The more pragmatic discussions in advance of Sunday’s confrontation between Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz and two-time Super Bowl victor Ben Roethlisberger involved how many seasons it might take for the rookie to establish himself at Big Ben’s elite level. Wentz – whose No. 11 jersey is already the leading seller in the National Football League – continued his remarkable rookie season by outplaying Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has played in four Pro Bowls and three Super Bowls, winning two.
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If Sunday’s game was supposed to be a glimpse into the future for the Philadelphia Eagles, it appears bright.
Before the game, comparisons were made to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in both size and style of play, but the youngster outplayed the 13-year veteran and two-time Super Bowl champion.
6 – Obviously the tackling was awful today and this was the flawless offense to exploit it. Eagles running backs Wendell Smallwood, Kenjon Barner and Darren Sproles are all small backs that can catch the ball and wreak havoc in the open field.
The Rams, who used three field goals to beat Seattle 9-3 in Week 2, saw Keenum complete 14 of 25 passes for 190 yards, two TDs and one interception, which Bucs linebacker Kwon Alexander returned 38 yards for a first-quarter touchdown. Take note that we play the Kansas City Chiefs next week and that’s where this offense evolved.
Wentz went 23 of 31 for 301 yards and 2 TDs, without a sack. Pittsburgh entered with a 2-0 record and Super Bowl ambitions. But Wentz is no ordinary rookie.
“What he’s doing is special and it’s a testament to his preparation and demeanor”, Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said. So while Carson Wentz’s debut was impressive and his follow-up got people talking, game No. 3, in which Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles handed the 2-0 Pittsburgh Steelers a 34-3 loss – their worst defeat in 27 years – is the one that officially starts Carson-mania around the NFL. DeAngelo Williams ran just eight times, twice in the second half, for 21 yards.
Brown caught 12 passes for 140 yards, most of which after the outcome was decided.
So the defense answered questions about defensive things, but many of them referenced Wentz. And though he’s not 3-0 as a sling-it-deep, all-on-me sort of QB, he is very much a part of that perfection. And he said Wentz doesn’t just rely on the physical or the mental – he also leans on the spiritual. That’s been consistent over the course of the first three weeks, so I tip my cap to them but I acknowledge some areas that we’re showing a pattern of inconsistency or a pattern of undesirable performance. “It starts with me”. They’re better than anyone thought Sunday morning but probably not quite as good as they’re being made out to be Sunday night. We were highly penalized. They kind of got the momentum there but we have to do a better job of fighting back. He broke a bone in his back in the preseason, and Dallas’ first game against the division-leading Eagles is a likely return date. Once again, their rookie quarterback was at the forefront and now the team is celebrating a 3-0 start to the latest season. He returned to the locker room after the game with a huge bandage on his shin.
BOTHERING BIG BEN: Fletcher Cox had two sacks, including one that forced a fumble recovered by Brandon Graham.
Roethlisberger recognized how the Eagles got pressure.
The Eagles dominated the Steelers in all three phases of the game on Sunday.
The score that resulted in that 17-point deficit – a 73-yard TD reception by Darren Sproles – summed up in one play what continues to amaze observers and confound draft skeptics about Wentz.
Wentz is the first rookie in National Football League history without an interception in his first 100 pass attempts to begin a career. Still, it was the Steelers’ ninth loss in a row at Philadelphia, a stretch dating back to 1965. Barner had 42 yards rushing, including an 8-yard TD. Rookie Wendell Smallwood ran for 79 yards and his first career TD.
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ANTHEM PROTEST: Jenkins and CB Ron Brooks were the only players to raise their fists during the national anthem.
