Jordan Reed has continued on his strongest NFL season to date, as the third-year tight end added to his resumé* *with two touchdowns in the Redskins' victory over the Saints.
With each passing week it is becoming crystal-clear that Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed is already one of the best players at his position in the National Football League.
Entering Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints, the 25-year-old had amassed 38 receptions for 368 yards and four touchdowns.
Going up against one of the league's worst defenses, particularly against the pass, Reed was a mismatch nightmare for the Saints on Sunday at FedExField, as the Florida product hauled in two touchdown passes to increase his total to six on the year.
"All week we was practicing hard, and focusing and locking in," Reed said of the game. "We took a tough loss last week we said we wasn't going to have that again. So we came out focused and played a hell of a game."
On Reed's first touchdown catch of the day, which came on the game's opening drive, he started the play being motioned over to Kirk Cousins' left.
Upon the snap, Reed sprinted wide open across the field and would catch the pass in stride, sprint towards the end zone and leap over both Saints linebacker Michael Mauti and teammate Derek Carrier.
His all-out effort was rewarded when the referee signaled for a touchdown.
"It was just a great play call," Reed said. "I just had a slide route. It wasn't anything special. Kirk just made the right throw. The coaching staff called the right play and I just took advantage of it."
Reed would add to his quickly-growing touchdown total in the third quarter when Cousins would once again find him in the red zone, this time for an eight-yard connection.
As he snapped the ball, Cousins had to backpedal more than he probably would have wanted to, but it gave him enough time to find Reed, who had disconnected from cornerback Brandon Browner just enough to get the necessary space for a lane to the end zone.
"I try to win, take advantage of the opportunity and put some points on the board," Reed said.
In the process, Reed became the first Redskins tight end with a touchdown catch in three straight games since Fred Davis accomplished the feat across four games in Weeks 12-15 of the 2009 season.
He also became the first Redskins tight end since Jerry Smith in 1970 to record two multi-touchdown games in the same season.
If he keeps it up, could Reed be in line for his first Pro Bowl appearance at season's end?
His head coach thinks so.
"I think Jordan Reed has proven his worth as a tight end in the National Football League," Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said. "A solid, solid option for Kirk, obviously. He makes big plays in the red zone and he's emerging as a pretty solid blocker as well. Hopefully he'll get some of the consideration."
The Redskins now turn their attention to the Carolina Panthers, the NFC's lone undefeated team through the first nine games of the season.
Unlike the Saints, who have the offensive power to outgun any team but a defense that ranks at the bottom of the league, the Panthers feature a more more respectable defensive approach.
"We just have to have another great week of practice, believe in ourselves, trust in our ability and the rest will speak for itself," Reed said.
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