Philadelphia Eagles: 3 Bold predictions vs. Chiefs in Week 4
By Tadhg Flynn
2. DeVonta Smith has more receiving yards than Tyreek Hill
Before the start of the season, there was some optimism that the Eagles offensive unit could be a dangerous passing prospect. The team didn’t trade Zach Ertz. 2020 first-round draft pick Jalen Reagor was expected to build on his first season and have a breakout year. Fans would have been excited to see a new-look offense led by Jalen Hurts and first-year head coach Nick Sirianni.
So far, their surprising lead receiver for yards has been Quez Watkins. With 186 yards from only seven targets, the wide receiver has had some of the team’s most explosive plays downfield. Admittedly, he gained the majority of his yards on two huge plays for almost 120 yards against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2. However, the space created for these plays has been generated by another player on the team.
2020 Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith had his draft prospects lowered by a perceived lack of physicality and size. He has shown fans that he was more than worth the Eagles’ first round pick this year. Smith has unique intangibles for a rookie, a dynamic change of pace and elusiveness that puts him apart from other receivers. He has been targeted over 20 times through three games, and if not for some costly drops and penalties he would be the team’s leading receiver for yards.
If the Eagles have any chance of success against the Chiefs in Week 4, they will need to build an effective connection between Hurts and his receivers. The run game will give space, and Philadelphia would do well to target a porous Chiefs’ run defense. It still feels likely that the Eagles will need to play from behind against the 2020 champions.
If the Eagles can generate effective pressure on the Chiefs, Mahomes will be forced to release the ball quickly, and the main target for this game will be tight end Travis Kelce. If this is the case, DeVonta Smith will record more receiving yards than the Chiefs’ wideout Tyreek Hill. This is a big call, but if the Eagles’ dominant defensive line can hurry up the passing game of the Chiefs, it may be achievable.