Welcome to the Carson Wentz Era.
Should he be starting for the Eagles Sunday as they kick off the season vs. the Cleveland Brown at the Linc? Of course not. But he is, so deal with it.
Don't blame me. I was a Sam Bradford guy. I thought they could win the NFC East and make a decent push into the playoffs. That all went out the window about the same time Teddy Bridgewater's knee exploded. The Vikings, a legitimate Super Bowl contender, needed a starting QB. Howie Roseman desperately wanted to get the No. 1 pick back that he dealt away for the right to move up and snag Wentz with the No. 2 pick.
And here we sit.
I think the Eagles win this game, but not because of Wentz.
I have heard him - along with all the Eagles coaches, talking about how ready he is for the opener. I'm not buying it. He'll make some plays, he's that good an athlete. But he's also make his share of mistakes.
It won't matter. This game will be won by the Eagles defense, which could be one of the best in the NFL this season. They will turn up the heat on Robert Griffin III and force a few turnovers. Coupled with the Birds' outstanding special teams, Wentz should be working on a short field.
Look for Ryan Matthews to get a steady diet in the run game, and Darren Sproles and Zach Ertz to be featured in a short passing game. Wentz won't be standing back there all day. He'll be getting rid of the ball in a hurry so as not to expose those ribs.
Wentz played a year at North Dakota State, then about a quarter of one exhibition game. He's never seen what he will see on Sunday.
He appears confident. And prepared.
I say the Birds make Doug Pederson a winner in his coaching debut. That will make five in a row if you count the exhibition season.
It will get a lot more difficult in the weeks to come.
The Pick: Make it Eagles 19, Browns 13. Doug Pederson remains perfect. Wentz is anything but, and still the Birds get the win.
Last Year: I finished off the saying the Giants would pour cold water all over Pat Shurmur in his coaching debut. Of course the Eagles pulled off the 35-30 win. It didn't mean much. Sunday's game means a lot.
Season Record: I wound up 7-9 last season. Pretty dismal, much like the end of the Chip Kelly Era.
Game by Game: Check back next week.
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