For the second week in a row, the Indianapolis Colts lost to their opponent at home. The game’s outcome may not matter to Philadelphia Eagles fans, but what does matter is who played — specifically, Carson Wentz.
If Wentz plays 75 percent of the Colts’ offensive snaps in 2021 (or Wentz plays 70 percent of the Colts’ offensive snaps and the Colts make the playoffs), an additional first-round pick will belong to the Eagles. This past week, Wentz’s snap total was 92.5 percent (62 out of 67 snaps), but how did he match up against the quarterback that took over his job. Below are Hurts vs Wentz Week 2 comparisons.
THE STATISTICS
Jalen Hurts:
- 12 completions on 23 attempts, 52.2% completion
- 190 passing yards, averaging 8.3 yards
- 82 rushing yards
- Zero passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown
- Zero interceptions
- Two sacks
- 0 passer rating, 62.5 quarterback rating
Carson Wentz:
- 20 completions on 31 attempts, 64.5% completion
- 247 passing yards, averaging 8 yards
- 37 rushing yards
- One passing touchdown
- One interception
- Three sacks
- 3 passer rating, 57.3 quarterback rating
THE COMPARISON
Looking at the first two weeks, Colts quarterback Carson Wentz has put up similar numbers. Not great, but not terrible — he’s played a role in keeping the Colts active. He played well given the persistent pressure from the Rams’ defense, pulling through despite the lack of help from his offensive teammates. This week, he was sacked three times for a total of six sacks and 21 quarterback hits.
Early in Sunday’s game, Wentz injured his left ankle, scrambling to get the ball out. In the fourth quarter, he sprained his right ankle when he was hit by Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald. The quarterback limped to the sideline, throwing his helmet, and did not return to the game. Further testing was planned for the 28-year-old today to determine his plan for the week. Indianapolis’ head coach Frank Reich is unsure whether he will play next week against the Tennessee Titans.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts also had limited help from Philadelphia’s offense. Unable to make themselves open, Hurts tried to keep the team alive, rushing for 82 yards, scoring a touchdown on his own.
Many critics stated that Hurts had trouble with deep balls in Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers; however, I don’t think the problem was the quarterback. In fact, he completed a long pass to Reagor (who went out of bounds) and a 91-yard pass to Watkins, tying for the fifth-longest passing play in Eagles’ history.
HURTS VS WENTZ: THE RESULT
Week 2 finished with a 17-11 loss for the Philadelphia Eagles (over the San Francisco 49ers) and a 27-24 loss for the Indianapolis Colts (over the Los Angeles Rams). Comparing both quarterbacks was complicated this week as both had difficulty connecting with their teammates; however, I’m going to give the win to Hurts again.
Though Hurts’ completion percentage and passer rating decreased from last week, the offense didn’t make themselves readily available. The Eagles lost to themselves with several mistakes, but through it all, Hurts continued to lead.
Wentz did the same and continued to be the steady hero in the Colts’ performance, but he needs to become more mobile. Remaining a pocket passer isn’t working for him, and he must learn to adjust as the season progresses.
The Colts are awaiting their fate regarding Wentz this week. They will play Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, September 26, at 1 PM. The Eagles will play on the road. They meet the Dallas Cowboys for their first NFC East matchup on Monday, September 27, at 8:15 PM.
