidify their lead in the NFC East (5-2 record), but Brown emphasized: “We’ll keep fighting, but I hope the NFL gets fairer. Football is for playing, not ‘playing games’ with the refs.”
This article is based on post-game statements and analysis from reputable sources like ESPN and NFL Network. The Eagles face the Lions in Week 8—a matchup promising even more drama.
