Philadelphia Eagles: Profiling WR No. 81 Jordan Matthews

The NFL Spin Zone ‘Countdown to Kickoff’ series continues with 81 days until kickoff, profiling Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver, No. 81 Jordan Matthews.

Today is June 19, 2016, which means there are exactly 81 days until the NFL season kicks off.

Those 81 days should get you excited because we are getting closer to watching the two teams that battled in the Super Bowl last season go at it again. The Denver Broncos defeated Cam Newton‘s Carolina Panthers, but there is no clear-cut Super Bowl favorite this season.

As we wait for the two teams to kickoff the NFL season, the team at NFL Spin Zone has decided to profile a player whose number is associated with the amount of days until that first kickoff.

So, with 81 days until the NFL season FINALLY kicks off, I will highlight Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews, who obviously wears No. 81.

Matthews, who happens to be the cousin of the greatest wide receiver of all-time Jerry Rice, was taken in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft (42nd overall). Matthews may not have the ability that his cousin had on the field, but he does share his work ethic.

The Vanderbilt product has always been know for working hard and through two NFL seasons it has shown. In his rookie year, Matthews caught 67 passes for 872 yards and eight touchdowns. That work ethic allowed him to progress in year-two, catching 85 passes for 997 yards and touchdowns.

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His best game in 2015 came against the Eagles’ division rival, the Dallas Cowboys. In the game, Matthews caught nine passes for 133 yards and a touchdown, but the touchdown catch was the biggest play of the game.

With the game tied at 27 in overtime, Matthews caught a 41-yard, walk-off touchdown (via NFL YouTube).

It was a bright sport for Matthews’ season and career, but he finished the year strong catching 30 passes for 432 yards and six touchdowns over the last six games. As he enters his third season in the NFL, Matthews will need to continue his play from the end of 2015.

The Eagles are without any big-time wide receivers for the second straight season, so Matthews will be depended on as their No. 1 target in 2016. Matthews has never really been know as a guy who should be a No. 1 wide receiver, but after another offseason in the NFL he will look to show everyone he can be.

With all of the quarterback controversy in Philly, Matthews needs to be the guy in the passing game that can help no matter which quarterback is throwing passes. He received 126 targets last season, so expect him to receive even more this season.

The Countdown Continues: No. 82: Delanie Walker

With the volume of targets he will receive, and the ability he possesses, Matthews is an Eagles player you definitely want to draft in fantasy football this year.

Like his cousin, Matthews was doubted coming into the league, but he has been doing a good job of silencing some of those critics. Matthews needs to show he has progressed once again and catch over 100 passes for 1,000-plus yards and 10 touchdowns in 2016.

With 81 days until the NFL season kicks off, No. 81 on the Eagles is motivated and ready to show that he can hit those numbers in his third season.

Check out all of the Countdown to Kickoff series posts here.

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Countdown to Kickoff: Profile on Philadelphia Eagles No. 81 Jordan Matthews

By Jeremy Klump | Jun 19, 2016

The NFL Spin Zone ‘Countdown to Kickoff’ series continues with 81 days until kickoff, profiling Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver, No. 81 Jordan Matthews.