So, if you watched the Eagles get bounced by the 49ers this past weekend, you probably noticed the offense looked a little... stuck. Kinda frustrating, honestly. While the final score read 23–19 in favor of San Francisco, the one guy who actually seemed to be winning his matchups consistently was the Slim Reaper himself. When we look at DeVonta Smith receiving yards last game, the box score shows he finished with 70 yards on 8 catches.
That doesn't sound like a world-beating performance on paper, but if you dig into the tape of that January 11, 2026, Wild Card matchup, those 70 yards were basically the only thing keeping the Eagles' passing game alive. Jalen Hurts was under siege all afternoon, and with the Niners' defense swarming A.J. Brown, Smith became the primary outlet. He was targeted 11 times, which is a massive chunk of the passing volume.
Why DeVonta Smith receiving yards last game tell a bigger story
It’s easy to look at a 70-yard stat line and think "pedestrian." It wasn't. Smith was catching a lot of short and intermediate stuff—his longest gain was only 15 yards. That’s a huge shift from his usual role where he’s blowing the top off defenses.
Basically, the 49ers played a "shell" coverage that dared the Eagles to dink and dunk. Smith took the bait and executed, but the lack of explosive plays eventually doomed the drive rhythm. He had 8 catches, but averaged just 8.8 yards per reception. For a guy who usually hovers around 13 or 14 yards per catch, it shows just how much the defense was squeezing the field.
- Targets: 11
- Receptions: 8
- Total Yards: 70
- Touchdowns: 0
- Average per Catch: 8.8 yards
Honestly, you've gotta give him credit for the volume. He was targeted on nearly 30% of Hurts' attempts. Without those 70 yards, the Eagles probably don't even keep it within one score.
The road to 1,000 yards in 2025-2026
Before this playoff exit, there was a lot of chatter about Smith hitting his milestones. Heading into the final regular-season game against the Commanders on January 4, he actually needed 44 yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the third time in his career.
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He didn't waste any time.
In that Commanders game, he grabbed three balls for 52 yards almost immediately, including a beautiful 27-yard leaping grab that cleared the 1,000-yard hurdle. Once he hit the mark, the coaching staff basically wrapped him in bubble wrap. He sat for the rest of the game to stay fresh for the playoffs. It worked, sort of—he looked fast against San Francisco—but the rest of the unit just couldn't match his pace.
A historic duo in Philly
Something most people forget is that Smith and A.J. Brown are making history. By both crossing 1,000 yards again this season, they’ve now done it three times together (2022, 2023, and 2025). They are the only duo in Eagles history to pull that off. It’s kinda wild when you think about the receivers who have come through Philadelphia over the years.
Smith finished the regular season with 1,008 yards exactly. He played in all 17 games, which is massive for a guy who people used to worry was "too small" for the NFL. He’s proven to be one of the most durable and reliable assets on the roster.
Breaking down the playoff performance
If we look at the specific nuances of DeVonta Smith receiving yards last game, it’s clear the Niners’ game plan was to stop the deep ball. Smith is a master of the corner route and the deep post, but on Sunday, he was forced to live on hitches and slants.
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He had 0 touchdowns in the loss. That's been a bit of a theme lately, as he only found the end zone four times all season. The Eagles have leaned heavily on Saquon Barkley in the red zone, which has capped Smith's scoring upside even though his yardage remains elite.
In the third quarter, there was a crucial 3rd-and-4 where Smith ran a perfect whip route. He caught it for 6 yards to move the chains. It’s those "hidden" yards that don’t make the highlight reel but keep the team in the game. Unfortunately, a few drives later, the pressure on Hurts became too much to overcome.
Comparing Smitty to the rest of the league
Where does Smith land in the hierarchy right now? According to PFF and late-season analytics, he’s still a top-20 receiver in terms of total production.
- He finished 16th in the league in receiving yards for the 2025 season.
- His 77 receptions ranked 15th overall.
- He's now 10th in Eagles franchise history for career receiving yards at just 27 years old.
He’s reached 5,000 career yards in just 80 games. To put that in perspective, only DeSean Jackson and Mike Quick did it faster in an Eagles jersey. He’s in elite company, period.
What’s next for the Slim Reaper?
The offseason is going to be full of "what-ifs" for Philadelphia. But the receiving corps isn't the problem. Smith is under contract and remains the perfect 1B to A.J. Brown's 1A.
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If you're looking for actionable takeaways from the DeVonta Smith receiving yards last game, keep an eye on his target share. Whenever the Eagles face elite pass rushes (like the 49ers or the Lions), Smith’s volume actually goes up because he’s the best "hot" read for Jalen Hurts. He creates separation faster than anyone else on the team.
For fans or fantasy managers looking ahead to the 2026-2027 cycle:
- Expect Smith to remain a high-floor yardage guy.
- The TD numbers might stay low as long as Saquon Barkley is the focal point of the goal-line offense.
- His durability is no longer a question mark—he’s a lock for 17 games.
The playoff loss hurts, but Smith’s 70 yards were a rare bright spot in a game where the Eagles' offense mostly sputtered. He did his job; now the front office just has to figure out how to give him and Hurts a little more breathing room next time around.
If you want to track Smith's progress as he climbs the Eagles' all-time leaderboards, you can check out the official NFL stats or the Eagles' team media site for updated post-game notes. He's only a few seasons away from challenging Harold Carmichael's records if he stays on this current trajectory.
Next Steps for Eagles Fans:
- Review the full play-by-play from the Wild Card game to see Smith's targets in context.
- Keep an eye on the 2026 NFL Draft for any additions to the WR room that might change Smith's role.
- Monitor offseason training reports to see if the Eagles plan to use Smith more in the slot next year.