WHAT WE LEARNED: NFL WEEK 13

BY ADAM GREENE

For a week this late in the season, we had some major events go down. There’s one we really need to focus on.

JALEN HURTS STARTING IN PHILADELPHIA

Missing on a quarterback can set your team back years, but missing on a QB you thought you hit on, that you already paid a massive contract extension, is something the modern NFL hasn’t seen.

Since 2011, the NFL has lived under a rookie salary cap that has, frankly, saved the sport. It’s kept first round quarterbacks, especially guys taken No. 1 overall, from bankrupting teams before they even take the field. It’s why a guy like Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, taken at No. 2 overall and looking in every way like a franchise QB for his first four years in the league can get that massive upgrade in deal.

But what happens when that all falls through?

On the Eagles’ second possession of the third quarter Sunday in a 30-16 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Wentz’s day was done. He was pulled in favor of 2020 second round pick Jalen Hurts, who rang up 13 more points than Wentz in the loss.

Tuesday, the team announced that Hurts would get the starting nod over Wentz when the team hosts the 10-2 New Orleans Saints.

Obviously the Eagles want to win. They remain in the playoff hunt and, if they win out, they could make it. But that just might be the worst thing that could happen to the team.

If Wentz was still the guy that had the NFL’s MVP award in his pocket before going down with an injury in 2017, this would not be an issue. His contract is par for the course for a franchise starting quarterback. Here’s the problem; as of Tuesday, he’s no longer a starting QB and his position as a “franchise” quarterback is certainly in doubt.

In which case, Philadelphia is stuck with him regardless. If Hurts ends the season on fire, wins these four games and makes it clear he can be the team’s future, they still might not be able to move on from Wentz. No team will take the remainder of his contract in a trade. If they cut Wentz, he counts an incredible $59.2 million against the salary cap. A salary cap that, in total, is projected to be $175 million in 2021.

Philadelphia is already projected to be $63 million over the cap. I honestly don’t think it’s a big deal. The NFL’s cap is based on all kinds of revenue related math, but people wringing their hands over 2021’s number, as it relates to a low revenue and mostly fanless 2020, don’t seem to understand that the NFL just made that formula up. It’s their number. They can change it if they want and no one will bat in eye.

For instance, the cap projection for 2022 is $209 million. For 2023 it’s $219 million, but those numbers will go up in a post COVID-19 world. The league could just put the cap where it should be, $210-ish million, and leave the math aside.

Cutting Wentz would still cost the Eagles nearly 25 percent of that. They’re not going to do that.

The NFL has a history of giving up on quarterbacks too soon, but Philly’s finances will keep them from doing it. They’re stuck with Wentz, so they need to make the most of it. First off, they need to hire an offensive coordinator and a good one. Head coach Doug Pederson can’t do both jobs and this year proved it. Not only that, all the offensive staff related to QB play need to hit the road; QB Coach Press Taylor, Pass Game Analyst Andrew Breiner and offensive consultant Marty Mornhinweg, who I can’t believe has a job in the first place.

There’s tons of turnover coming across the league. We already have three staffs that will be fired in Detroit, Houston and Atlanta. They’ll be joined with staffs from the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets. Maybe more. There’ll be plenty of guys to choose from, but Pederson would be smart to poach from his own coaching tree, nabbing a guy like QB coach Joe Bleymaier from the Kansas City Chiefs as his next OC.

With Wentz and Hurts on the team, the salary cap looks no different than it would if the starter hadn’t shifted. This offseason, you have to rebuild Wentz from the ground up. Use those new coaches (and maybe a psychologist while you’re at it) to try to get him back to that 2017 form. At the same time, you have to give Hurts the chance to keep the job. It’s a balancing act, but it’s one that could pay off for Philadelphia either way.  

A LOOK AT THE PLAYOFFS

We had some shuffling in the NFC this week once again after the Seattle Seahawks dropped a shocker to the New York Giants.

Here’s what the NFC looks like;

1. New Orleans Saints (10-2)

2. Green Bay Packers (9-3)

3. Los Angeles Rams (8-4)

4. New York Giants (5-7)

5. Seattle Seahawks (8-4)

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)

7. Minnesota Vikings (6-6)

The Arizona Cardinals (6-6) fell out after their loss to the Rams. Realistically that seventh spot is the only one open as the Cards, Vikings and Chicago Bears (5-7) will battle over it for the final four games of the season.

Your opening round playoff games would be; Vikings at Packers, Bucs at Rams and Seahawks at Giants. The Saints currently hold the bye and home field advantage.

In the AFC;

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-1)

2. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)

3. Buffalo Bills (9-3)

4. Tennessee Titans (8-4)

5. Cleveland Browns (9-3)

6. Miami Dolphins (8-4)

7. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)

The Steelers remain the top seed after dropping a surprise of their own against the Washington Football Team Monday. They retain the bye for now, but they’re not out of the woods. They play at the Bills next week then host the Colts and finish up at the Browns. The Chiefs have a little easier path to home field, but not by much. They play at Miami and then at New Orleans, but they finish up hosting the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers.

The Las Vegas Raiders (7-5) and Baltimore Ravens (7-5) are right outside ready to slide in if anyone stumbles. The New England Patriots (6-6) are also hovering dangerously close to the postseason.

Your opening round playoff games would be; Colts at Chiefs, Dolphins at Bills and Browns at Titans.

Follow our BetOnline Twitter account for the latest sports news and betting odds, and stay tuned on the Instagram feed for more good information too.