ATLANTA — More inconsistency. Another slow start. An incredible rally. An agonizing measurement. A disappointing loss.
What a strange day for Carson Wentz.
Wentz had one of the most unusual games we’ve seen Sunday night in the Eagles' 24-20 loss to the Falcons, just a horrible first half and what appeared to be a rib injury followed by a riveting second half that ended with a a remarkable comeback and a crushing finish.
First half: 6-for-16, 47 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs, 6.2 passer rating.
Second half: 18-for-26, 177 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 101.0 passer rating.
Wentz nearly rallied the Eagles to an improbable win despite playing the entire game without Dallas Goedert and virtually the entire game without Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson.
But in the end, same old story.
No consistency.
NFL
Another slow start followed by a big finish. Against the Redskins, you can get away with it. Against the Falcons, you can’t.
Wish I had an answer,” Wentz said. “It’s something we’re all looking at. By no means making excuses but we were trying to figure out who we had out there and get guys in the right position. I think the coaches did a good job of that, we just have to execute better. We’ll take a hard look at it. I know we say that all the time. But that’s what we’ll do.
What a strange night.
Wentz took a vicious shot in the ribs from linebacker Deion Jones while throwing a late first-quarter interception, and he sure seemed to be struggling with his delivery the rest of the half.
He said he's fine. Just a little sore. No problem.
“It’s football,” he said. “I got hit a few times. That’s just how the game goes. I’ll be a little sore tomorrow but it’s nothing serious.”
Wentz also left the game for six snaps just before halftime to undergo a concussion test — Josh McCown converted a couple first downs in his absence — but he quickly came back.
Wentz said he didn’t undergo any treatment at halftime, but something clicked.
He looked more fluid, and the Eagles looked like a different team.
Maybe it just took a while for Wentz to click without three of his top weapons. But he just looked like a different person in the second half.
“It’s tough,” Wentz said. “You game plan all week and you have have all these personnel packages and then they all go out the window on game day. But coaches do a great job and so do the guys; Mack (Hollins) and JJ (Arcega-Whiteside), guys were ready to step up.”
Nelson Agholor had over 100 yards but dropped a touchdown that might have won the game. Ertz was 8-for-72 but came up a few inches short inside the 10-yard-line on 4th down in the final seconds. Hollins helped out with 5-for-50 — all in the second half.
As for Wentz, his rushing TD with 3:13 left gave the Eagles their first lead of the game at 20-17 and should have been the game-winner.
He spiked the ball so hard he almost fell down.
Then Julio Jones ran 54 yards, Agholor dropped a sure touchdown, Ertz came up inches short and the Eagles’ slow starts and inconsistency cost them a win.
It’s frustrating, it’s frustrating,” Wentz said. “Slow start as an offense, we battled back, we did our thing late, we scored, they scored, we got right down there and came up six inches short. It’s frustrating. I’m really proud of the guys, I’m encouraged with the way the guys fought and bounced back from some adversity. But that doesn’t win you ballgames and we just have to learn from it.
This team should be beyond patting themselves on the back for fighting adversity and showing resilience.
They need to find a way to play 60 minutes, and so does their quarterback.
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