With all of the talk centered around the postponed Saturday game that was scheduled between the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, there is still another game on the schedule today.
The Indianapolis Colts are hosting the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium.
In addition to being a highly competitive AFC matchup between the 7-6 Colts and the 9-4 Patriots, it also could have a deeper meaning for Colts quarterback Carson Wentz.
He probably is too busy to reflect upon it as he prepares, but beating the Patriots on Saturday would be a signature victory for Wentz.
It would be his first-ever defeat of Belichick and the Bills.
Wentz Didn’t Face The Patriots In 2018 Super Bowl
Carson Wentz was on an MVP run during the 2017 season for the Philadelphia Eagles before getting injured right before the playoffs.
Nick Foles took the baton and ran with it the whole way through the playoffs, and he was the quarterback of record in the Super Bowl win over the Patriots.
Foles is the Eagles quarterback with a statue outside of Lincoln Financial Field.
Hang on. The Eagles, with Carson Wentz as their Franchise QB before and after, have a statue outside their stadium commemorating Nick Foles?
Oh that’s too good. pic.twitter.com/EJWZyfolzE
— Cowboys Nation (@CowboysNation) November 17, 2019
Wentz received a Super Bowl ring and deserves credit for putting the Eagles in a position to compete in the playoffs, but he is the forgotten one when it comes to the Super Bowl win and the signature “Philly Special” play that immortalized Foles.
Another Chance Came In 2019
Wentz and the Eagles had another matchup with the Patriots since the Super Bowl.
It happened on November 17, 2019 at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles lost to the Patriots by the score of 17-10.
Statistically, Wentz had a better day than Tom Brady.
Brady had no touchdowns that day as Julian Edelman threw the only touchdown pass of the day.
Wentz had a touchdown pass but was sacked 5 times in the loss.
Wentz’s chance at redemption did not happen.
A positive takeaway from the Eagles’ loss against New England is that Carson Wentz threw for 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions against a defense that had allowed 3 touchdowns with 19 interceptions in the first 9 games of the season.
— Bryn Swartz (@eaglescentral) November 23, 2019
Today Is Another Chance
Wentz with Frank Reich as his head coach has a chance to avenge all of that history with the Patriots today.
Reich was the Eagles offensive coordinator during the Super Bowl season, and it seems he has the mojo that is resurrecting Wentz’s career in Indianapolis.
Wentz has the NFL rushing leader and potential MVP candidate in Jonathan Taylor in his backfield.
#colts RB Jonathan Taylor is the best RB in football. His talent plays a big part. The OL plays a part too. But the third part is a massive reason why we see so much success on the field. My report on @gmfb Weekend pic.twitter.com/7yeZHkpbfq
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) December 18, 2021
Taylor plus an outstanding offensive line is helping Wentz also.
Carson Wentz’s 1st 6 games in 2020: 138/235, 1401 yards, 8 TDs, 9 INTs
Carson Wentz’s 1st 6 games in 2021: 124/193, 1545 yards, 9 TDs, 1 INT pic.twitter.com/3myNAmRQRb
— Philip Nelson (@pjsaturday63) October 18, 2021
Wentz is having an outstanding year; he is not throwing the interceptions that plagued him in his final games as an Eagle.
He is also not getting sacked as much.
In 2021, he has 22 touchdown passes and only 5 interceptions.
Compare that to 2020 when he had 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, and that is a significant improvement.
Wentz was sacked 50 times in 2020 and only 22 so far in 2021.
In 2020, Wentz played only 12 games and is already about to play his 14th game today.
His 2021 will not be completed by a win over the Patriots, but for a variety of reasons, both team-related and personal, it would be a huge victory for Wentz.
