Chicago Bears: These Philadelphia Eagles pose problems

Tight End Zach Ertz

Very rarely do you game plan much of your coverage around a tight end, but that’s exactly what defenses have been doing all season with Zach Ertz — and it still hasn’t worked. Ertz finished this year with the most receptions (116) ever by a tight end in a single season.

Not only that, but he also has the most receptions over his first six seasons in the NFL than any tight end in NFL history (443).

The joke all year long in fantasy football has been that Ertz is the best receiver on his team. But, seriously, Ertz is the best receiver on his team.

Veterans Alshon Jeffery and Golden Tate are very good, but Ertz is elite. It’s no wonder he is looked to early and often, regardless of whether it is Carson Wentz or Nick Foles under center.

Ertz is the definition of a guy who does his job. The one thing you can count on him is this: He will catch the football. If it is within reach, he will catch it. There is absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind that if he gets his hands on a football, it’s his catch.

The Bears will have to focus on denying Ertz the ball as much as possible, while Foles looks to his second and third reads. If they can do this, the likely outcome is that Foles is under pressure all day long. With the Bears’ pass rush as vaunted as it is, Foles won’t have a ton of time if his number one guy is locked down.