The Spark That Should’ve Already Happened
After 13 weeks of speculation, stress, and anger, the Philadelphia Eagles have decided to bench former star quarterback Carson Wentz in favor of the second-round rookie from Oklahoma/Alabama Jalen Hurts. While down 20-3 against the Green Bay Packers, the 3-8-1 Eagles needed a spark, the spark came when Head Coach Doug Pederson decided that enough was enough and sent in Hurts. On the first play, Hurts completed a 34-yard pass to fellow rookie Jalen Reagor from TCU. On the next drive, on 4th and 18, Hurts completed his first career touchdown pass to make it a 23-10 game. After a quick three and out by the Green Bay Packers, rookie Jalen Reagor returned a punt for a touchdown to make it 23-16. The game ended with the Packers winning 30-16 after Hurts threw a pass while his arm was swatted and got intercepted, but there’s no denying, Doug Pederson and the Eagles might have found the spark that could save the season.
Time for a Rebuild, The Season is Over… Or Is It?
At 3-8-1 and at third place in the division, many would think that it might be time to focus on 2021, and for most teams in this type of position with four games left, that is true. For a team that might have found the missing piece needed to make a run for a third division title in four years, that’s not the case. It won’t be easy with the next two games being against two playoff-caliber teams in the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals, but if they can come out and win both games, then the Eagles have an easier last two games against the 3-8 Dallas Cowboys and the 4-7 Washington Football Team. They would also need the division-leading New York Giants to lose at least two games while Philadelphia wins out for this to be possible, but with the 2020 NFC East, that’s not too crazy of a scenario. If Philadelphia wins out and makes the playoffs, Head Coach Doug Pederson and General Manager Howie Roseman will seem like geniuses, and Jalen Hurts will become the next face of Philadelphia sports. If they don’t, then 2021 will be one of the most interesting offseasons we’ve experienced.
Poor Carson Wentz is Done… Or is He?
In hindsight, Carson Wentz, the $128 Million Franchise QB’s time in Philadelphia is over, and there’s no way the guy who leads the league with 15 interceptions can come back from this…. Wrong! Believe it or not, even though it’s killing him, the benching of Carson Wentz might be the best thing for his career. Carson Wentz, the former second overall pick and 2017 MVP front runner, still has all the talent and potential in the world to be successful. “The man wants to win, he’s the ultimate competitor” are just some of the things teammates like All-Pro and future NFL Hall of Famer Fletcher Cox have said about him. This has been proven to be true. Just last year Carson Wentz, with practice squad players around him who have never played a snap in the NFL, led the Eagles to the fourth seed in the playoffs and a division championship while being the first QB in NFL history to throw for over 4,000 yards while not having a single wide receiver with at least 500 receiving yards. 2020 has been the worst season for Wentz, but he doesn’t get all of the blame, and maybe something like a benching will light a fire for “the man that just wants to win,” and he can come back and remind everyone why he was once considered to be one of the best in the NFL. Rather that’s with the Eagles or someone else that’s yet to be seen.
What’s Next?
Regardless if you agree or disagree with the move, Sunday at 4:25 Eastern Time, Jalen Hurts will be making his first career start against the 10-2 New Orleans Saints at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. All sights will be on the former 2x National Champion and Heisman Finalist to get the job done and to see if he is the answer to all of the problems that this franchise has dealt with or will add more to the flame. Either way, things are about to get interesting in the City of Brotherly Love.
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