Coming into Sunday afternoon’s game against the Saints, the Eagles thought they would be able to get their tight ends involved in the passing game.
They were right.
Brent Celek and Zach Ertz each had their best offensive outputs of the season in the Eagles’ 39-17 win over the Saints at the Linc.
The two combined for eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.
It was the first time since last Dec. 14 (against the Cowboys) the Eagles had two tight ends with three catches apiece.
“We kind of knew coming into the game that Brent and I were going to have some more opportunities this week based on the game plan,” Ertz said. “I thought we did a good job and were successful when both of us were in the game. And hopefully it’s something that continues.”
Coming into the game, Ertz had 10 catches for 104 yards on the year. On Sunday, he had five for 60.
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Celek, meanwhile, had just two receptions on the season coming into Sunday. Against the Saints, he had three catches for 44 yards, which included a 13-yard touchdown.
So what was different against the Saints?
“It depends on what the defense gives us,” Celek said. “Chip (Kelly) does a good job of scheming against defenses. It just comes down to whatever a team is giving us, we’re going to have to try to take advantage of it and exploit them.”
The Eagles used a two-tight end set for much of the game, which helped them compile 519 yards of total offense, their highest total of 2015.
“I think it was kind of to exploit some of the looks that they were giving us,” quarterback Sam Bradford said. “We felt like when we were in 12 (personnel) or two tight ends that early in the game, they were playing primarily a lot of man. We liked our matchups out there, so that’s why we kept going to that. And then obviously at the end of the game, when we kept 12 on the field, we were just pounding the rock at them with those guys.”
It didn’t take long for the Eagles to get their tight ends involved in the passing game early against the Saints.
On their second offensive possession, Bradford started the drive with a six-yard pass to Ertz and then threw an eight-yard pass to Celek on the next play. By halftime, the two combined for five receptions and 60 yards.
Ertz, when asked, said the early targets helped him get into rhythm.
“Definitely,” he said. “I think if you get anybody going early, you’re able to feed off the energy and know that you’ve been successful and able to make plays and I think that goes for any position.”
Celek said it helps if he gets into a rhythm, too, but it doesn’t matter how it happens.
“We got a job to do on every single play so whether that’s catching a ball or blocking somebody, we just have to do it well,” he said. “I think when you start doing it well, you get into a rhythm.”
His touchdown catch in the second half, though?
That felt pretty good.
“No one guarded me,” Celek said. “I think they screwed up the coverage or something. Good for us.”