Jalen Hurts 45-yard TD pass to DeVonta Smith was the longest of his career

Drew Smith
October 28, 2024
Eagles
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DeVonta Smith had a much needed bounce-back performance in the Eagles 37-17 route of the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

The biggest play of the day from Smitty came when he was locked up in one-on-one coverage against Bengals cornerback, Jordan Battle. DeVonta Smith snagged a 45-yard bomb from Jalen Hurts with just 2:43 left in the third quarter.

DeVonta Smith 45-yard touchdown reception:

DEVONTA SMITH. 🦅#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/mIgJtl3x8l
— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) October 27, 2024

The touchdown broke a 17-17 tie and flipped the momentum entirely in favor of the Eagles, who never looked back. The win moved Philly to 5-2, with a home showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars on deck.

Hurts launched a rocket that traveled 59.3 yards in the air, making it the longest completion of his career. The play wasn’t just highlight-reel worthy—it was a statement. The advanced metrics tell the story:

Target Separation: 0.8 yards
Completion Probability: 21.6%
Win Probability Added: +16.5%

Jalen Hurts' 45-yard TD pass to DeVonta Smith traveled 59.3 yards in the air, the longest completion of Hurts' career.

🔹 Target Separation: 0.8 yds
🔹 Completion Probability: 21.6%
🔹 Win Probability Added: +16.5%#PHIvsCIN | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/JwrKg8CPbl
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 27, 2024

After a quiet Week 7 against the Giants—where DeVonta Smith’s only catch went for a two-yard loss—this was exactly the kind of bounce-back he needed. He finished with six catches for a team-high 85 yards and the game-changing touchdown.

Smith has been down this road before. In the 2022 season opener, he was held without a catch on four targets, but he came back the next week with seven catches for 80 yards against Minnesota. It’s that resilience that makes him such a dangerous weapon for the Eagles’ offense.

Sunday’s score marked DeVonta Smith’s second 45-yard touchdown this season and the Eagles’ 11th play of 40+ yards—already surpassing their total from last season.

The day started in familiar fashion for Smith, with his first catch going for a two-yard loss. But Hurts didn’t stop throwing his way, and Smith delivered in crunch time. He made two crucial third-down catches, one for 15 yards on third-and-five and another for nine yards on third-and-seven, keeping key drives alive.

With performances like this, Smith continues to prove why he’s one of the Eagles’ most reliable and clutch playmakers. As the Eagles prepare for Week 9, it’s clear that Smith is still very much a focal point in Philly’s high-octane offense.