Carson Wentz's injury leaves Eagles down in reshaped NFC power structure

The Philadelphia Eagles could have won the Super Bowl.

The pieces were all there: a defense that can cause any team problems, a formidable run game and one of the NFL's most special young quarterbacks to elevate them above the competition.

But now Carson Wentz’s MVP-caliber season has come to an end thanks to a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered on Sunday.

The Eagles emerged from that 43-35 shootout with the Los Angeles Rams to reclaim the top spot in the NFC. But with Wentz sidelined, things will change.

Although they have already clinched NFC East, the Eagles now go from the apparent top team in the conference to possibly fourth of fifth, according to a mixture of current and former coaches, a former talent evaluator and a player that had faced the team. The figures spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity due to concerns about ongoing competition.

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The common view among them now has the Vikings, Rams and Saints atop the NFC pecking order. Then it’s a jumbled bunch that includes the Eagles and Panthers, followed by the Falcons and Seahawks, who are both scrapping for their playoff lives.

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Losing Wentz is a huge blow for Philadelphia, but there's still hope.

The Eagles are still seen as a top-tier team. They’re no longer regarded as a Super Bowl contender by many, but they have the tools to do some damage in the postseason.

Philly's defense features all kinds of nightmare matchups. The Eagles hold opponents to just 294.2 yards per game (fourth-fewest in the league) and 19 points per contest (third-fewest) while also ranking among the best on third down (30.2% success rate for opponents) . The Eagles also are third in the league with 24 takeaways.

And then there’s the rushing attack. Yes, Wentz made the offense go, and his 33 touchdown passes lead the league. But Philadelphia boasts the second-best rushing attack (143 yards per game) in the NFL. Any of their top three backs possess the ability to produce a 100-yard game.

That rushing department now becomes even more vital.

Nick Foles steps in at quarterback, and Doug Pederson and his staff must do everything in their power to position the journeyman for success.

Foles started his career with the Eagles before bouncing from St. Louis to Kansas City briefly and then returning to Philly. In his first three seasons with the Eagles (2012-14), Foles posted a 15-9 record (now 20-16 overall). In his six-year career, he has completed 60.5% of his passes and thrown 56 touchdowns with 27 interceptions. He’s not green, but he has his limitations.

That’s why Pederson and offensive coordinator Frank Reich have to shift to a heavy emphasis on the run game as the new foundation. That approach by the Vikings has positioned Foles’ former Rams quarterback carousel partner, Case Keenum, for success this season. And that same formula helped the inconsistent Panthers end Keenum and the Vikings’ eight-game win streak on Sunday.

If the Eagles opt for that path – leaning heavily on Jay Ajayi, LeGarrette Blount and Corey Clement to set the tone and open up the passing game – then they could still compete. One NFL coach, who has faced both Wentz and Foles, said he still sees Philadelphia as the top team in the NFC thanks to the defense and rushing attack, as well as Foles' experience in meaningful games.

The big question, however, will come if the Eagles find themselves in a late-game situation where they need Foles to match the likes of Drew Brees, Russell Wilson or Matt Ryan in a shootout, especially on the road.

More from Olsen

Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen got choked up after Sunday’s game when asked about his play.

“I told the guys, all I wanted today was to be on the field, victory formation, because that would’ve meant I actually made it through a game,” the 32-year-old Olsen said.

A broken foot and surgery had sidelined Olsen for eight games. He returned to action two weeks ago, but couldn’t finish the contest after aggravating that foot and then missed the next week. But on Sunday, Olsen made it through the whole game. He briefly limped off after having his ankle rolled up on, but his foot was fine.

Finishing the game unscathed provided relief for Olsen, but his coach wasn’t satisfied. Olsen – one of Cam Newton's favorite options in the passing game – didn’t have a single catch and finished with just one target. With the Panthers having converted just five of 15 third downs in the narrow defeat of Minnesota, Ron Rivera knew that Olsen should have been better integrated into the game plan.

“The thing I’m concerned about is we have to get him back into the mix a little bit more as far as our passing game,” Rivera said. “He is too valuable a weapon for us not to use.”

Olsen said all the right things, but Newton indicated that the veteran was indeed frustrated. Rivera said Newton and offensive coordinator Mike Shula both need to regain confidence in Olsen’s abilities so the Panthers can maximize the tight end's production.

The hope is that Olsen’s presence will help Newton become a more consistent passer. Carolina’s aerial attack ranks 27th in the NFL with just 195 yards per game and a 59.3% completion percentage. Save for the Ravens, no other playoff contender has such paltry passing numbers. But the Panthers are capable of better, which is a must for a deep playoff run. Olsen’s return to relevance will help.

Follow Mike Jones on Twitter @ByMikeJones.

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