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FARGO — Former North Dakota State wide receiver Christian Watson flashed his game-changing speed for the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night and has been one of the fastest players in the NFL this season.
Watson caught a pass over the middle and outraced the Philadelphia Eagles secondary for a 63-yard touchdown catch in a 40-33 loss at Lincoln Financial Field.
The 6-foot-5, 208-pound Watson reached a top speed of 20.97 miles per hour on the TD catch and run, according to Next Gen Stats for the fastest top speed for a Green Bay player on a play from scrimmage this season.
“I take a lot of pride in my speed, I think that’s a big part of my game," Watson said in a postgame interiew posted on the Packers website. "Any time I can create a little bit of separation, just get that edge, obviously there is an opportunity for big plays.”
Jordan Love. Christian Watson. One-possession game in Philly 👀
— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2022
📺: #GBvsPHI on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/FRZHlv4OoL pic.twitter.com/TxLDZCPdkw
Watson had four catches for 110 yards against the Eagles and has caught six touchdowns in his past three games. During that three-game stretch, he has 12 receptions for 265 yards.
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“Christian’s been phenomenal," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said after Sunday night's game. "He seems to continue to build on his performance from the previous week. We’ve still got to be creative in terms of how we get him the ball.”
Watson has reached 20-plus miles per hour on 12 plays from scrimmage this season, second in the league to Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill — who has done it 18 times — according to Next Gen Stats.
Green Bay's Keisean Nixon reached a top speed of 20.99 miles per hour, but that came on a kick return for the Packers during Week 8 against the Buffalo Bills.
“It’s a team game so I’m not happy about anything unless we’re being successful as a team." Watson said.
Christian Watson reached a top speed of 20.97 mph on his 63-yard TD reception, the fastest speed by a Packers' ball carrier this season.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) November 28, 2022
Watson has reached 20+ mph on 12 plays from scrimmage this season, trailing only Tyreek Hill (18).#GBvsPHI | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/uTHZNIoohb
The Packers are 4-8 overall after losing their past two games.
“I’m passionate about competing, I’m passionate about winning football games, I’m passionate about football in general," Watson said. "If we’re not winning, everything else, it doesn’t matter.”
Watson has played in nine games in his rookie season and has 22 catches for 353 yards and six touchdowns. He also has rushed for 22 yards and a touchdown on four attempts.
Watson leads all rookie wide receivers in receiving touchdowns.
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Watson's six TD receptions in the past three weeks is more than 26 NFL teams, according to Pro Football Focus.
Green Bay Packers to record 6+ TDs and 250+ receiving yards over a three-game stretch in the Super Bowl Era:
— PackersHistory.com (@PackersHistory1) November 28, 2022
Sterling Sharpe
Davante Adams
Christian Watson pic.twitter.com/xxqTIYwZFY
Christian Watson very complimentary of Jordan Love tonight pic.twitter.com/e886i3JXxG
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 28, 2022
Christian Watson looked like he was playing at different speed at FCS level and it looks same in NFL. Kills pursuit angles.pic.twitter.com/sjcbh7DBZ0
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) November 28, 2022
Christian Watson: 6 receiving TDs in the last 3 weeks
— PFF (@PFF) November 28, 2022
That is more than 26 other teams 👀 pic.twitter.com/cLGPaCuVCO
#ProBison @ChristianW2017 continues to make a name for himself 🤘
— NDSU Football (@NDSUfootball) November 28, 2022
🎥 @nflnetwork generously provides highlight footage of the @packers pic.twitter.com/HpBoxSLqm5
Christian Watson has more REC TD this season than
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 28, 2022
Justin Jefferson
CeeDee Lamb
Tyreek Hill
DK Metcalf
Leading the NFC north in receiving touchdowns. pic.twitter.com/tMwnFVniwD
#22 for the Eagles runs a 4.38 40-yard dash.
— Daire Carragher (@DaireCarragher) November 28, 2022
Christian Watson is so silly. pic.twitter.com/Pjcx2SGNhN
