With the average NFL career lasting just 3.3 years and more than half of players retiring in their prime, many are wondering what’s next? Whether it be a game changing rule change or some other drastic shift, one thing is certain: that will have to happen.
The “likely to happen meaning” is a term that is used to describe something that will probably occur. The phrase “that will have to happen” means the same thing.
It’s nearly fashionable to criticize Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz. People love to get on the making-fun-of-Wentz bandwagon, so his bonehead plays make for amusing tweets, and the postings get enough likes to offer people credibility for the next two months.
In actuality, Wentz has performed well for the Colts this season. He’s reduced his errors and performed well enough to put his side in a position to reach the playoffs.
If the Colts are to make a deep playoff run, though, the sixth-year quarterback will have to be much better than “not that horrible.” Frank Reich, his head coach, is well aware of this, and recently issued a challenge to him ahead of Indy’s last playoff push.
The Colts’ quarterback Carson Wentz has been solid (but not great) this season.
Last season, Carson Wentz had a terrible season with the Philadelphia Eagles. In only 12 games, he tossed 16 touchdowns and an NFL-high 15 interceptions. He also had the most sacks in the league, with 50. In games that he started for the Phillies, they went 3-8-1.
Wentz has been much better this year after being traded from the Eagles. In 14 games, he has passed for 3,005 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. He’s only has 23 sacks while leading the Colts to an 8-6 record.
He has, however, profited greatly from a powerful running game.
While the Colts are 26th in the NFL in passing yards (3,030), they are second in team running yards (2,198). Jonathan Taylor has been a strong contender for NFL MVP after carrying the offense multiple times this season and rushing for a league-high 1,518 yards and 17 touchdowns. He’s also racked up 336 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions.
Taylor, on the other hand, may eventually struggle to locate open spaces, which means the Colts will have to depend on Wentz to win games if they want to make a long postseason run.
Before the Colts’ last postseason drive, Frank Reich issued a challenge to his quarterback.
On Nov. 4, 2021, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz (left) chats with head coach Frank Reich during a game against the New York Jets. | Getty Images/Michael Hickey
The Colts are coming off their greatest win of the season, a 27-17 victory against the New England Patriots, who were the AFC’s top seed before to the game. Indy is currently 8-6 with three games remaining, excellent for the No. 5 spot in the AFC and only one game behind the Tennessee Titans in the AFC South (who have the tie-breaker).
The Colts are perhaps the hottest team in the NFL right now, after beginning the season 1-4. But, if they want to make a long playoff run, they need Carson Wentz to perform like a superstar, which is why Frank Reich took on the assignment.
According to the Colts’ YouTube channel, Reich stated of Wentz, “I believe he’s progressed in multiple areas.” “… I believe we’ve returned to certain fundamentals and techniques in several areas. He’s put forth a lot of effort…. Our identity, I believe, is what it is. It’s a run-first situation, but chunk-play, play-action, and RPO things; Carson has had a lot of strong games. I believe there will be games when Carson will be the quote-unquote star of the game if we are to get where we want to go. That, I believe, will be necessary.”
While Reich feels his team can run the ball well, he believes Wentz will need to have a great game if they want to go far in the playoffs, maybe even to the Super Bowl.
And he’s completely correct.
Is it possible for the Colts to go on a run while relying exclusively on Jonathan Taylor on offense?
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The reality of the issue with Carson Wentz is that he has had some huge games this year. Against the Baltimore Ravens, he passed for 402 yards and two touchdowns, while against the New York Jets, he threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns. Indy, on the other hand, is 3-6 in games in which he throws 30 passes or more. Jonathan Taylor has also played a key role in the team’s greatest victories this season.
This is a squad that like to run first.
The Colts, meanwhile, will face defenses that are stronger against the run in the playoffs, as they did against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, and Cincinnati Bengals, for example, are all in the top four in the NFL in terms of running yards allowed. The Colts will not be able to win games against such teams if they depend just on Taylor and their offensive line; Wentz will have to be “the quote-unquote star of the game.”
While Wentz has put up large numbers, he has also been a major liability for the club at times, as seen by his two interceptions against the Titans in Week 8 and two picks against the Buccaneers in Week 12. If he wants to help Indianapolis win more important games, he’ll have to avoid making costly blunders merely to attempt to carry the offense on his shoulders.
Carson Wentz has had a good season overall. However, if the former Pro Bowl quarterback wants the Colts to make a long postseason run, he’ll need to be a lot more than “decent.”
Pro Football Reference and NFL.com provided the statistics.
RELATED: Indianapolis Colts All-Pro Darius Leonard Fights Hard for Superstar RB Jonathan Taylor to Get the Proper Credit: ‘Without a doubt, he’s the MVP.’
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