Around the NFC
Wentz returns. Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz (knee) debuted last week, going 25-of-37 passing for 255 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a win over Indianapolis. “We expected a lot from Carson in his first game out and I thought he did a great job,” offensive coordinator Mike Groh told reporters. “Week One of ‘Carson Time,’ and he looked like the old Carson. If you hadn’t known anything different and just turned on the game for the first time on Sunday, you would say thatap the way Carson Wentz is expected to play.” The Eagles’ plan has worked so far. Don’t trade Nick Foles, let Wentz heal at a steady pace and then start him when he’s ready.
McCaffrey busts out. Carolina running back Christian McCaffrey (the Valor Christian alum) entered last week’s game against Cincinnati with career highs of 15 carries for 66 yards. He had 28 carries for 184 yards (the league’s top rushing game of the season) in a win over the previously unbeaten Bengals. “He’s a very, very good running back,” center Ryan Kalil said. “He has great vision and great patience and he knows how to hit those holes.” McCaffrey is proving to be a jack of all trades. In a Week 2 loss at Atlanta, he had 14 catches for 102 yards.
Successful rebound. The knee-jerk guess was Chicago would find it difficult to overcome its Week 1 collapse at Green Bay (blown 20-0 lead). But credit to new Bears coach Matt Nagy for circling his group. They beat Seattle at home and dreadful Arizona on the road. Beat Tampa Bay on Sunday and the Bears will be 3-1 for the first time since 2013. The Buccaneers can’t stop anybody (second-most yards allowed), but they haven’t been stopped, either (first in yards gained). “I think what gets lost in it a little bit is who they’ve put up (yards) against,” Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “They’ve put it up against three teams (Saints, Eagles and Steelers) that most people had in their bucket as Super Bowl contenders.”
