Brent Celek caught a short Carson Wentz pass, turned upfield and flat-out trucked Denver linebacker Brandon Marshall, Celek trundling for a 15-yard gain on the Eagles’ second series of the afternoon.
A low rumble of appreciation arose from the Lincoln Financial Field stands, like in the old days, when the catches were more frequent and the passes were arriving from Donovan McNabb or Michael Vick. Back then, Celek used to sometimes hurdle defenders who went low. Now he just tries to power through them.
Celek, the last Eagle standing who has won a playoff game here, had to step up when the team’s leading receiver, fellow tight end Zach Ertz, decided he couldn’t make a go of it Sunday with a hamstring problem that arose during Thursday’s practice.