Carson Wentz
Carson Wentz finally had a rookie moment, and the Eagles lost to Detroit
Carson Wentz

Carson Wentz finally had a rookie moment, and the Eagles lost to Detroit

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

When Carson Wentz jogged onto the field with one minute and 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter with the Eagles trailing the Lions by two, I immediately assumed he was going to lead a game-winning drive because a) What can’t Wentz do? and b) What team is better suited to give up a rookie quarterback’s first-career game-winning drive then the Lions? Then, the unthinkable happened: Wentz threw his first interception of the season, and the Lions escaped with a 23–21 victory.

Wentz has been phenomenal so far this season, and was solid again in Detroit on Sunday. He completed over 75% of his passes, throwing for over 200 yards and two touchdowns. A major key to Wentz's success this season has been his ability to avoid turnovers, but his 0% interception rate was always unsustainable, and Wentz was finally picked off on the first play of his potential comeback drive, as Darius Slay nabbed a deep ball intended for Nelson Agholor. 

It was a rare rookie mistake from Wentz, who’s played within himself even as the hysteria has grown through the first five weeks of the season. The pass wasn’t the most ill-advised throw, but it was certainly impatient, as Wentz had time on the clock to dink-and-dunk down the field instead of launching a ball deep into double coverage on first down. The rookie’s first interception coincided with the Eagles’ first loss, as Philly dropped to 3–1 on the season.

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(The Lions, by the way, came away with a win to save their season. Detroit is now 2–3, but will need Matthew Stafford to play more consistently if it hopes to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.)

The Eagles’ first loss in no way casts a pall on what’s been a shockingly great start to the season. Now Wentz will face his latest test in responding to a tight loss—and it’s hard to imagine him not responding well. 

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