Carson, Ward, Sanders are clutch once again

Your Eagles crystal ball looks like this:

They must beat the Cowboys at the Linc next Sunday to keep their playoff hopes alive. A loss will eliminate them from the post-season.

If they win, they likely still will need to win their final game of the season against the Giants. However, if they fall to the G-Men, they still win the NFC East and a playoff spot if the Cowboys also lose their season finale.

The Eagles should be comfortable in this spot - with their backs to the wall.

That certainly rings true for quarterback Carson Wentz, who has answered the critics that he never sparked the team to come-from-behind wins by doing it on successive weeks.

Once again it was Wentz who played the hero role, throwing two crucial late TD passes, a laser in the corner of the end zone to Miles Sanders that is about as good a throw as you will see, and a floater jump ball in the other corner of the end zone that was hauled in by Greg Ward.

You read that right. Wentz put a ball up and and Eagles receiver actually went and got it.

After watching opposing receivers do this to the Eagles all season, it's heartening to see a green jersey do likewise.

But it does bring up a question: How is it that Ward, who was elevated to the practice squad due to injuries, was unable to get on the field all year, instead watching people like Nelson Agholor, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and Mack Hollins get playing time ahead of him.

Ward caught seven balls for 61 yards and the game-winning TD Sunday. It would take Hollins and Arcega-Whiteside months to rack up similar numbers.

OK, if I'm going to blister Howie Roseman for constantly missing on wide receiver draft picks, I have to credit him for perhaps the steal of last year's draft by getting Penn State product Miles Sanders in the second round.

Sanders is having a stellar rookie season. Yesterday he surpassed LeSean McCoy's team record for rushing yards by a rookie, and also DeSean Jackson's record for yards from scrimmage by a rookie.

Sanders is a keeper.

The Rams didn't do the Eagles any favors yesterday. They got blown out by the Cowboys in the late afternoon game.

That sets up the game of the year next Sunday at the Linc.

Eagles vs. Cowboys.

Ward and Sanders will need to step up again.

And I think we can now toss that story line about Carson Wentz not being able to put the team on his back and rally the team to victory late in games.

That's two weeks in a row now.

Just call him Carson Clutch.

Or, as I said on today's front page, Carson Gritty.

That's not a reference to the Flyers' mascot. I'm hoping there are enough 'Bonanza' fans out there who get it.

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