–Quarterback Carson Wentz is 9-0 in his last nine homes games, but the Vikings are a real threat to end that streak.
“They’re fast,” said Wentz about the Minnesota defense. “They do quite a bit. They’re similar to the way they’ve been the last couple of years; same scheme, a lot of similar players, very sound. It feels like we both know each other pretty well at this point having played each other the last two years. It should be a hard game and a fun one on Sunday.”
–Rookie Avonte Maddox had only played on special teams in his first three NFL games, but made his defensive debut against the Titans, and the cornerback did so at safety due to a knee injury that landed starting safety Rodney McLeod on injured reserve last week. He played 20 snaps, recorded his first career interception that led to a field goal following a 23-yard return, but also slipped in coverage on the game-winning touchdown pass from Marcus Mariota to Corey Davis.
“Did some good things, obviously, and some things that we can improve on for sure,” said defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. “But the thing we like about him is that Avonte is another guy that’s very competitive. He’s quick. He’s really smart. We really like him as a player and that was a good chance for us to be able to get him on the field.”
The Eagles’ offensive line has not played like the best unit in the NFL, an honor that was bestowed upon them last year by Pro Football Focus. The run game has been stout, averaging 118.3 yards per game, but the line has given up constant pressure on Wentz.
“We certainly want to keep him upright, that’s for sure,” said offensive coordinator Mike Groh. “We don’t like seeing him pick himself up off the ground. We’ve got to do a better job of that. All of us have got to be conscious of that, and it starts with us as coaches and making sure we put a plan together to keep him clean.”
–Blitz pickup was a real issue for the Eagles in Tennessee and it led to Carson Wentz being hit 11 times and sacked four other times. One of the culprits in the faulty protection was the blocking of running back Wendell Smallwood. While Smallwood produced in the ground and pass games (five carries for 39 yards, three catches for 15 yards), his blocking left a lot to be desired. “Yeah, he needs to improve,” said head coach Doug Pederson. “That’s something that he knows and is aware of. He’s a smart guy. He understands what happened. His eyes were just in the wrong spot. It just comes down — when teams pressure us, and really any team that pressures us, we’ve got to be so disciplined in our communication, whether it’s verbal or nonverbal. I’m not worried about Wendell. He’s a great blitz-pickup back, tough, will stick his nose in there, and he’ll bounce back.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 0 and 6 — That is the record for quarterback Carson Wentz when he attempts 45 or more passes in a game. Last week, he threw it 50 times in a loss to the Titans. Overall, Wentz’s record since entering the league in 2016 as the No. 2 overall draft pick is 19-12.
