1. Two Carson Wentz plays from the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2019 season that everyone forgets about
Picture it. It’s second down with two yards to go in Atlanta versus the Falcons from the Eagles own 38-yard line. 1:58 remains on the game clock. The Eagles trail by a score of 24-20. Wentz takes the snap from the shotgun, throws a pass down the left sideline to Agholor who, well, you know what happened.
One week later, the Eagles are back at the friendly confines of Lincoln Financial Field and playing the Detroit Lions. Despite the fact that Philly has done everything they can to lose this one (Dallas Goedert dropping a wide-open touchdown pass and “Nelly” fumbling one when he wasn’t even touched), a blocked field goal by Malcolm Jenkins gave the Eagles life late in this one.
49 seconds remain. It’s fourth down with 15 yards to go from the Eagles’ own 45-yard line. Wentz, again in the shotgun, takes the snap from Jason Kelce. He goes deep. He hits a well-covered JJ Arcega-Whiteside in the chest at about the three-yard line. The pass was near-perfect. The ball is dropped.
What do these two plays have in common? They would have put Philly up on the scoreboard late in the fourth quarter. Arcega-Whiteside’s catch could have resulted in six (or at least set Philly up with first and goal deep in Lions territory). Agholor’s catch would have been a touchdown that put the Eagles up by three with a little over a minute remaining.
Had the Eagles won both of those games, they’re 2-1 to start the 2019 campaign. They probably finish 2019 with 11 wins instead of nine. Why? Wentz would have made two of those plays that only Wentz and a handful of other quarterbacks can make. Instead, we’re discussing those “could have, would have, should have” scenarios.