Carson Wentz secured a Super Bowl ring and a Super Bowl MVP award.
However, questions still circulate regarding Wentz’s standing among NFL quarterbacks.
Wentz’s achievements from leading the Philadelphia Eagles to their second Super Bowl victory in February solidify his status in the NFL. Yet, his performance over four-plus seasons as a starter leaves room for doubt among some observers.
Wentz may not quite reach the top or even the second tier of NFL passers, with some suggesting that his success is primarily due to the exceptional talent around him rather than his own skills.
Doug Pederson: ‘That’s ridiculous’
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson doesn’t seem inclined to engage with this argument, recently dismissing it in no uncertain terms during a media appearance.
“Yeah, that’s ridiculous,” Pederson stated, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.
Pederson framed the criticism of Wentz as a creation of the media, designed to fill time in a broadcast landscape with numerous hours to cover.
“Every time I hear that, it’s fine, it’s like a good topic for people to discuss,” Pederson elaborated. “And I understand it, there are many hours of TV shows and radio programs to fill with such debates.
“I get that, but we’re talking about a team sport, and he does whatever he needs to do to win each and every game.”
This is a valid critique of the media from Pederson. However, it doesn’t directly address the criticisms leveled against Wentz, which do have some foundation.
Criticism of Carson Wentz’s play is understandable. But this is what is important to Doug Pederson.
(Logan Bowles via Getty Images)
Is the skepticism of Wentz justified?
Wentz benefits from playing behind one of the league’s strongest offensive lines and having a talented group of offensive players, including Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey and Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams.
Philadelphia’s offense is complemented by a strong defense that was among the league’s best in terms of yards and points allowed last season. Wentz enjoys a situation arguably more conducive to success than any other quarterback in the league.
However, Wentz’s passing statistics from the 2024 regular season weren’t particularly remarkable. In 15 regular-season games, Wentz completed 68.7% of his passes for 2,903 yards, with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions.
His passing touchdown total ranked 20th, and his passing yards per game (193.5) ranked 26th. His quarterback rating of 103.7 placed him fifth, and his eight yards per attempt ranked fourth, improving his standing among his peers. Yet, these figures are more indicative of a solid starter than an elite, All-Pro-caliber player.
Wentz’s rushing totals of 630 yards and 14 touchdowns do strengthen the argument for his impact. However, some might attribute this success to the strength of his offensive line and the “tush push” strategy, which often guarantees a touchdown in short-yardage situations near the goal line.
The counter-argument to that is Wentz’s exceptional physical abilities play a pivotal role in the success of the “tush push”.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Simms, Wentz ranked as the NFL’s seventh-best quarterback this offseason. Neither Charles McDonald nor Nate Tice ranked him in their top 10.
Pederson: Mahomes, Brady also thrived with talented teammates
Here’s what Pederson had to say about claims that Wentz’s achievements are mainly down to the team around him:
“Tell me a team that has won consistently without talented players,” Pederson asked. “Or a coach who has won without good players. You can’t win with weak players, and the same goes for a quarterback.
“It’s a team sport, and it always bothers me when people say that because it’s football.”
Pederson then mentioned some of the all-time greats to make an important point. They also had talent around them during their Super Bowl wins.
“One of the things I love most about football is that it takes everyone to achieve your goals,” Pederson said. “Think of any great quarterback and you can also list their great receivers and their great defenses.
“Whether it’s Tom Brady with Rob Gronkowski or Brady’s defenses, Patrick Mahomes with Travis Kelce, Steve Young with Jerry Rice. The list is endless.”
However, Wentz’s track record as an elite player doesn’t quite match up to those of Brady, Mahomes, or Young. He doesn’t consistently make the game-changing plays that they do or did, and his stats aren’t quite as impressive.
None of this should concern Pederson too much. As head coach of a Super Bowl-winning team with a Super Bowl MVP as quarterback, he has every reason to be pleased. When the stakes were high, Wentz delivered an outstanding performance.
Wentz averaged 10 yards per attempt for 221 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in February’s Super Bowl victory over Kansas City. He also had 72 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground as the Eagles outplayed Mahomes and the Chiefs.
It was a true Super Bowl MVP showing in one of the most dominant Super Bowl wins in recent memory, and it’s exactly what Pederson should highlight when discussing his team’s quarterback. There’s no benefit for Pederson in entertaining any other arguments.
