2. The offensive line is regressing, and the defensive line hasn’t been better.
Now, one could make the argument that the ball should have been thrown by the time the ENTIRE line stopped blocking, but at the same time that is a three-man rush, and Wentz has been running around a lot this season.
That isn’t just because Wentz is holding on to the ball too long. It’s also due to necessity. The pocket is constantly collapsing around him. This is just a bad look to have on tape. Not only that, the tape went viral. Then, think about this. This comes after the offensive line got a lot of pub for posing naked for ESPN the Body Issue and after Pro Football Focus labeled them the league’s best.
Along the defensive line, things haven’t been much better. While there’s no video evidence of the group quitting on a play, they have only mustered a single sack as a unit, and that came courtesy of Jernigan. The only other sack for the team as a whole came from safety Andrew Sendejo. That’s unacceptable for a team that’s supposedly a contender.
Last Sunday’s game against the Lions was also the first game of Fletcher Cox’s career where he didn’t register on the stat sheet, whether it be a tackle, a hits on the quarterback or anything else. While the back seven has, rightfully, been getting a lot of flack, it doesn’t help when opposing quarterbacks have all day to throw the ball.