Skip to content
Eagles
Link copied to clipboard

Carson Wentz’s last two seasons could have been Dan Marino-esque ... if not for injuries

Wentz's second and third seasons compare with some of the best that have been posted. We also look at what those quarterbacks did in Year 4 of their careers.

Carson Wentz has thrown 54 touchdown passes over the last two regular seasons, including a franchise record 33 in 2017. Just imagine if he hadn't missed eight games.
Carson Wentz has thrown 54 touchdown passes over the last two regular seasons, including a franchise record 33 in 2017. Just imagine if he hadn't missed eight games.Read moreDavid Maialetti / File Photograph

Since rookies generally struggle — or sometimes don’t play at all — we decided to take a look at quarterbacks in the combined second and third seasons of their career.

Despite missing eight regular-season games over the last two seasons (not to mention five in the postseason), Carson Wentz still is one of just 17 quarterbacks in NFL history to throw at least 50 touchdown passes in years two and three of his career. Wentz has thrown 54, which would project to 72 over his second and third seasons if he played full seasons. Only Dan Marino (78) has thrown more than 72.

There are some thoroughbreds on this list (Marino, Peyton Manning, Otto Graham); some workhorses (Jeff Garcia, Matt Ryan); and some mules (Aaron Brooks, Blake Bortles). They are ranked by TD passes thrown in Seasons 2 and 3.

QB
Dan Marino, MIA
Years 2-3
1984-85
GP
32
GM
0
TD pass
78
Team W-L
26-3
Postseason
Lost to Joe Montana in SB 19 in ’84; Tony Eason in AFC championship game in ‘85
QB
Jeff Garcia, SF
Years 2-3
2000-01
GP
32
GM
0
TD pass
63
Team W-L
18-14
Postseason
Lost wild-card game at GB in ‘01
QB
Andrew Luck, INT
Years 2-3
2013-14
GP
32
GM
0
TD pass
63
Team W-L
22-10
Postseason
Stunning comeback in wild-card win over K.C. in ‘13; AFC title game loss at NE in ‘14
QB
Kurt Warner, STL
Years 2-3
1999-00
GP
27
GM
5
TD pass
62
Team W-L
21-6
Postseason
Won SB 35 in ‘99
QB
Derek Carr, OAK
Years 2-3
2015-16
GP
31
GM
1
TD pass
60
Team W-L
19-12
Postseason
Was 12-3 in ’16 before getting hurt, is 10-21 since and has never played a postseason game
QB
Andy Dalton, CIN
Years 2-3
2012-13
GP
32
GM
0
TD pass
60
Team W-L
21-11
Postseason
Lost WC games in 2012 and 2013 and is 0-4 in his career in the playoffs
QB
Jared Goff, LAR
Years 2-3
2017-18
GP
31
GM
1
TD pass
60
Team W-L
24-7
Postseason
Upset by Atlanta in 2017 WC, reached SB last season before being suffocated by New England
QB
Carson Palmer, CIN
Years 2-3
2005-06
GP
32
GM
0
TD pass
60
Team W-L
19-13
Postseason
Lost to Pittsburgh in 2005 WC after injuring knee on second play of game
QB
Peyton Manning, IND
Years 2-3
1999-00
GP
32
GM
0
TD pass
59
Team W-L
23-9
Postseason
Went 0-2 in 1999 and 2000 postseasons, losing to Jay Fiedler (Miami) and Steve McNair (Tennessee).
QB
Blake Bortles, JAX
Years 2-3
2015-16
GP
32
GM
0
TD pass
58
Team W-L
8-24
Postseason
None; reached playoffs in fourth season.
QB
Carson Wentz, Eagles
Years 2-3
2017-18
GP
24
GM
8
TD pass
54
Team W-L
16-8
Postseason
Missed both postseason runs because of injury, including 2017 Super Bowl year
QB
Aaron Brooks, NO
Years 2-3
2001-02
GP
32
GM
0
TD pass
53
Team W-L
16-16
Postseason
Won a playoff game as a rookie in 2000 and never went back.
QB
Boomer Esiason, CIN
Years 2-3
1985-86
GP
31
GM
1
TD pass
51
Team W-L
17-13
Postseason
None
QB
Ryan Tannehill, MIA
Years 2-3
2013-14
GP
32
GM
0
TD pass
51
Team W-L
16-16
Postseason
None
QB
Otto Graham, CLE
Years 2-3
1947-48
GP
28
GM
4
TD pass
50
Team W-L
26-1-1
Postseason
Won AAFC championship each season; went 14-0 in 1948
QB
Patrick Mahomes, KC
Years 2-3
2018-
GP
16
GM
0
TD pass
50
Team W-L
12-4
Postseason
Had remarkable second season and took K.C. to AFC championship game in 2018.
QB
Matt Ryan, ATL
Years 2-3
2009-10
GP
30
GM
2
TD pass
50
Team W-L
22-8
Postseason
Went 0-2, losing to Kurt Warner (Ariz.) in 2009 and Aaron Rodgers (GB) in 2010.

Notes: Team W-L is team’s record in games started by this quarterback. … GP is games played, GM is games missed. … Mahomes’ third season will be in 2019. He had the most prolific second season of any quarterback ever. … Marino, Warner, and Graham are Hall-of-Famers. Manning will be eligible in 2021. … Tom Brady had 46 touchdown passes (and one Super Bowl ring) in his second-third seasons.

Diving deeper

All-time leaders in combined Seasons 2 & 3 in …

Best completion percentage

Minimum 20 games played

Quarterback
1. Kurt Warner, 1999-00
Comp. pct.
66.19
Quarterback
2. Dak Prescott, 2017-18
Comp. pct.
65.35
Quarterback
3. Carson Palmer, 2005-06
Comp. pct.
65.01
Quarterback
4. Carson Wentz, 2017-18
Comp. pct.
64.68
Quarterback
5. Marc Bulger, 2003-04
Comp. pct.
63.58

Notes: Prescott was picked 135th overall in 2016. Wentz was No. 2. … Bulger succeeded Warner as the St. Louis Rams quarterback, but could never match his success. The Rams were 1-2 in postseason starts with Bulger. Warner took St. Louis to two Super Bowls.

Touchdowns per pass attempts

Minimum 500 attempts

Quarterback
Frankie Albert, 1947-48
Att.
506
TD
47
TD per 100 att.
9.29
Quarterback
Otto Graham, 1947-48
Att.
602
TD
50
TD per 100 att.
8.31
Quarterback
Johnny Unitas, 1957-58
Att.
564
TD
43
TD per 100 att.
7.62
Quarterback
Kurt Warner, 1999-00
Att.
846
TD
62
TD per 100 att.
7.33
Quarterback
Dan Marino, 1984-85
Att.
1131
TD
78
TD per 100 att.
6.90
Quarterback
Carson Wentz, 2017-18
Att.
841
TD
54
TD per 100 att.
6.42
Quarterback
Nick Foles, 2013-14
Att.
628
TD
40
TD per 100 att.
6.37

Notes: Albert played for San Francisco in the AAFC in 1947-48. He and Graham were co-MVPs of the league in 1948. Graham was the MVP in ’47. … Unitas led the Baltimore Colts to championships in 1958 and 1959. The 1958 overtime win against the New York Giants is widely considered one of the great title games in NFL history. … Foles played with the Eagles in 2013-14. He was a third-round pick in 2012. Two years ago, he led the Eagles to their only Super Bowl title, after stints with the St. Louis Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Fewest interceptions per pass attempts

Minimum 500 attempts

Quarterback
Carson Wentz, 2017-18
Att.
841
Int.
14
Int. per 100 att.
1.66
Quarterback
Derek Carr, 2015-16
Att.
1133
Int.
19
Int. per 100 att.
1.68
Quarterback
Colin Kaepernick, 2012-13
Att.
634
Int.
11
Int. per 100 att.
1.74
Quarterback
Jared Goff, 2017-18
Att.
1038
Int.
19
Int. per 100 att.
1.83
Quarterback
Jason Campbell, 2006-07
Att.
923
Int.
17
Int. per 100 att.
1.84
Quarterback
Russell Wilson, 2013-14
Att.
859
Int.
16
Int. per 100 att.
1.86
Quarterback
Nick Foles, 2013-14
Att.
628
Int.
12
Int. per 100 att.
1.91

Notes: Kaepernick took San Francisco to the Super Bowl that followed the 2012 season. He’s been knee-deep in controversy the last several years, however. … Bet you didn’t expect to see Jason Campbell on this list. … Russell Wilson took Seattle to the Super Bowl in 2013 and 2014. He probably would have won both if not for an inexplicable goal-line interception in Supe 49.

And finally …

How guys who threw at least 50 touchdown passes in their combined second and third years fared in their fourth season, which is what Wentz is entering:

    Dan Marino, Miami, 1986: The Dolphins went just 8-8, but Marino (44 TD passes) was still first-team All-Pro.

    Jeff Garcia, San Francisco, 2002: Pro Bowl season highlighted by a 24-point comeback against the Giants in the playoffs.

    Andrew Luck, Indianapolis, 2015: He missed nine games with injuries and was just 2-5 in the seven he did start.

    Kurt Warner, St. Louis, 2001: He went 14-2 and was the NFL MVP but was upset by the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

    Derek Carr, Oakland, 2017: He was just 6-9 as a starter.

    Andy Dalton, Cincinnati, 2014: He went 10-5-1 and lost in the playoffs (again), though he was without star wide receiver A.J. Green.

    Jared Goff, L.A. Rams, 2019: He is entering his fourth season, coming off a Super Bowl appearance.

    Carson Palmer, Cincinnati, 2007: He threw for a then-franchise-record 4,131 yards, but the Bengals defense was bad and Cincy won just seven games.

    Peyton Manning, Indianapolis, 2001: The Colts defense was even worse, giving up more than 30 points per game during a 6-10 campaign. Manning put up numbers (also 4,131 yards), but it was the only losing season of his career besides his rookie year.

    Blake Bortles, Jacksonville, 2017: It was the best season of his career; he mostly managed games and nearly took the Jags to the Super Bowl. He went 3-9 last year and is now with the Los Angeles Rams backing up Goff.

    Carson Wentz, Eagles, 2019: He is entering his fourth season after signing a four-year extension in June, which will keep him with the team through 2024.

    Aaron Brooks, New Orleans, 2003: He had a decent year (24 TDs, 8 INTs), but the eternal memory will be John Carney’s clanking an extra point after a miraculous touchdown in Week 16. New Orleans finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs.

    » YouTube Video: An epic touchdown and the gaffe that ruined it all

    Boomer Esiason, Cincinnati, 1987: He went 3-9 with 16 TDs and 19 picks. But at least he honored the players’ picket line during this truly bizarre season.

    Ryan Tannehill, Miami, 2015: He was 6-10 and had three consecutive games in which he fumbled the ball through the opposing end zone for a safety. The third time was against the Eagles, when he was sacked by safety Walter Thurmond. That’s some accomplishment.

    Otto Graham, Cleveland, 1949: The Hall of Famer led the Browns to their fourth consecutive AAFC championship. Following the season, Cleveland merged into the NFL, where Graham would win three more titles.

    Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City, 2020: He is entering his third season overall and just the second in which he will be the starter. Scary.

    Matt Ryan, Atlanta, 2011: The Falcons went 10-6, but the offense slumbered during a 24-2 wild-card loss at the Giants. New York went on to win the Super Bowl. Ryan finally won a postseason game in his fifth season and should have won the Super Bowl after the 2016 season.

    YOU WANT A PHILLY SPECIAL? How’s 80% off sound? Unlock unlimited digital access to Inquirer.com right now and the region’s best Birds coverage is all yours. Subscribe today!