Knee-Jerk Reactions: Carson, Carson, Carson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Monday Night Football, on the road as underdogs, at Soldier Field, second career NFL game.
No problem.
- Carson, Carson, Carson.
- 21-34, 190 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT -- but that doesn't even begin to tell the entire story.
- Carson Wentz commanded the game, and that's what stood out to everyone. He was never razzled, he was cool, he made tough throws, he took big hits, he lead, and he succeeded. It was gorgeous to watch for a 23-year-old kid in his second career start and first ever game on the road.
- Never mind his 82-yards dropped by receivers, including a gorgeous would-have-been touchdown to Jordan Matthews
- And how about this throw rolling to his left, on the move, into traffic:
- According to ESPN Stats & Info, Wentz is the only rookie quarterback to start and win his first two games, while committing no team turnovers.
- Matthews is going to drop balls, that's his MO at this point, but he is a really talented young wide receiver regardless.
- Six more catches on nine targets for 71 yards for J-Matt, who is really dominating over the middle of the field in the first two weeks.
- Trey Burton was thrust into a heavy workload and responded with his best career game: 5 catches on 7 targets for 49 yards and a touchdown.
- Nelson Agholor caught 4 of 7 targets for 42 yards, which is important for the young receiver. He did have the ball knocked out of his hands on two big passes, but it's good to see Nelson involved.
- Doug Pederson called a fabulously creative game -- I don't know if I ever seen a fake reverse, flip throw like that before. And the quick TE screen on the goal-line to Burton was a thing of beauty.
- 3-for-3 on 4th down too.
- He becomes the first Eagles head coach in the Super Bowl Era to win his first two games with the team.
- The only thing that I didn't understand was the limited workload for Ryan Mathews. I assume it was some sort of a matchup thing, using Darren Sproles more on the ground against an athletic Bears front, but it still seemed weird to me.
- Sproles carried the ball 12 times for 40 yards, Mathews just 9 for 32 yards but scored twice.
- Mathews is the Eagles' most talented offensive player. He needs the ball.
- On the offensive line, Lane Johnson and Allen Barbre were excellent. Jason Kelce was not.
- According to a report by Jeff McLane, Johnson has been suspended for 10 games pending appeal. He is expected to play on Sunday vs. the Steelers.
- The Johnson is suspension is such a buzz kill, because he's the Eagles' best offensive lineman.
Related: Good, Bad, Ugly: Eagles Defeat Bears 29-14
- Defensively, the Eagles really only allowed one bad play.
- That was it.
- Three more takeaways for the defense: a forced fumble by undrafted rookie DT Destiny Vaeao, an interception by Destiny Vaeao (who?), and a second forced fumble by Bennie Logan.
- Jordan Hicks recovered the Vaeao strip sack, because that's just what Hicks does. Hicks has four fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in 10 career games.
- Other than big Alshon Jeffrey (5 catches for 96 yards) catch allowed (shown above), rookie corner Jalen Mills played very well with Leodis McKelvin out.
- Brandon Graham was a beast yet again totaling four tackles, two for a loss, one sack, and a QB hit.
- Fletcher Cox had a quiet game and Malcolm Jenkins took a bad angle on a short pass and missed a tackle, for un-Jenkins like.
- The Eagles rank second in the NFL, allowing just 12 points per game, and they're fourth in the NFL allowing just 286 yards per game.
- The Eagles lead the NFL in point differential through two weeks, outscoring opponents 58-24.
