Add a simple perspective to the list of reasons why Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz has stunned the NFL world through his first three starts.
“It’s just football,” Wentz said on Sunday night, via Peter King of MMQB.
Wentz was spectacular again in Week 3, throwing for 301 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles soundly beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. Through three games, the No. 2 overall pick has completed 64.7 percent of his passes, with 769 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions. His passer rating is 103.8, and the Eagles are a perfect 3-0.
Many rookie quarterbacks have crumbled under the pressure of taking over a franchise, especially early in their careers. Wentz, on the other hand, has stripped away all the nonsense, allowing him to focus on playing the game as well as he’s capable of right now.
“It’s a game. Just a game. Just football,” Wentz said. “I’ve been playing it for a long time. My thought is, keep preparing. Prepare, and play the game we all love.”
All that preparation has led to the rarest of starts for a rookie.
According to Gil Brandt of NFL.com, Wentz’s combination of wins and safety to start a season has no equal among rookie quarterbacks over the last 45 or so years.
Carson Wentz is first rookie since 1970 to start and win his team’s first three games to begin a season without throwing an interception.
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) September 26, 2016
Wentz’s 102 attempts without an interception are the most ever by a rookie quarterback starting his career.
His Eagles teammates are feeling the love.
“Continues to blow my mind away,” receiver Josh Huff said, via ESPN. “The poise he has, the way he commands the huddle, all the guys are feeding [off] of him, he brings a ton of energy each and every day. … He has the team with him right now, and that’s one of the reasons we played so well today, we know we have a great quarterback.”
Wentz is clearly a rare rookie quarterback, both in production on the field and perspective off it.
