If Eagles Have a Chance to Turn This Around, It's Because of Wentz

Carson Wentz had the worst game of his professional football career on Sunday in New Orleans. 

His message this week: That game's over. 

After throwing an interception on Sunday, Wentz was spotted by broadcast cameras letting his emotions get the best of him in a fit of rage. But he was back to being his normal calm self a few days later at his weekly press conference. 

That's good news for the Eagles.

Because if they have any chance to turn this season around, it's because of Wentz. If they still hold any hope of getting back in the NFC East race, it's because of Wentz. If they have any chance of avoiding what is beginning to feel like an inevitable spiral over these last six games, it's because of Wentz. 

And he knows that. 

I feel a lot of expectations on myself and I hold myself to high expectations. And what we put out last week, what I put out last week, wasn't good enough. It definitely wasn't good enough. I don't want to put undue or added pressure on my shoulders. I try to avoid those things, but as the quarterback and one of the leaders on this team, I realize I definitely gotta be better to get this thing going.

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That's the quarterback practicing accountability, saying, ‘hey, I know I wasn't good and I need to be better.' At times during his career, Wentz has seemed hesitant to stand at a microphone and admit he's a part of the problem. Good on him for owning his role in the blowout this week. 

Honestly, it would be hard for him not to. Wentz threw three interceptions, had a passer rating of 31.9 and led his team to a paltry seven points. But I expect him to rebound from this. I know there are more doubters about Wentz's long-term ceiling, but virtually nothing has changed for me. He's still their franchise quarterback. I still think he's going to be good for a very long time. 

It was a little eyebrow-raising that the Saints' plan was to force Wentz to beat them, but not even that changed my opinion of him. 

While Doug Pederson and Mike Groh didn't instill much confidence in front of a microphone this week, I thought Wentz did. He, more than anyone, exuded confidence that they're going to get better. And it starts with him and his even-keel attitude. 

"I don't change my approach," Wentz said. "Win, lose, good, bad, indifferent, whatever. I stay the same all the time." 

Look, I don't have very much confidence in the Eagles right now. They seem like a team destined to implode down the stretch. They've been disappointing at every turn this season. But I have way more confidence in Wentz, that he'll be able to fix his mistakes and return to the form that should have won him an MVP last season. 

It's hard for the Eagles to even think about the NFC East right now, but they're two games back and they clearly have the best quarterback in the division. 

If the Eagles have any chance to turn things around in 2018, it's going to be because of Carson Wentz. They know it. He knows it. Everyone knows it.

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