–Carson Wentz did not get sacked against Washington, the first time this season that has happened.
“Hats off to the offensive line,” said the Eagles quarterback. “They played a great football game, both in running the ball and keeping me upright. It’s hard to say exactly what the difference is but again just as an offensive unit, we are finally starting to kind of mesh and play together. Again, we are leaving plays out there. There are plenty that I want back, but I think the offensive line is starting to mesh and play together.”
–Tight end Zach Ertz established a new single-season franchise record for receptions (currently 93), surpassing the previous mark of 90 set by Brian Westbrook in 2007. Ertz’s 93 receptions are tied for the 13th-most by a tight end in NFL history. He is only seven receptions shy of becoming just the fourth tight end in NFL history to reach 100 in a season, joining Jason Witten in 2012 (110), Tony Gonzalez in 2004 (102) and Dallas Clark in 2009 (100). Ertz now has 978 receiving yards, which are the second most by a tight end in single-season team history, trailing only Pete Retzlaff in 1965 (1,190).
Ertz said he patterned his game after Witten.
“I’ve studied him for so long, finding the intricacies of how he ran routes from the moment I came into the league,” said Ertz. “He was the guy I was always watching because it seemed like on third down, he was always getting his number called. He was always attacking leverage. So I really just modeled my game after him.
“There are some differences, but there are also a lot of similarities. I’ve said it since I was 16, he was the guy that was always on TV in California. He was the perfect guy for me to watch, because I got to see at 16 years old how a tight end should play. I have the ultimate respect for him, and we have a good relationship. I wish he didn’t play for the Cowboys, but it was fun playing against him too for a couple of years.”
–Second-year linebacker Nate Gerry played just 11 defensive snaps, but seemed to make them count. He had two tackles and recorded his first career interception, picking off Mark Sanchez in the fourth quarter and returning it seven yards to put the Eagles at the Washington 40. The turnover led to a field goal that opened up a 25-13 lead for the Eagles with 11:41 to play in the game. A fifth-round draft pick out of Nebraska, Gerry was converted from a college safety to a NFL linebacker as a rookie.
–The Eagles’ run defense allowed a 90-yard touchdown run to Washington’s Adrian Peterson on Sunday, which was the longest run from scrimmage against an Eagles defense in club history, breaking the previous mark of 87 set by John Henry Johnson of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1960
BY THE NUMBERS: 5 — Number of times the Eagles have tried a two-point conversion this season. They have converted all five times.
