Eagles News: Carson Wentz is playing better than the stats show

Let's get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

Carson Wentz's stats don't tell the whole story - NBC Sports Philadelphia
Carson Wentz isn't putting up huge numbers, he isn't carrying the Eagles on his back, he isn't showing monumental statistical improvement over last year. What he is doing is winning. And there's something to be said for that. Wentz has made strides since last year and shown growth in Year 2 in the offense, it's just that so far that growth and evolution has been subtle and not really reflected in his stats. You see it in his pocket awareness when the protection breaks down. You see it when he throws the football away instead of trying to force it into too tight a window. You see it in his ability to make big plays late in games when he absolutely has to.

Eagles-Chargers Final Score: 14 things we learned from Philadelphia’s win over Los Angeles - BGN
The numbers aren’t super flashy: Wentz completed 54.8% of his passes for 242 yards, one touchdown, and a 91.1 passer rating. But make no mistake: Wentz looked pretty good in this one. His accuracy was the best it’s been all season. The way he floated some of those deep passes down the field ... beautiful stuff. Those throws were right on the money. It was apparent how Wentz was really in control of this game. He was constantly making calls at the line of scrimmage and getting the team organized. One of his checks was especially impressive. It was the play where he hit Alshon Jeffery over the middle for a tough third down conversion. Speaking of, Wentz is so clutch when it comes to those tough third down situations. Wentz’s brain was a big reason why the Eagles were so sold on him. It doesn’t always show up in the stats, but it’s clear he’s a big contributing factor to why the team won.

Doug Pederson's offense is carrying Jim Schwartz's defense through time of possession - PhillyVoice
At varying points this season, the Eagles have played without their starting stud DT (Fletcher Cox), their best linebacker (Jordan Hicks), their best cornerback (Ronald Darby), one of their starting safeties (Rodney McLeod), and some of the other depth pieces in the secondary and on the defensive line (Corey Graham, Jaylen Watkins, and Destiny Vaeao). The Eagles' game-sealing, 13-play, 6:44-minute drive on Sunday against the Chargers bailed out an Eagles defense that was getting torched in the second half. At some point this season, Jim Schwartz's defense may have to carry Pederson's offense, but right now Pederson's offense is carrying Schwartz's defense.

Pump the Brakes A Bit - Iggles Blitz
After Sunday’s win, there is a lot of excitement in regard to the Eagles offensive line and the 3-headed monster at RB. The Eagles ran out the final 6:44 of the game and were physically dominant at times so it is easy to understand the praise for the run game. There is also a need for some context. The Giants defense is currently 28th against the run. The Chargers are 31st. The bigger story would have been if the Eagles didn’t run well. Both teams were strong against the run last season so this could be an early season anomaly, but it sure didn’t look like it the last two weeks as the Eagles piled up 193 and 214 yards on those teams. The Eagles ran methodically in gaining all those yards. There was one 68-yard gain. This wasn’t a bunch of crazy runs or long plays that inflated the stats.

Number Tell An Impressive 3-1 Eagles Tale - PE.com
A little trade secret: Not all of the facts and nuggets that we write or speak about in various forms of media come from reporters’ brains. Some, maybe a lot, come from something like the Postgame News and Notes package put together each week by John Gonoude of the Eagles’ media relations department. It’s great stuff, and worthy of a deeper dive today ...

Pederson less aggressive on 4th down vs. Chargers - The Athletic
According to the model, the likelihood of successfully converting the 4th and 1 is 68 percent. That means going for it produces a win probability of 75.8 percent (.68 * 80 + .32 *67) compared to the 74 percent win probability of punting. According to the math, Pederson's decision decreased the Eagles' chance of winning.

Eagles' early-season success isn't just maturity; it's also because of newcomers - Inquirer
After winning consecutive games by a combined five points, Eagles coach Doug Pederson praised the team’s growth and maturity from last season. But the success is not simply the 2016 roster maturing. A major part of the Eagles’ 3-1 record is the newcomers acquired to upgrade or change last year’s team. The evidence came in Sunday’s 26-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. On the opening drive, Chris Long had a strip sack that was recovered by Derek Barnett. Both players are new to the team. The Eagles responded with a touchdown pass to Alshon Jeffrey, the highest-profile offseason addition. The star of the game was running back LeGarrette Blount. The top defensive tackle was Tim Jernigan. Of the 30 players who played at least 20 percent of the offensive or defensive snaps on Sunday, 11 joined the team this offseason.

Rickie Ricardo, Spanish voice of Yankees and Eagles, in league of his own - ESPN
A few years later, he ended up in Philadelphia as a "Spanish ambassador" and was asked to call an inning or two for the Phillies. Ricardo said if you give me an inning, I'm never leaving. "Three nights later," he said, "the main guy gets sick and I fill in, and I never left. I became the No. 2 guy until he left." The Phillies gig led him to the Eagles and, in 2014, to the Yankees. (He still does some Phillies coverage for the station that broadcasts the Eagles.)

Unity in faith, focus and protests driving Philadelphia Eagles' early rise in 2017 - CBS Sports
Inside the Eagles, a family atmosphere has taken shape under second-year coach Doug Pederson.

Post Snap With Malcolm Jenkins: ‘We’re Heading In A Good Direction’ - CBS Philly
Malcolm Jenkins envisioned this. A week ago, Jenkins said the Eagles could be the class of the NFC East. The Eagles’ team leader and veteran safety said the Eagles could be sitting at 3-1 at the quarter mark of the NFL season. And the Eagles could be making strides in looking even better than they have in September. It appears after the Eagles’ 26-24 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday that everything Jenkins perceived has come to fruition. “We’re 3-1, 2-0 in the division and getting ready to hit a stretch of home games, so we’re obviously in a great spot,” Jenkins said. “We still have some things we could be better with and clean up some mistakes as we go along. For the most part, I think everyone is happy where we are.

Buffalo Bills receiver Jordan Matthews to miss time with thumb injury - Buffalo Rumblings
As first reported by WGR’s Sal Capaccio, the Buffalo Bills could be without top wide receiver Jordan Matthews for at least a month after the thumb injury he suffered in Sunday’s 23-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Matthews will undergo surgery to repair the thumb, the second injury he’s suffered since the Bills acquired him via trade from the Philadelphia Eagles in August for Ronald Darby (who has yet to return to the field after an opening-week ankle injury) and a third-round pick. He missed almost all of his offseason work with the team after chipping his sternum during his first practice with the team.

Wolf Administration Emphasizes Importance of Practical Financial Skills for Students - Yahoo
Secretary of Banking and Securities Robin L. Wiessmann and Department of Education Executive Deputy Secretary David W. Volkman addressed high school students at William W. Bodine High School today at an event promoting the importance of financial education for young people. Visa, Inc. and the National Football League partnered to create this unique "Financial Football" event, featuring an interactive, fast-paced game designed to teach students money management skills. Wiessmann and Volkman were joined by Pennsylvania Treasurer Joe Torsella, Ron Fielder of PHEAA, representatives from Visa, and special guest Malcolm Jenkins, strong safety for the Philadelphia Eagles.

11 moments that defined the Chiefs’ 29-20 win over Washington on ‘Monday Night Football’ - SB Nation
The Kansas City Chiefs are still the only undefeated team in the NFL, but beating Washington wasn’t an easy feat on Monday Night Football. The team needed Alex Smith to orchestrate one last drive in the final minute that set up a game-winning field goal to give the Chiefs the 29-20 win. It was an impressive performance by two good football teams and just came down to who had the last possession.

...

Social Media Information:

BGN Facebook Page: Click here to like our page

BGN Twitter: Follow @BleedingGreen

BGN Radio Twitter: Follow @BGN_Radio

BGN Radio Facebook: Click here to like our page

BGN Radio Patreon: Support the show!

BGN Manager: Brandon Lee Gowton: Follow @BrandonGowton