Eagles-Packers talking points
TALKING POINTS From Wentz it came: The rookie went 6-for-6 for 70 yards and a 1-yard TD run to tie the game on the Eagles' first drive. He juked corner Damarious Randall on a 17-yard scramble that set up a FG, but took a shot in the right ribs early in the third quarter and threw an interception on the next play. Wentz went 24-for-36 for 254 yards and an interception and was sacked four times.
From Wentz it came: The rookie went 6-for-6 for 70 yards and a 1-yard TD run to tie the game on the Eagles' first drive. He juked corner Damarious Randall on a 17-yard scramble that set up a FG, but took a shot in the right ribs early in the third quarter and threw an interception on the next play. Wentz went 24-for-36 for 254 yards and an interception and was sacked four times.
Rodger that: Packers passer Aaron Rodgers, perhaps the best quarterback of the current era, carved up the Birds on the Pack's opening TD drive, accounting for 72 of the 75 yards. He then dropped a 20-yard dime on Davante Adams in the back of the end zone on Green Bay's second possession. Rodgers finished 30-for-39 for 313 yards, with two touchdowns, no interceptions and 26 rushing yards.
Next man up: Injuries, illness and ineptitude forced the Eagles to change five offensive starters from the previous week and six by the third quarter. Struggling WR Nelson Agholor was inactive, as was RT Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee), RB Ryan Mathews (knee) and RG Brandon Brooks (sick, hospitalized). Bryce Treggs replaced Agholor; rookie Isaac Seumalo replaced Brooks; rookie Wendell Smallwood replaced Mathews; and LG Allen Barbre moved to RT, and Stefen Wisniewski replaced him. Then, No. 1 receiver Jordan Matthews injured his right ankle late in the second quarter, briefly returned in the third quarter but aggravated the injury.
Indefensible: The Packers are potent, yes, but the Eagles' defense was self-destructive and the supposedly ferocious pass rush was toothless: No sacks of Aaron Rodgers. Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox extended a third drive this season with a penalty for roughing the passer. Bennie Logan was the 12th man on the field on a punt.
Doug E Fresh: Eagles coach Doug Pederson used his second challenge with about 2 minutes to play in the third quarter to prove that a 2-yard catch was not a catch. He was right, but so what? It only made second-and-8 a second-and-10. Since it was his second challenge and not in the fourth quarter, he was left with no more challenges. It bears repeating: Pederson is a rookie, too.
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