NEW CROP OF QUARTERBACKS STEALING THE NFL SPOTLIGHT
Eagles’ rookie sensation Wentz at top of class with record-like numbers
This maybe best explains Sunday’s unlikely juxtaposition.
One of two NFL starting quarterbacks first-named Carson played like a Pro Bowl veteran on Sunday. Threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns. Cagily picked apart a good defence. Wasn’t intercepted.
The other Carson played like a hyperventilating rookie. Threw four interceptions. Searched for an open receiver with all the poise and success of the slow, fat guy looking for an escape route during the running of the bulls.
So it went Sunday as this strange, captivating, exhilarating first month of the NFL season wound down.
Philadelphia’s 23-year-old rookie sensation, Carson Wentz, belittled the proud Pittsburgh Steelers defence in a 34-3 thumping, while Arizona’s 36-year-old veteran gunslinger, Carson Palmer, did little right in a 33-18 mauling in Buffalo.
The juxtaposition doesn’t end at these two.
Combined, Wentz and the other four first-year passers in Week 3 — Cleveland’s Cody Kessler, New England’s Jacoby Brissett, Dallas’ Dak Prescott and Denver’s Trevor Siemian — completed 70 per cent of their passes for seven touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Four of the five won their games and the other, Kessler — in his first (emergency) career action at Miami — somehow helped the undermanned Browns make it to overtime before losing.
Meantime, Palmer and four of Sunday’s other five starting QBs in their mid to late 30s — New York Giants’ Eli Manning, San Diego’s Phil Rivers, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger and New York Jets’ Ryan Fitzpatrick — had a dismal day.
Even with the four-TD day from Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers thrown into the stats mix, the old guys together completed just 57 per cent of their throws for five TDs and 13 interceptions. All but Rodgers lost on Sunday. It’s almost hard to believe. The five kids with 11 combined games of NFL playing experience didn’t throw a single pick, while the six old guys with experience ranging from 12 to 16 seasons threw 13.
Wentz, after three games, is the talk of the league and rightly so.
He’s the first rookie since 1970 to start and win his team’s first three games without throwing an interception, and is the first NFLer ever with at least 100 attempts (102), 60 completions (66) and five TD passes without an interception in his first three games.
Accolades are avalanching in. It’s Wentzmania in Wentzsylvania.
Tweeted U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden, a longtime Eagles fan from nearby Delaware: “Heart, guts, and poise from my guy, @ cj_wentz. Huge game, strong start for the @Eagles. @DrBiden is pumped. It’s our year.”
WILSON IS ONE TOUGH QB
If a defender ever twists Russell Wilson’s legs so badly that his toes aim due west as his torso faces due east, he might still play the next Sunday. Really, it’s just about come to that.
After somehow playing two games with a high ankle sprain, Wilson might play this week at the New York Jets, despite leaving Sunday’s game against San Francisco with what looked to be a serious left knee injury.
But it’s not serious. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told a Seattle radio station on Monday that his fifth-year quarterback in fact only sprained the MCL in his left knee.
“I just left him,” Carroll told the radio station, per numerous reports. “He’s unbelievable. OK. He feels great. He’s been rehabbing all night and doing his thing, and he can move around. Walking fine. You can’t tell anything (is wrong).
“He’s really excited about the thought that he could be able to maybe get through this thing.”
HERO
Minnesota Vikings defence
Probably only Seattle’s and Denver’s defences have performed to their level. In handing Carolina, the defending NFC champ, its first home loss since 2014, the Vikings sacked Cam Newton eight times, hit him 12 times, had four tackles-for-loss plus a safety — big play after big play. Carolina’s last 10 possessions ended thus: safety, punt, missed field goal, punt, interception, punt, interception, punt, interception, downs. That allowed Minnesota to overcome an early 10-0 deficit and pull away for a 22-10 win.
ZERO
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Jets.
Only the maddeningly inconsistent Fitz could play maybe the best game of his 12-year career last week, in New York’s big win at Buffalo, and follow it up this week with maybe his worst: 20-of-44 (45 per cent) for 188 yards and six interceptions in a 24-3 loss at KC that dropped the Jets to 1-2.
STOCK UP
Dustin Hopkins, PK, Redskins.
Buffalo drafted him in 2013. Right after displacing veteran Rian Lindell, Hopkins hurt his groin near the end of his rookieseason training camp.
The Bills scrambled and signed Dan Carpenter, who took Hopkins’ job and beat out a healthy Hopkins the next summer.
Months later, New Orleans signed Hopkins to a practicesquad contract, but last summer he lost the Saints’ kicking job to Zach Hocker. Hopkins latched on with the Redskins early last season.
In his first NFL game action, Hopkins in 2015 made 89 per cent of his field goals. On Sunday he booted a pair of fourth-quarter field goals for Washington, including the winning 37-yarder with 1:51 left, to down the Giants 29-27.
Hopkins is 11-for-11 through three games, one of only two kickers still perfect on field goals this season.
STOCK DOWN
Brock Osweiler, QB, Texans.
That was one terrible passing performance at New England last Thursday night. Osweiler couldn’t pilot the Texans into Patriots territory until late in the game.
Because the Texans committed to paying the former Denver Bronco $72 million over the next four seasons, the pressure on Osweiler to quickly produce now red-lines.