SEEKING PLAYMAKER

     After watching the Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes put on another clinic today, I couldn't help but think of Carson Wentz and his ongoing regression this season.  Mahomes became the fastest player to reach 4,000 yards passing and 40+ touchdowns in NFL history.  Since he took over in week 17 of 2017 as the Chiefs starter, he has played in 13 career games.  In those games he has 4,000 yards passing and 41 touchdowns.  Even more impressive is the fact that Mahomes is only the 9th QB in NFL history to throw 40 TD's in a season.  There are only four quarterbacks that have multiple 40 TD seasons and they go by the names of Brees, Manning, Marino, and Rodgers.  He is the third to throw for 40 in his teams first 12 games, but he is the fastest to 40 through career starts. In other words, Mahomes has been all world talent this season and has done something the NFL has never saw before and may never see again.
     I don't think that anyone would have foreshadowed this type of performance by Mahomes coming into this season; however, many knew that he was a special talent.  At this point I am going out on a limb to say that he is definitely a supreme athlete at the quarterback position that may be in a league of his own.  He is definitely a better talent than Wentz at this point and believe me it hurts me to say that (being a die hard Eagles fan that bleeds green).  However, we must take a look at the bigger picture.  While Mahomes hit 40 TD's in 12 games, it took Wentz 25 games which is double the amount of time.  The difference here is that in Carson's first season he was throwing the ball to the likes of Jordan Matthews and Dorial Green Bekham and an inconsistent Nelson Agholor.  In comparison, Mahomes has Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins both of whom can stretch the field.  He also had Kareem Hunt, up until last week who had 27 catches and 7 TD's not to mention Travis Kelce who has 79 receptions for 1,082 yards and 9 TD's.
     It doesn't take rocket science to see that Mahomes is surrounded by better and more playmakers.  That's not to say that the Philadelphia Eagles are without these type of players but they were and are few and far between, especially during Wentz's first season and also this season with all of the injuries.  Wentz put up MVP numbers in 2017 before he was knocked out for the season with the torn ACL.  He did it with the likes of Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, Jay Ajayi, LeGarrette Blount, Zack Ertz, Torey Smith, and Corey Clement.  Blount and Smith are gone.  Ajayi is out for the season. Jeffery and Clement have both been banged up and missed significant time.  And Agholor has been a shell of himself.  That leaves a one man island, Zach Ertz, who has 84 catches/895 yards/6 TD's.  That's pretty much it.  Oh, and they did add Golden Tate at the trade deadline but he has yet to make any type of impact.
     Another issue this season has been the lack of execution on the offensive line as well as the injuries.  Carson has been under constant duress and has been sacked way too many times.  Through all of this nonsense and chaos, let's  not forget that Carson is coming off a major ACL and LCL injury that most people say takes at least a full year to even heal to the point of being back to square one.  Well, we are two weeks away from the full year so maybe we will see Carson turn the corner here and get back on top.  Nonetheless, it is clear that the Eagles lack significant playmakers on offense and I would argue that this is the biggest need in the offseason, regardless how the rest of this season goes down.  We need a playmaker like all the other successful teams have.  
     Let's take a look around the league...starting with the Rams.  This is who Jared Goff has at his disposal: Todd Gurley (best running back in football both rushing and receiving), Robert Woods (superb deep threat), Brandon Cooks (Top 10WR), Cooper Kupp (Alshon Jeffery level player).  That's 4 Playmakers.  Ok, now the Saints.  Brees has Mark Ingram (Dual threat out of backfield), Alvin Kamara (Mark Ingram on steroids), Michael Thomas (Top 5WR), Tre'Quan Smith (Deep Threat).  That's 4 Playmakers.  Dallas and Dak Prescott have Ezekiel Elliott (Top 2 Running Back), Amari Cooper (Top 10WR), Cole Beasley (Top 30WR).  That's 3 Playmakers.  Patriots and Brady...James White (Top Fantasy Back both run and catch 10 total TD's), Julian Edelman (Deep Threat), Rob Gronkowski (Best Overall Tight End Football), Josh Gordon (Top 5 talent when he's not on the sauce).  That's 4 Playmakers.  We could continue this playlist but the bottom line is that all of the good teams and quarterbacks are surrounded by multiple playmakers.  Wentz only has one real playmaker...Zach Ertz.
     I can remember another Quarterback in this town that was never surrounded by enough playmakers and that was Donovan McNabb.  And we all know how that story ended.  Lets play out the rest of this season and hope that things go in the Eagles favor and they are able to win the division and play in the playoffs.  However; I do not see them getting past week one with the talent that they are putting on the field.  Yes, Wentz has not played the same and he has declined some from last year.  But its true that he needs more weapons on this team if he wants to play with the big boys.  If I am Howie Roseman, I am going after L'eVeon Bell in the offseason  and I am drafting a Wide Receiver high in the first round.  That's what I would do if I was running the team.  The morale of the story...get some PLAYMAKERS Baby!!!