Ertz’s triple-digit game gives double dose of satisfaction

PHILADELPHIA » Plopped onto the pile of reasons why Zach Ertz has built a robust Pro Bowl candidacy Sunday was an achievement with a two-fold meaning.

With 10 catches and 103 yards in a 31-3 victory over the Chicago Bears, including a 17-yard touchdown reception, Ertz became the first Eagle this season with a 100yard receiving game.

For a 10-1 team on a nine-game winning streak, that reveals the importance of the tight end … and the surrounding pass-catching depth.

“It just shows how unselfish this team is,” Doug Pederson said. “The fact is that it is not all about one guy. It’s everybody. Everybody is making plays on offense.”

That would be accurate, with nine receivers targeted Sunday and seven catching passes. But no Birds receiver has been more valuable than Ertz, who has a team-high 639 receiving yards, most among NFC tight ends. His seven touchdowns match Alshon Jeffery for the team-high.

“Yeah, I think the whole offense has taken a step forward,” Ertz said. “Obviously last year being the first year with Doug, everyone didn’t really know exactly what to do. But last year was more about getting the plays installed and this year was really focusing on the details, the little things each and every play.

“Everyone knows exactly what to do and when to do it. So everyone is really comfortable in this offense. Doug is doing a great job calling the plays. As receivers, we have the easy job.”

Carson Wentz, himself on a Pro Bowl rampage, has more than helped. Sunday, he targeted Ertz 12 times, including with 6:09 left in the first quarter. That’s when Ertz made a sharp cut into the end zone, left Bears linebacker Sam Acho twisted, and caught the tone-setting early touchdown pass.

That process was repeated throughout the Birds’ ninth consecutive victory, with Ertz and the wide receivers taking turns drawing defenders toward them, often leaving Wentz with multiple passing options.

“Carson was holding the safety in the middle of the field,” Ertz said. “We have Alshon on one side, me on the other side. Carson did a great job with his eyes, kind of holding the safety backside. And I just was able to beat my guy one-on-one.

“Hopefully I get more opportunities like that. When I’m down there I feel like I can score. Alshon feels like he can score. So we have a really good offense right now and we are excited with where we’re at.”

Though the Eagles understood the potential impoliteness of feeding one player in a lopsided game for the simple purpose of a statistical achievement, it was obvious they wanted Ertz to reach 100plus yards. Wentz tried to find him on his last pass before Pederson pulled him to the sideline for physical preservation early in the fourth quarter. Finally, Nick Foles hit the tight end for a five-yard completion with 6:33 left, sending him into triple figures.

“We kind of knew a little bit in the second half he was getting close, but we were still just trying to finish the game,” Pederson said. “And it just so happened that he was able to catch that last pass from Nick and get the 100 yards. But as a play-caller, I still have to stay in the moment and finish the game.”

If there was an opportunity for the Birds to pad some stats, Sunday was a time.

“Yeah, when I was at nine catches for 98 yards, they were telling me, ‘Hey you just need one more catch, just get one more catch,’” Ertz said. “I went in there on third down. Nick made a great throw. I knew I was getting the ball. I knew it. There was no way I wasn’t getting that ball, that last one.

“It’s fun. I think it shows how close these guys are, how much we truly care about one another. Everyone is happy for the other man’s success. I think that’s a testament to this team.”