3 Reasons Philadelphia Eagles fans can’t blame Carson Wentz for Week 1

The Philadelphia Eagles play a team sport.

The NFL will never be the NBA. In the former, one mega-star can get the job for you. Just look at what Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Kawhi Leonard have done in their careers. Football is a little different. There are 22 men on the field for every play.

That isn’t to insult anyone’s intelligence. It’s only meant to bring something into focus. The individual efforts of one person are less likely to influence an entire game’s outcome in the NFL, no matter how good that individual is. If that wasn’t the case, Michael Vick and Dan Marino would have won Super Bowls

Is Carson Wentz to blame for Week 1’s loss? Well, obviously that argument can be made, but while the interceptions hurt, you can also argue that his rookie receiver could have made a better effort to fight back to the ball (or break the pass up). The defense could have held Washington to two field goals instead of giving up two touchdowns.

Heck, Doug Pederson could have elected to punt twice on fourth down instead of going for it, failing, and putting his defense at a disadvantage on two different occasions. That’s especially true when you consider the fact that the offensive line wasn’t playing well enough to make you think this team could convert two fourth-down attempts anyway.

P.S.: Where in the heck were JJ Arcega-Whiteside and these improved weapons on offense?