My 3 Stars: Zach Ertz Tops List
Narrowing the field to three stars from the Eagles’ 22-14 win over the Chicago Bears was not easy, but here goes:
Zach Ertz. The Eagles tight end went over 100 yards for the first time this season. He did that five times last year. He had 103 yards on nine catches and 11 targets. He also caught a touchdown, his second of the season, on a 25-yard strike from quarterback Carson Wentz that gave the Eagles a 12-0 lead with 6:21 to go in the second quarter.
“It was just the way the game unfolded,” said Ertz. “Find a way to win. I liked my matchup going into the game. They have two really talented safeties in Eddie Jackson and Ha Ha (Clinton-Dix); been playing against them both for long time. Really good players, but we just have to find ways to make plays on the ball when it’s in the air.”
Carson Wentz. The Eagles quarterback was sacked four times, but he once again did not commit a turnover. He also threw a touchdown pass, giving him 12 straight games with a TD throw. That ties him with Seattle’s Russell Wilson for the longest active streak in the NFL. Wentz completed 26 of 39 throws for 239 yards.
He completed three passes on third down during the fourth quarter drive that consumed more than eight minutes and sealed the win after the Bears made the fans squirm after pulling to within 19-14 early in the fourth quarter despite trailing at one point, 19-0.
“It’s our recipe,” said Wentz of the drive. “It’s what we want to do and finish games like that.”
Entire Eagles defense. Tough to single anyone out, but if required, I would go with defensive Brandon Graham and cornerback Jalen Mills. Graham notched his sixth sack of the season and was a tough block all day long, finishing with four tackles and one quarterback hit. Mills has brought swagger back to the secondary and also made a nice pass break up on a deep throw down the sideline to Allen Robinson.
As a unit, any time you hold a team without a first down until 48 seconds are left in the first half and just nine total yards in the opening two quarters, well, that’s dominant.
“It was one of those things where everyone as doing their job,” said rookie linebacker T.J. Edwards, who had three tackles. “We were assignment sound, gap sound, and you do those things, and we obviously have good players on our defense, those plays are going to come. We did a great job in the first half.”
