{"id":80604,"date":"2017-12-12T19:03:40","date_gmt":"2017-12-12T19:03:40","guid":{"rendered":"\/rcntv\/?p=80604"},"modified":"2023-02-24T16:46:45","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T16:46:45","slug":"wentz-less","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/wentz-less\/","title":{"rendered":"Wentz-less"},"content":{"rendered":"

Carson Wentz just got done throwing a record-setting 33rd<\/sup> TD pass to Alshon Jeffery when he left the field.\u00a0 After watching the hard, sandwich hit he took on what turned out to be a non-play due to a penalty, I was amazed he went back into the huddle to play another down.\u00a0 But, Carson Wentz played another four plays throwing a TD pass on fourth down.\u00a0 He walked off the field and appeared to be limping just a little.\u00a0 And then, he went into that dreaded tent.\u00a0 When that happens in a game, my first thought is always \u201cconcussion protocol\u201d.\u00a0 Not this time.<\/p>\n

Wentz left the tent and walked, under his own power, to the locker room. The injury still did not look season-ending.\u00a0 But, on Monday it was reported he had suffered an ACL injury.\u00a0 That injury would put him out for the season this year and, perhaps, next year.\u00a0 The Eagles<\/a> can ill afford to take any chances with their franchise quarterback.\u00a0 They must give him the time to fully recover.<\/p>\n

So with arguably the NFL\u2019s <\/a>MVP out for the season, how will the Eagles fare without Wentz?\u00a0\u00a0 Perhaps, the better question is, \u201cCan the Eagles win with Nick Foles?\u201d\u00a0 Foles started one game for the Chiefs<\/a> last year and posted a QB rating of 12.5 (not close to being even mediocre). \u00a0He certainly does not have Wentz\u2019s mobility and was injured in each of his years with the Eagles.\u00a0 Next up would be third\u2013string QB Nate Sudfeld who has never thrown an NFL pass.\u00a0 Or\u2026 dare I say it – Colin Kaepernick?<\/p>\n

So is there hope? Yes \u2013 the Eagles can certainly run the ball with Blount, Ajayi, and Clement.\u00a0 They should be able to throw safe and short passes to their three tight ends.\u00a0 The Eagles\u2019 defense is solid and seems to play at their very best with their backs against the wall.\u00a0 And there should be time to learn to mesh with Foles.\u00a0 They have the Giants<\/a> away, and the Raiders<\/a> and Cowboys<\/a> at home.\u00a0 They should be able to win those games and give Foles a chance to get comfortable.\u00a0 Win them all and they are guaranteed the top seed in the NFC.<\/p>\n

In 1990 the Giants won the Super Bowl with Jeff Hostetler, who was in the lineup because Phil Sims went down in Week 15. The Giants won the Super Bowl that year.<\/p>\n

Can the Eagles do the same without Carson Wentz? I, along with throngs of Eagles\u2019 fans have our doubts.\u00a0 The season has been magical so far and it might need a true magician to reach the desired finish.<\/p>\n

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

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    1. Seahawks<\/a> defensive lineman, Quentin Jefferson, tried to go into the stands on Sunday in Jacksonville when, after being ejected, a fan threw a drink on him. His attempt was thwarted by an equipment manager.<\/li>\n
    2. I was at the December 23, 1979, hockey game between the New York Rangers<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Boston Bruins\u00a0<\/a>played at Madison Square Garden <\/a>when every Bruins player except one went into the stands after a Rangers fan reached over the glass and hit a Bruin player. I was far enough away to just be a spectator, but when we left the arena, angry fans had surrounded the Bruins bus. It looked like the entire NY police force was there to allow the players to leave the city. No one seemed to be in the holiday spirit. (There were suspensions, lawsuits, and installation on higher glass).<\/li>\n
    3. Thanks to the NFL Red Zone, I was able to watch a great deal of the Bills<\/a>–Colts<\/a> game played in blizzard-like conditions on Sunday. I now understand what weathermen mean by \u201clake-effect snow.\u201d The Bills won in overtime in a surreal environment.<\/li>\n
    4. The Browns<\/a> just cannot win a game. Even after wide receiver Josh Gordon caught his first TD pass since 2013 and having a 21-7 lead going into the fourth quarter, they still managed to lose to the Packers<\/a> in OT 28-21. They now are 0-13. The Ravens<\/a> are next.<\/li>\n
    5. No one would argue that it has been a good winter so far for a Philadelphia sports fan (except for the Flyers<\/a>) \u2013 the Eagles are great; the \u201976-ers <\/a>play exciting and winning NBA<\/a> basketball; and the Villanova Wildcats <\/a>are now the #1 college basketball team in the nation (Duke and Kansas both lost this week).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n