Wentz Leads Eagles to Season Opening Victory

The second year quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles looked closer to seasoned veteran on the road in their 30-17 victory over the Washington Redskins.

Carson Wentz threw for 307 yards on 26 of 39 passing with 2 touchdowns and an interception as the Eagles beat division rival Washington on the road to open the regular season.

Philadelphia didn't take long to strike first from the start. On their first possession, facing a 3rd and 12, Wentz escaped a sack three different times and went deep to Nelson Agholor for a 58-yard score to go up 7-0.

Towards the end of the first quarter, the Eagles were helped out by a muffed punt from Washington's Jamison Crowder and the Eagles recovered the ball at the Washington 39. From there, Philadelphia took 8 plays to score on a 1-yard swing pass from Wentz to LeGarrette Blount. The extra point was missed by Caleb Sturgis, making it a 13-0 lead.

However, Washington struck back with two scores. The first, coming on a Wentz interception returned for a touchdown. The pass was tipped near the line of scrimmage and intended for Darren Sproles, but fell into the hands of Redskins Ryan Kerrigan, and was returned 24 yards for a touchdown. The second was on a 29-yard pass from Kirk Cousins with 1:17 remaining in the first half.

Despite the lack of time before the half, Wentz led the Eagles down the field for 43 yards on 10 plays, which led to a 50-yard field goal from Sturgis to take a 16-14 lead at the half.

The second half seemed more of a defensive struggle than anything. The teams excahnged field goals on their respective first possessions of the second half to make it 19-17. Then, early in the fourth quarter, with Washington driving to the Eagles 14, Jalen Mills picked off a high throw from Cousins that stopped Washington's last true scoring threat.

Two Eagles possessions later, Philadelphia settled for another Sturgis field goal from 37 yards out with 1:59 to play. Then came the nail in the coffin for Washington. Two plays after the Eagles had made it a 22-17 game, Cousins was hit with a sack-fumble which the Eagles Fletcher Cox recovered and returned 20 yards for a touchdown to seal the game. Philadelphia would go for the two-point conversion and convert successfully on a pass from Wentz to Alshon Jeffrey, making it 30-17.

Zach Etta led the Eagles in receiving with 93 yards on 8 catches while Blount finished with 46 yards rushing on 14 carries.

Philadelphia (1-0) will be on the road again next week as they travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs (1-0).