Carson Wentz has been really, really good this year, especially when the Eagles needed him most. His stats will not jump out at you, but Wentz has made a ton of plays and the Eagles are two dropped touchdown passes away from being 7-2. Wentz’s wide receivers have given him close to nothing the last two weeks, and pretty much all season outside of DeSean Jackson’s dominant Week 1.
Over the last two weeks, all of the Eagles wide receivers combined stats are 16 receptions for 133 yards and no scores. Yikes. To put that into perspective, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans has 23 receptions 378 yards, and three scores, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett has 19 receptions for 252 yards, and two scores, Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has 19 receptions for 157 yards, and one score, Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay has 10 receptions for 255 yards and three scores, and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill has 12 receptions for 216 yards, and a score over Week 8 and Week 9. Sheesh.
However, the Eagles are 2-0 over the last two weeks with no production at all from wide receivers. A big part of that can go to the defense, which is starting to find its groove. Another big part of that is the offensive line and running backs. The Eagles have run the ball well over the last two weeks and it has somehow put a bandaid over the embarrassing wide receiver core.
What is the biggest part of the Eagles 2-0 run? Wentz and his ability to make plays when the Eagles need it most. Over the last two weeks, Wentz took over in what many call “Put Away” drives. He has shown the growth and maturity you look for in your franchise quarterback.
In Week 8 against the Buffalo Bills, the Eagles “Put Away” drive consisted of 14 plays, 8 minutes and 17 seconds, and 83 total yards, resulting in a touchdown. On that drive, Wentz was responsible for four 1st downs, going 3-3 on 3rd down as well. He ran for two of the 1st downs and then had an 18-yard pass to Ertz for the other. He ended the drive with 49 total yards (24 rushing and 25 passing), which was capped off with a three-yard touchdown run by Jordan Howard.
In Week 9 against the Chicago Bears, the Eagles “Put Away” drive consisted of 16 plays, 8 minutes and 14 seconds, and 69 total yards, resulting in a field goal. On that drive, Wentz was responsible for four 1st downs, going 4-4 on 3rd down (technically 4-5, but the last 3rd down the Eagles ran the ball to run the clock and kick the field goal). All of the 1st downs were converted with Wentz throwing the ball, totaling 52 yards passing. He also added a six yard rush, so he had 58 of the 69 yards on that drive. The Eagles kicked a field goal with 25 seconds left to go up 8 points.
Former NFL quarterback now turned ESPN mastermind Dan Orlovsky has also taken notice of this:
Say what you want about Wentz, but the guy has stepped up when the Eagles needed it most at the end of games the last two weeks. And that may have meant stepping up when the Eagles season needed it most too, as the Eagles head into the Bye Week 5-4 and ready to push for the playoffs thanks to Wentz’s late game dominance.
