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Eagles Notes: Ertz sets franchise mark with 15 receptions

LANDOVER, Md. - Zach Ertz set an Eagles franchise record with 15 catches Saturday in a 27-24 loss to the Washington Redskins. The second-year tight end was a central part of the game plan and was targeted 18 times. He also finished with a career-high 115 yards.

Eagles tight end Zach Ertz looks for an interference call against the Redskins. Ertz had 15 catches for 115 yards in the loss at FedEx Field. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)
Eagles tight end Zach Ertz looks for an interference call against the Redskins. Ertz had 15 catches for 115 yards in the loss at FedEx Field. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)Read more(Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)

LANDOVER, Md. - Zach Ertz set an Eagles franchise record with 15 catches Saturday in a 27-24 loss to the Washington Redskins. The second-year tight end was a central part of the game plan and was targeted 18 times. He also finished with a career-high 115 yards.

"I would take one catch - zero catches even - for a win," Ertz said. "I hate . . . losing and it's really tough to be in this situation right now."

Ertz broke the record held by Brian Westbrook (2007) and Don Looney (1940). He was not in the mood to appreciate the history after the game.

"Hopefully I'll have more games like this, hopefully this isn't the last time it goes like this," Ertz said. "Maybe when I have kids, I'll say, 'Hey, one game I had 15 catches. That's all I can really take from it."

Coach Chip Kelly said the Eagles liked Ertz against Washington's linebacker corps, which has been decimated by injuries. The Eagles used their two-tight-end set often. The goal was to get Washington's base defense on the field and pass against it.

"If they're going to load the box, a lot of guys are going to have one-on-one coverage," Ertz said. "I feel like I can exploit one-on-one coverage almost any game. We knew going into this game that tight ends were going to have opportunities to make big plays. We did that, but we didn't do that enough."

Two TDs for Cooper

Wide receiver Riley Cooper, who has been under scrutiny for his production this season, caught two touchdown passes against Washington. Cooper finished with five catches for 53 yards. It was his first touchdown since Oct. 5, and just his fourth time this season with more than 50 receiving yards.

"When my number was called, I made a couple plays," Cooper said. "I didn't do anything spectacular. We didn't do anything different than we have the past 15 or 16 weeks."

Graham no factor

Brandon Graham started in place of Trent Cole, who was out Saturday because of a broken hand. Graham finished with six tackles and two quarterback hits, but also had a costly roughing-the-passer penalty. The Eagles did not use a rotation at outside linebacker. First-round pick Marcus Smith did not enter the game.

Extra points

The Eagles' 13 penalties were their most this season. The 102 penalty yards were their second-highest total. . . . The Eagles have 35 turnovers, the most in the NFL. . . . They went 9 of 16 on third downs, 1 of 2 in the red zone.