By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Following a loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football, Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles stayed on the West Coast, in preparation for another top NFC contender – the Los Angeles Rams.
This game marked the first time matchup between the top two picks in the 2016 NFL Draft, Jared Goff and Carson Wentz. Not only did the Rams select Goff over Wentz, but they mortgaged their future, trading all the way up from the No. 15 pick to select Goff over Wentz.
Two years later, the two squared off in a battle with great implications on the NFC playoff picture.
Here are my in-game notes on Wentz's performance against the Rams:
First Quarter
Drive One
- After a touchback on the opening kickoff, Wentz and the Eagles began their first drive on their own 25.
- After two fake handoffs, Wentz hit Torrey Smith leaking out of the backfield for a one-yard gain on the first play. For whatever reason, Doug Pederson loves to scheme plays to Smith to open the game.
- Following a four-yard run from LeGarrette Blount on second down, Wentz targeted Agholor on third-and-five. Wentz made a nice pass into a small window, one that Agholor should have caught. Instead, it hit off his hands and was intercepted. Statistically, that will reflect poorly on Wentz, but the pick is on Agholor, he should have caught the pass:
First #LARams interception for @kayvonwebster! #PHIvsLA #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/wP7owA12kH
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 10, 2017
Drive Two
- After an explosive touchdown drive from the Rams following the interception, the Eagles began their second drive on their own 25.
- Wentz hit Corey Clement with a screen pass that went for 32-yards on the opening play of the second drive.
- He was unable to connect with Brent Celek on an out route on the following play.
- The next two plays were both successful runs from Jay Ajayi, netting the Eagles another first down. Wentz came back after those two runs and hit Alshon Jeffery for another first down.
- Following a short Blount run on first down, Wentz tried to loft a ball to Celek in the endzone. He was held defensively, as the ball sailed over his head. A flag was thrown, setting the Eagles up on the Rams 1-yard line.
- On first-and-goal, Blount wasn't able to get across the goal line. Wentz was on second-and-goal, but it was called back because of a false start on Lane Johnson. Fortunately, on the next play, Wentz was able to connect with Celek for his first touchdown in over two years.
Drive Three
- Following a great punt from Johnny Hekker (what else is new?), the Eagles started their third drive on their own 12.
- On a play-action play, Wentz hit Smith on a slant for an eight-yard gain to open the drive.
- After a short Blount run on second down, Wentz took a shot deep for Jeffery on third-and-one. The throw itself wasn't especially impressive, as it was underthrown. In Wentz's defense, as he released the ball, he was about to take a major hit. Luckily for the Eagles, pass interference was called on the Rams.
- Wentz spun out of a collapsing pocket on first down and had Alshon Jeffery for what would have been a touchdown. He overthrew it, and Jeffery was visibly frustrated after the play. He's done a good job of keeping his cool on some of the plays that Wentz has missed him this year, but it's understandable if he's a little frustrated with how many big plays Wentz has missed him on this year.
- Wentz did come back and hit Agholor for an 18-yard gain over the middle on the next play.
- On first-and-15, despite heavy pressure, Wentz made an excellent throw to Hollins at the goal line for what would have been a touchdown. Hollins, who has caught everything thrown his way this year, picked a bad time for his first notable drop. Hollins was visibly upset with himself after the drop. Also of note on this play, Kayvon Webster went down with what appeared to be a bad injury to his lower leg, perhaps his Achilles. He had to be carted off the field:
Agholor drop leads to INT.
Wentz missed wide open Jeffery by 3 yards.
Hollins drop could have been a TD.
Clean it up, Eagles. pic.twitter.com/wkGHrqqoID— Dan Levy (@DanLevyThinks) December 10, 2017
- Facing third-and-11, Wentz threw to Trey Burton, who was double covered. He made one of his nicest throws of the season, though, and Burton hauled it in for a touchdown. Needle, meet thread:
LA traffic is no problem for Trey.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/oUT1YZEpdl
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 10, 2017
- For as nice as this touchdown was, Wentz missed Jeffery twice on the drive. Hollins dropped the touchdown pass from Wentz. Chances are, the Eagles won't get away with that in January.
Drive Four
- After getting a stop defensively, Wentz and the Eagles began their opening drive on the 20-yard line.
- On a bootleg, Wentz his Agholor for a seven-yard gain to open the drive. A short run from Blount, followed by some jawing with Rams defenders, ended the first quarter.
Second Quarter
Drive Four (Continued)
- On third-and-one, Wentz escaped Alec Ogletree and skirted a potential sack to make a one-footed throw to Jeffery for a first down. You just can't teach some things.
The improvisation of @CJ_Wentz & @TheWorldof_AJ… #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/NeK9y0uoZ2
— NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2017
- Following an explosive run from Ajayi, Wentz overthrew Hollins. This one seemed to be more on Hollins not getting out of his break quickly enough, as he got caught in traffic and was well overthrown.
- Wentz made a nice pass to Celek on second-and-10, and it initially appeared that he made the catch for a first down. Unfortunately, John Johnson broke it up at the last second.
- On fourth-and-one, Wentz lined up in the shotgun, rolled right and hit Agholor for a first down play that went for 18 yards. The Eagles have been money on fourth-and-short this year.
- On first-and-10, Wentz was nearly picked by Nickell Robey-Coleman. It was unclear who he was throwing the ball to.
- After a short run from Blount, Wentz fired a strike to Burton for his second touchdown of the half. It was Wentz's third touchdown pass of the first half and his 32nd of the season, tying him with Sonny Jurgensen for the single-season franchise record:
With this pass, @cj_wentz has tied the #Eagles single-season franchise record for TD passes (Sonny Jurgensen, 1961).#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/oRoo6H8TrG
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 10, 2017
Drive Five
- Clement had an explosive 11-yard run on first down, before Smith dropped a ball that he should have caught.
- Even Wentz couldn't escape a collapsed pocket on second down, as Robert Quinn sacked Wentz for a 10-yard loss on second down.
- On third-and-20, Pederson made the correct call to run a screen pass. For whatever reason, however, he elected to use Blount. Suffice to say, the screen pass didn't net a first down and ended the drive.
Drive Six
- The Eagles opened their sixth drive of the game inside their 10-yard line. Ajayi, again, ran for more than 10 yards.
- On the following first-and-10, Wentz threw the ball into the ground, appearing to live to see another play with the understanding that Smith, who the play was designed to target, was well covered.
- On third-and-11, Wentz made a dangerous pass in the direction of Jeffery. Jeffery almost played the ball like a defender, with it ultimately sailing over his and the defender's heads.
Drive Seven
- On first down, Wentz again targeted a well covered Jeffery and wasn't able to connect with him. There are parts of the field where it makes sense to take chances to Jeffery and hope his physical talent allows him to come down with the ball. Fairly deep in opposing territory, when the Rams deferred to the second half, probably isn't the place to do that.
- Wentz bounced back on second down and hit Smith for a 15-yard gain.
- On the following first down, Wentz had good protection, but the Rams also had good coverage. Wentz ultimately threw a low pass to Clement, who wasn't able to make a catch, despite a strong effort.
- After Clement was tripped up in the backfield on second-and-10, Wentz stepped up in a pocket that was caving in on him and hit Smith over the middle. The pass was a bit wobbly, but it was accurate, and Smith, who is one of the fastest players in the league, took it for a 46-yard gain.
- Wentz, not shy to step into traffic, stepped up and connected with Trey Burton for a 15-yard gain.
- On first-and-goal, Wentz ran for five yards. After he fumbled on the goal line last week, everyone held their breath on this play.
- On second-and-goal, Wentz threw high to Agholor, who wasn't able to make the catch. Agholor wasn't really open.
- The Rams brought pressure on third-and-goal, and Wentz ultimately elected to throw the ball into the ground. It was a smart play by Wentz, as it allowed Jake Elliott to come out and increase the Eagles lead to 10 points.
Third Quarter
Drive Eight
- After the Rams marched down the field and scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half, the Eagles began their eighth drive on their own 25.
- On a run-pass option, Wentz elected to pass to Agholor. He was immediately met in the backfield for a one-yard loss.
- Wentz, somehow, managed to run for six yards on second down despite a pocket that caved in on him.
- On third-and-five, Robert Quinn nearly hit the ball out of Wentz's hands, but Wentz did a good job to hold onto the ball and get rid of it. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to connect with a receiver. Quinn's hand, though it appeared to be incidental, made contact with Wentz's helmet. There should have been a flag thrown.
- Of course, there wasn't a flag thrown, and Donnie Jones' fourth-down punt was blocked and returned for a touchdown.
Drive Nine
- Wentz threw the ball for the first time on second down and connected with Jeffery for a first down.
- Three plays later, on third-and-seven, Wentz connected with Smith on the sideline for a 24-yard gain and a first down. It was a perfect pass by Wentz.
- Pederson dialed up a play-action play on the following play, but Wentz overthrew Burton. It didn't ultimately matter, as Isaac Seumalo got called for holding.
- Wentz had good protection on first-and-20, but no receivers opened up. Wentz was nearly sacked, but broke out of it and ran for five yards.
- On second-and-15, Wentz connected with Smith again, this time for a six-yard gain.
- On third-and-nine, Wentz made a nice back-shoulder throw to Jeffery, but it was broken up. Fortunately, the Eagles got a favorable unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called against the Rams that extended the drive.
- On first-and-10, Wentz connected with Agholor for a five-yard gain.
- Two plays later, on third-and-three, Wentz hit Agholor for a first down. The Rams also got called for a justified late-hit penalty.
- On first-and-goal, Wentz did run in for a touchdown, but took a huge hit. It probably wasn't worth that on first-and-goal, even had the touchdown stood. It really wasn't worth taking the big hit once the touchdown was called back on a holding penalty against Lane Johnson. (More on this in a minute.)
- After two Clement runs, Wentz wasn't able to connect with Jeffery on third-and-goal.
- Inside the Rams five, Pederson elected to go on fourth-and-goal, a move that probably made sense regardless of the outcome. The decision looked especially good after Wentz was able to connect with Jeffery in the endzone for a touchdown:
.@cj_wentz with his 33rd TD pass of the season, a new #Eagles single-season record.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/ExSIZ1giWe
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 10, 2017
- On the touchdown pass to Jeffery, Wentz broke the Eagles franchise-record for the most touchdowns in a single season.
Conclusion:
Wentz left the game after this drive with a knee injury that he sustained on the aforementioned attempted run into the endzone. Any hopes that the Eagles have of contending in January are obviously contingent on him being able to play. There are things to pick apart about how Wentz played in his first three quarters today, but he also flashed why he was an MVP favorite. If he's out for any extended period of time, that would be a crushing blow.
