Here are the post-game news and notes following the Eagles' NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Saints on Saturday night ...
Ertz So Good ... Tight end Zach Ertz became the third Eagles rookie to catch a touchdown pass in the playoffs and the second to do so in his postseason debut. Wide reciever Jeremy Maclin (January 9, 2010 at Dallas) and wide receiver DeSean Jackson (January 18, 2009 at Arizona) are the other two, with Maclin also doing so in his debut.
Pickoff Artists ... Cornerback Bradley Fletcher and linebacker DeMeco Ryans each notched their first-career playoff interception. Fletcher's was the first by an Eagle since Quintin Mikell on January 11, 2009 at the New York Giants ... Drew Brees came into the game with just four career playoff interceptions, including just one game with multiple picks.
I'll Take That ... The Eagles registered at least one takeaway in their final 13 games, their first time doing so in a 13-game stretch since 2004 during a 15-game span ... They also had 14 in their last six contests.
Defensive Nuggets ... Linebacker Brandon Graham tallied his first-career playoff sack ... linebacker Trent Cole also recorded a sack and now has 2.5 in his postseason career. Cole had eight sacks in his last seven games and nine in his last nine ... The defense did not allow opening-drive points in the final 12 games of the season.
Offensive Quick Hits ... Wide receiver Riley Cooper and running back LeSean McCoy each scored their first-career postseason touchdown. McCoy had eight touchdowns (seven rushing, one receiving) in the last seven games ... Eagles running backs surrendered just one fumble this year despite a combined 489 touches ... wide receiver DeSean Jackson moved into fifth on the Eagles' all-time playoff receiving yards list with 321. He trails only Brian Westbrook (334), Chad Lewis (409), Todd Pinkston (433) and Harold Carmichael (465).
Birdseed ... Jackson extended his franchise record to 174 career postseason punt return yards, including a 29-yarder against the Saints that set up a field goal ... punter Donnie Jones' 48.8-yard gross average ranks as the fourth-highest in franchise postseason history.
