Can the Eagles Make it to the Super Bowl Without Wentz?

Can the Eagles Make it to the Super Bowl Without Wentz?

Around this time last year, Philadelphia Eagles fans rarely walked into work or school with a smile of their face on a Monday or Tuesday morning after a football game the night before.

But this year has been totally different, as the Eagles are dominating the NFL, leaving many to start to actually believe the championship-hungry organization could have their first ever Super Bowl win. Domination fits the personality of this Eagles team, which leads the NFC with a record of 11-2.

However, smiles suddenly turned to frowns and furrowed brows this past weekend when quarterback Carson Wentz tore his ACL in their Sunday game against the Los Angeles Rams. It’s the most devastating news the city of Philadelphia has heard in a long time. The Eagles clinched the NFC East with a win over the Rams, but does the team still have a shot at the Superbowl without Wentz.

Yes — for a few reasons:

Wentz Wasn’t the Whole Team

It’s going to be hard to replace Wentz, the wonder boy, who even after tearing his ACL Sunday completed the rest of the drive and threw a touchdown a couple plays later. His pass broke a Philadelphia Eagles record for touchdowns in a season by a quarterback and landed his name firmly in the MVP discussion in his second season in the NFL.

With backup Nick Foles moving into the spotlight, the team is going to have to change its playbook. Wentz’s ability to run outside the pocket has been an important part of their game plans. Without him, it takes those plays directly off the table.

But let’s not give up all hope, as the Eagles still have a complete football team on both sides of the ball, with an experienced Foles as the team’s quarterback.  Football is a team game, won by more than just one person.

Lighter Games Coming Up
The biggest bright spot throughout this devastation is that the Eagles don’t have the toughest schedule the rest of the season. Their schedule consists of an away game against the New York Giants, and two home games against the Las Vegas Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys.

Wentz’s injury is a terrible blow to the playoff hopes of a team that looked like a definite Super Bowl contender. But the Eagles are ending with two winnable games on home turf, and will no doubt take on the playoffs with momentum.

Can Foles Effectively Replace Wentz?

Here are stats comparing the QBs:

-Wentz led the Eagles to a 10-1 start which was really impressive for a quarterback in his second year in the league.

-Wentz set a franchise record for the most touchdowns in a single season ( 33 touchdowns).

-He broke Sonny Jurgensen’s record of 32 touchdowns in a single season made 56 years ago.

Foles started as QB for the Eagles mid-season 2012, replacing Michael Vick. He had a solid season the next year, but he was traded to St. Louis in 2015.

-Foles had most touchdowns passes in a single game (7 touchdowns, vs. the Raiders who the Eagles play on Christmas) in the 2013-2014 season.

-Foles tied an NFL record held by Sid Luckman (1943), Adrian Burk (1954), George Blanda (1961), Y.A. Tittle (1962), Joe Kapp (1969) and Peyton Manning (2013).