Game preview: Two Eagles are pushing to make history in week 17

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Win and in.

That’s all the Eagles need to do today. Win, and they play next week.

After defeating the Cowboys 17-9, the Eagles are one win away from being division champions. It’s kind of hard to believe that they are in this position after the topsy turvy season they’ve had. From losing to the Miami Dolphins and giving up 37 points to holding one of hottest offenses in the league to 9 points, its been truly a Jekyll and Hyde season.

Not only are the Eagles one win away from a division title, there are a couple of players looking to make history.

More records for Wentz

Carson Wentz is already the Eagles’ all time single season record holder for touchdown passes thrown with 33, which was done in 13 games in 2017.  He also hold the longest active streak in the NFL with a touchdown pass with 18 games. 

With 167 passing yards on Sunday, Wentz can pass Donovan McNabb for most passing yards in a single season in Eagles history. With 250 yards passing, he can become the first Eagles quarterback ever with 4,000 yards passing in a season.

He is also the only quarterback in Eagles’ history to throw for 30 or more touchdowns within his first three years in the league and four touchdown passes on Sunday will make it twice in four years. If he does get four touchdowns, he will join Dan Marino, Jeff Garcia, and Kurt Warner as the only quarterbacks in NFL history who threw for 30 or more touchdowns twice or better in their first four seasons.

He would also become the 12th quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns within his first four years in the league. Four touchdown passes would also give Wentz 100 for his career, making him the seventh player in NFL history with 100 touchdown passes in his first four seasons.  Only Andrew Luck would’ve done it in less games.

However, out of the six other quarterbacks, he’d most likely have the lowest interception percentage.  He currently has a 1.74% interception rate. If he were to throw it 40 times and have zero interceptions, his rate would drop to 1.37%. If he were to have two interceptions, it would jump to 1.8%, which would still be the lowest.

There’s a lot to be excited about for Wentz on Sunday. But there’s also a lot to be excited about for another player and a certain end of the season award.

Miles’ case for ROY

There has only been one player in Eagles’ history who has won the offensive rookie of the year award, Charle Young in 1973. Miles Sanders could join him this year.

Sanders already has made history with his rookie season output. He is one of four rookies ever with at least 500 yards rushing, 500 yards receiving, and 300 kick return yards. He is 34 rushing yards away from 800, which would give him a 800/500/300 season. Only five other players, not just rookies, have had that type of season in NFL history. The last player to do that was Stump Mitchell in 1985.

He already has the Eagles rookie record for rushing yards in a season, yards from scrimmage, and all purpose yards.

He might not have the rushing totals as Josh Jacobs of the Oakland Raiders and he might not be a quarterback of a bad team like Kyler Murray, but Sanders has put himself firmly in the race for rookie of the year and a strong performance on Sunday could cement his spot as the league’s top offensive rookie.

For some history and predictions, check out the next page!