For the last two seasons quarterback Carson Wentz has been talked about and defined by his short comings.
Talk about injuries. Talk about big wins by his backup. Talk about playoff wins without him. All of the talk was fair and all of the talk was true.
Now, that talk is the closest it has even been to being in the rear view mirror.
After the Eagles' 34-17 win on Sunday clinched the NFC East title, Wentz is heading to the playoffs. Perhaps more importantly, with that victory, Wentz has a new signature moment to point to when discussing how good he can be, allowing the ghost of 2017 to finally remain in the past.
Wentz's play in 2017 was certainly impressive, but 2019 is now Wentz's signature moment in the NFL. No, he likely won't be getting many MVP votes like he did in 2017, but what Wentz completed on Sunday was far more impressive than his stretch of play in 2017.
As impressive as Wentz's play in 2017 was, and as important as it was to the team winning the Super Bowl, it didn't feature many signature wins. Wentz wasn't on the field at the end of the team's win over Los Angeles and lost the week before in Seattle. Due to a torn ACL he didn't get to clinch the No. 1 seed or play in the playoffs. Needless to say, 2018 didn't have many memorable moments either.
This time around, and this season, is different.
This time, Wentz has been with this team each step of the way, through the good and the bad. He has certainly struggled, especially early on this season, but he has been everything the team could have hoped for over the last month. It was Wentz leading his team on both the game-tying and game-winning drive against the New York Giants three weeks ago. It was Wentz celebrating with Greg Ward in Washington two weeks ago after his game-winning touchdown catch. It was Wentz who controlled the game and beat Dallas in Philadelphia last week.
And on Sunday, after his team beat New York again, it was Wentz at the podium proudly wearing an NFC East championship hat and t-shirt. The items might not be as expensive or as shiny as his Super Bowl ring, but it is hard to imagine they don't mean just as much, if not more, to Wentz considering everything he has been through.
What Wentz has displayed over the last month was an answer to all of the questions surrounding him. He has won close games, he has won big games and he has played at a consistently high level. At even this time last month it wasn't clear if he could do any of that. Now, he has shown he has it in him to do everything the team hoped he could.
There is still plenty to be decided both this season and in Wentz's career. There will be more ups-and-downs, and if he plays long enough, more injuries will likely come as well. He still has to improve. He has more division titles to win, and starting Sunday, playoff games to play in that will help shape his legacy.
In a season that was such a disappointment for so many weeks, however, the team ended up accomplishing perhaps the most important task on their list in 2019 — Wentz turned his career around and put 2017 in the rear view mirror.
Now, it is time to see how far he can take this 2019 season — and how much he can build on it going forward.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
