Carson Wentz impresses in Eagles debut with win over Browns

PHILADELPHIA - The Carson Wentz era started with a victory as the rookie quarterback led the Eagles to a 29-10 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Wentz was the first Eagles quarterback to start the opening game of his rookie season since Davey O’Brien in 1939.

Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, showed his poise and potential throughout the game. He completed 22 of 37 passes for 278 yards with two touchdown passes and no interceptions. It was even more impressive considering that Wentz’s only previous NFL experience was Aug. 11, in the preseason opener. He fractured two ribs that night and didn’t play again until Sunday.

Originally, it wasn’t supposed to matter.

That’s because up until last Saturday, Wentz was the third-string quarterback. Then the Eagles traded Sam Bradford to Minnesota, paving the way for Wentz to take over as the starting quarterback. He was ready. He also had plenty of help from an effective running game, led by Ryan Mathews with 22 carries for 77 yards.

The receivers helped as well, despite four dropped passes. Jordan Matthews had seven catches for 114 yards and a touchdown after missing all four preseason games with a knee injury. Nelson Agholor, the Eagles’ first-round pick from 2015 who had mostly been a disappointment, had a 35-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ended up putting the game away.

And the Eagles’ defense played well enough to keep the Browns, with new quarterback Robert Griffin III, from taking over the game.

But the day belonged to Wentz.

For the record, Wentz came out onto the field to a standing ovation. His first NFL play was a handoff to Mathews that went for six yards. His first pass attempt was dropped by Jordan Matthews.

Then Wentz got going. He completed four straight passes, beginning with a touch pass to Zach Ertz, who hauled it in with one hand for 14 yards. His final pass of the drive was a 19-yard fade to Matthews in the left corner of the end zone with 9:50 left in the first quarter.

It seemed so easy. Then the Browns adjusted.

Darren Sproles’ 40-yard punt return set the Eagles up at the Browns’ 42. But the Eagles couldn’t take advantage as Caleb Sturgis missed a 46-yard field goal. The Eagles started again in Browns’ territory after Cleveland went for it on 4th-and-5 from its 41 and lost six yards, giving the Eagles the ball at the Browns’ 35.

Wentz’s first play on that drive was a 28-yard completion to Matthews. But the Eagles ended up with a 22-yard field goal by Sturgis for a 10-0 lead with 12:30 in the second quarter. At that point, the Browns didn’t have a first down.

That changed as the Browns drove down the field, helped by a dubious pass interference call on Malcolm Jenkins that gave them a first down at the Eagles’ 2. Isaiah Crowell converted and the Browns were within three. The Eagles then closed the half with a field goal for a 13-7 lead after Wentz drove the Eagles from their 21 to the Browns’ 19 before stalling.

Still, Wentz had a productive first half, completing 10 of 19 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown.

He kept it going in the second half. Wentz showed the promise ahead after a Browns’ field goal and a safety for the Eagles when the snap went over Griffin’s head. The Eagles took over at the 27. They faced a 4th-and-4 at the Browns’ 40 when Wentz barely got the ball off under a heavy pass rush. He completed it to Ertz for five yards to keep the drive going.

On the next play, Wentz lofted a deep sideline pass into the arms of Agholor for a 35-yard touchdown pass and a 22-10 lead with 6:17 left in the third quarter. Agholor caught the ball in stride just as he crossed the goal line.

The Eagles’ defense stiffened after that, and the offense was efficient enough to keep the clock moving. The final touchdown came after Cleveland went for it on 4th-and-3 from their own 15, which was necessary considering the situation.

Griffin’s pass was incomplete, and the Eagles took over, eventually scoring on Mathews’ 1-yard run on third down.

Frank also writes for the (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal.

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