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LANDOVER, Md. – No one in the Eagles locker room wanted to reflect on anything but the negative following Saturday's crushing 27-24 loss, least of all the players who did stand out in an otherwise grueling day.
Potentially season-ending loss aside, though, tight end Zach Ertz did set a franchise record against Washington with 15 receptions on the day, totaling 115 yards. Ertz said the Eagles expected opportunities over the middle of the field against the Washington defense, especially with the linebackers accounting for LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles out of the backfield.
Ertz, though, was ready to make a trade when asked about his performance.
"I'd rather take the win over this record any day of the week," he said. "I'll go back to one catch for 5 yards if we win this game or we win the past three games."
Ertz's biggest focus, actually, was lamenting the missed opportunity on the Eagles' final trip to the red zone. On third-and-goal, Mark Sanchez tried to fit the ball into a tight window over the middle for Ertz, who was seemingly triple-covered. The ball ricocheted off Ertz's hand into the back of the end zone, forcing the Eagles to settle for a game-tying field goal, rather than a touchdown.
"I mean, if I can get one hand on it, I have to make the catch," Ertz said.
The star for the Eagles in the red zone on the day was wide receiver Riley Cooper, who caught two touchdowns among his five catches for 53 yards.
Cooper denied that the Eagles gameplanned Cooper specifically as a red zone weapon leading into the game.
"We didn't see anything, we didn't attack anything," Cooper said, "Mark was just making reads and did a really good job."
Cooper, too, was focused on the missed opportunity for his team.
"You can't have a bunch of penalties in the game and turnovers and win football games in this league," Cooper said. "Everyone's so close and every team is so good, all the athletes are so good, you definitely can't have that. I don't know what that is, a lack of focus sometimes, guys getting tired, getting out of position. You can't do it and win football games, I do know that."
The Eagles traveled to Washington to face their NFC East rivals in a crucial Week 16 showdown. Making the affair much more special, is that it's Saturday afternoon football ...
S Nate Allen with the interception!
WR Riley Cooper celebrating his 2nd touchdown of the day
TE Zach Ertz
S Malcolm Jenkins forcing the fumble
CB Nolan Carroll II recovering the fumble
RB LeSean McCoy breaking through the tackle
WR Riley Cooper celebrating his touchdown
RB Darren Sproles diving for extra yards
And LB Mychal Kendricks with the sack!
TheRealMcCoy with the touchdown
First down WR Jeremy Maclin
LB Connor Barwin making the tackle
TE Zach Ertz making two catches and the first drive
S Malcolm Jenkins getting the team fired up
WR Jordan Matthews getting loose in Washington
WR Josh Huff during warmups
P Donnie Jones
RB LeSean McCoy ready for the game
Inside the defensive huddle
LB Brandon Graham with a smile on his face before the game
TE Trey Burton getting reps in warmups
Head coach Chip Kelly before the game
WR Riley Cooper making the catch in warmups
RB Darren Sproles during warmups
LB Connor Barwin with S Nate Allen prior to the game
QB Mark Sanchez during warmups
RB LeSean McCoy looking for the hole
The defense surging to make the stop
WR Josh Huff returning the kick
WR Jeremy Maclin making the 22yard reception
RB LeSean McCoy rushing for the touchdown!
RB LeSean McCoy celebrating the touchdown
RB Darren Sproles
QB Mark Sanchez back in the pocket
RB Darren Sproles on the run
LB Mychal Kendricks with the pressure
WR Jordan Matthews making a move
RB LeSean McCoy moving through the gap
WR Riley Cooper making the catch for the touchdown!
The line before the snap
QB Mark Sanchez slinging the ball around the field
RB Darren Sproles cutting down field
QB Mark Sanchez talking with head coach Chip Kelly
WR Jordan Matthews making moves
The OL setting blocks
LB Mychal Kendricks making the tackle
Head coach Chip Kelly
TE Zach Ertz
WR Jordan Matthews
QB Mark Sanchez ready to launch the ball
RB LeSean McCoy breaking down field
RB LeSean McCoy fighting through tackles
QB Mark Sanchez looking for Cooper
RB LeSean McCoy ready to take on the tackle
TE Brent Celek with the big catch
K Cody Parkey makes the field goal to tie the game
