The Eagles improved to 4-1, yesterday, their best start since 2014. The Birds boasted a suffocating defense and high-powered special teams against the Cardinals, but it was their emerging franchise quarterback who stole the show with a career day.
Going Deep
He may not have the Latin flair of a certain former Phillies GM, but Carson Wentz has developed into the total package.
The young signal-caller put together the best start of his career, racking up 304 yards and 4 passing touchdowns, putting together a quarterback rating of 128.3.
The Arizona Cardinals boast a veteran defense that loves to feast on young QBs, but Wentz was able to pick them apart, time and time again, switching up protection schemes and getting his receivers into favorable match ups all over the field.
“He does an outstanding job redirecting protection,” Doug Pederson told reporters after the game. “Because there were a couple of extra blitzers today that Carson either sidestepped or got the ball out.”
Wentz may still make some mistakes that all young quarterbacks struggle with, but his ability to learn is astounding. Pederson and the rest of the coaching staff have put so much responsibility on Wentz's plate and it seems like every week he is able to pass the test.
The biggest issue for Wentz heading in to yesterday's contest was his accuracy on passes down the field, but he connected with Torrey Smith and Nelson Agholor for touchdowns of 59 and 72 yards.
“Carson is known to chuck it,” Agholor told Jeff McLane. “He’s going to chuck it, and you have to get under it.”
Wentz still has a long way to go before he reaches his full potential, and that's what makes all of this exciting. Wentz dominated the Cardinals, but there are still things he can improve on. He had some poor throws, especially at the end of the first half, but Wentz has yet to find an issue in his own game that he couldn't fix.
Even Donovan McNabb, who has seemed to grow jealous of the special relationship Wentz has with the fanbase that seemed to reject him so long ago, has come around on Wentz, telling reporters after the game about how much he enjoys watching the kid from North Dakota play.
What normally separates great quarterbacks from the rest of the pack is their performance on third down, and Wentz has absolutely killed it on third downs, posting a quarterback rating of 137.8 and tossing seven touchdown passes. Wentz has catapulted himself into the upper-echelon of signal callers in the NFL and it's time to get excited in Philadelphia.
With Wentz still on his rookie contract, Howie Roseman and the rest of the Eagles brass can surround Wentz with as much talent as possible for the next few years, extending the potential championship window considerably. It's impossible to guarantee a Super Bowl or years of postseason success, but having a young, cheap elite quarterback is certainly a good start.
Injury Report
Did Not Play: Fletcher Cox (calf), Wendell Smallwood (knee), Ronald Darby (ankle), Destiny Vaeao (wrist)
Lane Johnson: The Eagles right tackle left the game at half time with a head injury and never returned. Halapoulivaati Vaitai performed admirably in Johnson's absence, but it's no secret the Eagles offense suffers without their dominant right tackle. Luckily for the Birds, it seems like Johnson was held out of the second half for precautionary reasons and he should be good to go on Thursday night.
Measurables
3: For the first time in his career, LeGarrette Blount has averaged over five yards per carry in three consecutive games. The veteran running back has played in 105 games during his long career, but it doesn't seem like that mileage has taken a toll on Blount's body. He has 42 carries for 277 yards during these last three games.
With Smallwood being injured yesterday, Blount had to take the bulk of the carries and dominated the Cardinals defense. Impressive stuff for a guy some thought should be released before the regular season.
4: For the fourth time since 2000, the Eagles have started the season 4-1 or better. In 2014 and 2006, the Birds started 4-1 and finished the season 10-6, missing the playoffs in 2014 and riding the golden arm of Jeff Garcia to the postseason in 2006. And, of course, the Eagles started 5-0 in 2004 on their way to a 13-1 start and a Super Bowl appearance.
5: The last five times the Eagles have beaten the Arizona Cardinals in the regular season, they went on to the playoffs. In fact, the last time the Eagles didn't advance to the postseason after beating Arizona was all the way back in 1997. And the Birds made the NFC Championship Game in three of those five seasons: 2001, 2002 and 2008.
Turning Point
The Eagles already led the Cardinals, 14-0, but it seemed like Arizona was still hanging on by a thread and the Eagles needed to step on the gas to put the game away early. Facing 3rd and 5 from their own 41-yard-line, the Eagles dialed up a deep pass to Smith:
Smith was matched up one-on-one with Justin Bethel and simply beat him on a deep post. The Eagles ran a few crossing patterns underneath which occupied the safeties and allowed Smith to get over the top. Also, give credit to Smith for bouncing back after a few rough games filled with drops to make such a big play.
Oh, and the celebration was pretty great too:
Something that requires that much creativity and organization certainly deserves our adulation. Not only is this Eagles team good, it seems like they're having a lot of fun, too.
Up/Down Drill
Up: Nelson Agholor
The former first-round pick had a drop early in the second half, but he bounced back on the very next play with a catch that picked up a first down, then added a 72-yard touchdown later in the game. Agholor is finally looking like the game-breaking talent the Eagles saw at USC and is the only wide receiver with two 50-yard touchdown catches in 2017. Slowly, Agholor is shedding that bust label.
Down: Mike Trout
.@MikeTrout knows what's up. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/VlcepY7Hk6
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 8, 2017
It's hard to criticize the best baseball player, and most notable Eagle fan, on the planet, but this is so lame. I get that some intern probably chased Trout down the tunnel and begged him to participate in this, but would it have killed him to show some sort of enthusiasm? It's hard to figure out just how much this affects Trout becoming a Phillie by the end of the decade.
Up: Brandon Graham
Graham absolutely tortured the Cardinals offense yesterday, registering a sack, three tackles for loss and a quarterback hit. For the first time in a few weeks, Graham and company had an opportunity to tee-off on a quarterback and they certainly didn't waste it.
Up: Patrick Robinson
Robinson was so bad in the preseason, the Eagles felt the need to part with Jordan Matthews and third-round pick to get Ronald Darby and upgrade their cornerback group. But Robinson has looked like his old self playing in the slot, registering three pass break-ups yesterday and being around the ball all game long.
It will be interesting to see what Jim Schwartz does with his corners when Darby gets back from injury, but Robinson's spot in the slot should be safe.
Three-Step Drop
1. Zach Ertz has become the best tight end in football. Six catches for 61 yards and touchdown on Sunday. Anyone who has been waiting for a break-out season from the Stanford product can finally celebrate. He's arrived, big time.
2. Big props to Pederson and Schwartz for once again getting the Eagles off to a hot start. The duo's ability to game-plan has been essential to the Eagles this season as they continue to dominate the first quarter of every game.
3. It was nice to see Kenjon Barner get some meaningful snaps and play very well, yesterday. The veteran was very good for the Eagles last year and seemed to pick up right where he left off. With an obvious lacking of speed and agility in the Eagles' backfield, it seems like Barner could fill the role as a pass-catching back that has been void since the injury to Sproles.
Who's Next
The Eagles have a short week and will travel to play the Panthers on Thursday Night Football. Carolina seemed pretty underwhelming at the beginning of 2017, but the Panthers have come on strong, beating the Patriots and Lions during the past two weeks. Combining the short week, travel and the quality of the opponent, this may be the Eagles toughest test of the season.
