No-flag ruling on Ertz’s TD leaves Nagy, Fuller at loss
Eagles tight end Zach Ertz tore up the Bears throughout the game Sunday, but cornerback Kyle Fuller seemed to have a legitimate objection to one of Ertz’s nine receptions.
With the Eagles ahead 6-0 in the second quarter, Ertz beat Fuller to catch a 25-yard touchdown pass. There was contact before Ertz broke inside, and replays showed he put his right hand on Fuller’s facemask and pushed his head back to create separation.
The officials flagged the play but waved off the call and ruled it a touchdown to put the Eagles ahead 12-0.
‘‘I did not get an explanation on the why they picked up the flag,’’ coach Matt Nagy said. ‘‘I went down there to talk to [the official], and he said: ‘No, it’s confirmed. It’s not [a penalty].’ And before you know it, they’re up there kicking an extra point.’’
Before Ertz reached the end zone, Fuller argued for the call, which he temporarily got. He didn’t get much more of an explanation from the official than Nagy did.
‘‘He basically stated that it was a tough call, but whatever he saw, I guess it was enough for him to pick [the flag] up,’’ Fuller said. ‘‘It definitely frustrates you, but you have to move past it.’’
Overworked defenders
With the Bears having the ball for only 19 minutes, 42 seconds Sunday, they logged a season-high 89 defensive snaps.
Cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Fuller, inside linebacker Danny Trevathan and safety Eddie Jackson played every one of them. Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix played 88 and outside linebacker Khalil Mack 80 — by far his season high.
‘‘They can help themselves out on certain third downs, getting off the field,’’ Nagy said of the defense. ‘‘That was a little bit of a struggle. But I’d be crazy to put blame on them for some of that because they’ve been out there awhile.’’
The Eagles melted more than eight minutes of clock to finish out the victory and converted four third downs before kicking their final field goal.
Montgomery dominates backfield
As the Bears try to establish a ground game, it’s clear which player Nagy thinks can do the most with those opportunities.
Coming off a breakout game against the Chargers, David Montgomery played 73.3 percent of the snaps against the Eagles and got 14 of the Bears’ 18 carries. He ran for 40 yards and caught three passes for 36 more to lead the team with 76 yards from scrimmage.
His emergence has cut into Tarik Cohen’s and Mike Davis’ playing time. Cohen played 35.6 percent of the snaps, and Davis never got on the field.
In the first season of a two-year, $6 million deal, Davis has played 15 snaps or fewer every game since the opener and has 11 carries for 25 yards.