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The Eagles are home at The Linc for the next three games, and will look to put some distance between them and the rest of the NFC.
While no doubt the betting odds for Eagles games have shifted a little bit given the quick success of the team, playing a second divisional game in seven weeks won’t be easy for the Birds. Washington is sitting second in the NFC East with a 4-2 record and before Week 1’s loss against Philly, they had won the last five games against their division rival.
So how can the Eagles avoid a loss at home to the team that’s chasing them in the standings? There are plenty of factors, but Zach Ertz may be the most important one. In the teams’ Week 1 clash, Ertz amassed 93 yards on eight catches. While he didn’t score a touchdown, Ertz is still giving Carson Wentz a security blanket that many thought disappeared when Jordan Matthews was traded to the Buffalo Bills for Ronald Darby. Ertz has become Wentz’s security blanket in Matthews’ absence, and he’s been as reliable as any tight end in the league.
But there’s one glaring omission from Ertz’s career that will look to be righted on Monday night – he’s never scored a touchdown against the Redskins. He has 54 receptions for 531 yards in nine career games against Washington. Ertz historically has a reputation for putting up fantastic numbers early in the season and fading off as the games go on.
He’s going to look to avoid that Monday night. Ertz currently leads all tight ends in the league with 405 yards on 34 receptions. He’s tied with Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate for most touchdowns for a tight end so far this season with four. This just isn’t any ordinary season for Ertz, and there’s no reason to think he will trail off this year, especially with Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith and a re-invigorated Nelson Agholor lining up beside him.
Washington has only allowed two touchdowns to opposing tight ends so far this season, but their defense is dead last in the NFL in yards receiving against tight ends with 407. If Ertz can take advantage of a Redskins defense that doesn’t have a fully healthy Josh Norman, Bashaud Breeland and Stefan McClure, the Eagles could put themselves in the driver’s seat of the NFC East only seven weeks into the season.
Talking about his team’s injuries, Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said his guys need to step up.
“Our guys will have to step up. That’s just the way it is. There’s a lot of teams around the National Football League this time of year that are dealing with key injuries at certain positions and we just had a couple of them at the corner spot. Fabian, Dunbar, they’ll have to step up and play well (along with) Holsey, Fuller.”
With Wentz’s ability to read defenses and change plays, the Redskins will no doubt have to change up their scheme on defense to get to him. But with the Eagles’ offense in a groove right now, that could prove to be tough without some of their best players in the lineup. Honestly, I think the Redskins have a pretty good defense overall, and have given the Eagles fits for years.
But with the Wentz and Ertz combination paying huge dividends early this season, they could make it a long Monday night for Washington at The Linc.