With tight end Zach Ertz sidelined unexpectedly due to a lingering hamstring injury, Alshon Jeffery shined as quarterback Carson Wentz's go-to target in Sunday's blowout win over the Denver Broncos.
Jeffery caught an early 32-yard touchdown strike from Wentz along the right sideline to give the Eagles the early 7-3 lead. Later, the two connected again, this time in the red zone for a four-yard touchdown that extended Philadelphia's lead to a whopping 44-9 to end the third quarter. Jeffery and Wentz would watch the rest of the game from the sidelines after lighting up the notorious Broncos defense.
"I think we can just keep getting better," Wentz said after the win. "First of all, he's unselfish. Second of all, even on the weeks he's not getting the ball, he's drawing attention, drawing the best corner and clouding safeties."
Jeffery led the team with six catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns. It was even more impressive that the performance came against Denver's stifling secondary group comprised of All-Pro cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr.
"We have a great defense every day that we go against in practice," Jeffery said. "We got guys on our team (who are so competitive) that we feel like practice should be the games. And not to take away (from Denver), they have a great pass rush and those guys in the secondary – but at the same time, we take pride. We'll step up to those times with competition as well."
The strong outing marked Jeffery's fourth multiple-touchdown game of his career and his first as an Eagle. His five touchdowns in nine games this season is not only the quickest he's reached that total in a season, but they're also the most touchdowns for Jeffery in a season since 2014 (10). He and Nelson Agholor are just one of three wide receiver duos to combine for ten or more touchdowns this season.
Jeffery currently sits second on the team in receiving with an even 500 yards heading into the bye week.
"Just take what the defense gives us. Some games, it's going to be big plays, some games it's not," Jeffery said. "But at the same time, I take those big plays and as long as we win, it doesn't matter."
Wentz and the Eagles spread the ball around in Ertz's absence, as seven different players made catches Sunday afternoon. At the same time, the continuity is growing between Wentz and Jeffery. Sunday's win marked Jeffery's first pair of consecutive games with a touchdown since 2015.
"Coach Pederson is doing a great job. We're just doing a great job of competing, just believing in one another. He does a great job of dialing up the plays and just letting us go play," Jeffery said.
