Wentz showing he can keep his promises

PHILADELPHIA » Six weeks and 25 sacks into the Eagles’ season, Carson Wentz remained unworried.

“We can clean it up,” he said.

Nine interceptions into a growing disaster, the Eagles’ top offensive assistant coach was unconcerned.

“To start with Carson, I think obviously there are some things, a throw here or there, we would love to have back,” Rich Scangarello said. “But I think he’s coming along.”

One win into a frustrating, disappointing year, Doug Pederson would not sweat about his quarterback.

“Carson played a heck of a football game,” the head coach said, after a loss to the Ravens. “He played tough. Played smart. Resilient guy, resilient group. Rallied his troops. Made some tough throws against a really, really good defense.”

That was the Eagles’ story, and they were not going to bend. Whatever was going wrong with the quarterbacking, and there was plenty, would soon be cleansed. The Eagles are the best at that, and have been for decades. They cannot, will not believe that they are anything but a few breaks away from pro-football brilliance.

“We know where the division is at,” Wentz said. “We know it’s wide open.”

Recent history swore that as long as the division included the New York Giants, the Eagles could budget for a couple of wins a year, even if Eli Manning was retired. And there were the Giants visiting Thursday, and following the script, losing in grand fashion, 22-21, wasting a fourth quarter lead.

Perhaps that’s why the Eagles remained so willing in recent days to pretend that all of the fans, not just a portion, were made out of cardboard. They were convinced, and they tried to make sure everyone else was too, that by Friday morning the Giants would have helped them squeeze even closer to the top of the division.

More, they were convinced that, soon enough, Wentz would begin to play like a franchise quarterback, and not just in the final, panicked minutes of a close game.

They were right Thursday, improving to 2-4-1. The Giants followed the cues that had made them lose their last seven to the Eagles. They displayed their customary terror and incompetence when confronted by the Eagles. And those wins count, too.

But not enough of the troubles that have haunted the Eagles were

not cleaned up Thursday. Though Wentz hung in long enough to guide a game-winning touchdown drive, there were more than a few things, “here or there,” as the man said that remained problematic.

By halftime, Wentz had been sacked three times and had thrown an interception. He did complete an impressive game-opening touchdown drive by rushing for the final yard. But Wentz was sloppy. Worse, he was everything he vowed he would not be during the week.

He said he would be more diligent in throwing the ball away while under pressure. He was not, and in fact, ran halfway across the field to the right sideline and decided to try to throw a pass 30 yards across the field. That attempt fell incomplete, easily could have been intercepted, and might not have gained more than a

yard or two.

There is a reason why Wentz has played the entire season in a panic. Because of injuries, his offensive line would hardly be sufficient to push a college team to a New Year’s Day bowl. And because Zach Ertz, his favorite passcatcher, and reliable Dallas Goedert are both out with ankle injuries, Wentz has felt like he’s had to do more than usual on offense.

“He has had some AllPro players in front of him for a few years, too,” Scangarello said. “So sometimes you have to be a little more sensitive to making sure that, ‘My legs might help this team.’ And I think he has done a nice job of balancing that and I think it’s a strength of his. I think him continuing to do that, but being smart with his body out in space, gives us an opportunity for more plays down the field.”

DeSean Jackson, who every once in a while participates, was available Thursday. His presence alone helped free space for Greg Ward and developing star Travis Fulgham. But Miles Sanders and (true story) Alshon Jeffery were out, so Wentz was not really flush with weapons.

It is under such straits, though, that he is expected to remain calm. Instead, he looked desperate or, more accurately, looked exactly like he vowed not look. On the first play of the fourth quarter, a thirdand-goal situation with the Eagles trailing, 14-10, Wentz went charging into the gut of the New York defense and was hit from about six different angles before being dragged down short of the goal line.

He is trying to save the Eagles by himself. On some nights, and Thursday was one, that is possible.

The Eagles will worry later about the long term.

“Obviously we came up short and we’re frustrated with that,” Wentz said Sunday, after a loss to Baltimore. “But I’m proud of these guys and we’ll keep building with this.” It sounded good.

All of it sounded good, down to the verbiage. Building. Cleaning. Improving. Who could argue with that?

“I thought last week he showed great signs of making some great plays,” said Scangarello of Wentz, “and standing in there and being the quarterback that’s going to continue to get the offense trending in the right direction.”

Seven games into a deteriorating season, it’s the only script the Eagles have left.