Eagles riding high with Wentz
Maybe the Washington Redskins can derail Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles express when the two NFC East rivals square off on Monday Night Football at Lincoln Financial Field.
The host Eagles sport the NFC’s best record, at 5-1, even though they played four of their first six on the road. Washington is second in the division at 3-2.
Wentz, Philly’s secondyear QB, is off to a solid start. He’s tied with Tom Brady and now-shelved Aaron Rodgers for the second most TD passes in the NFL, with 13. Just 24, Wentz is the youngest NFL QB since 1950 to throw that many TDs with fewer than four interceptions in his team’s first six games.
The Redskins’ 12thranked defence has its work cut out, especially after what Washington’s head coach said about Wentz late last week.
“He’s progressed at a rate as fast as anybody I’ve seen, really,” Jay Gruden told reporters. “I think he’s already proven this short in his career that he’s one of the top quarterbacks in the league, quite frankly, and he’s going to be for a long time. I don’t know how he got to Philadelphia, and I’m very upset about that.”
Wentz got there because Eagles GM Howie Roseman traded up in last year’s draft from No. 8 to No. 2 with the Cleveland Browns, which had deemed Wentz unworthy of a top 20 overall pick.
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said Gruden’s praise is quite the compliment, “and a credit” to QBs coach John DeFilippo and offensive co-ordinator Frank Reich.
“And then you throw in Carson’s makeup of how well he prepares,” Pederson said. “He loves practice, and there aren’t many people that just love to practise.”
Wentz has started every game since his arrival, going 12-10. Meanwhile, the Browns are 1-21 since the trade and have used five starting quarterbacks.
The Redskins beat the Eagles twice last season, but Wentz led Philadelphia to a 30-17 win to open this season.
The Redskins have no slouch at quarterback, either. Kirk Cousins has completed 66.5 per cent of his passes for 1,334 yards, nine TDs, two interceptions and a passer rating of 106.4.
It’s on the other side of the ball where the Eagles don’t get enough accolades.
The Eagles defence leads the NFL against the run, allowing just 65.7 yards per game. It has allowed 394 yards so far, the franchise’s fewest through six games since 1954, and the Eagles are tied for fourth in the league with 11 take-aways.