As it turns out, the guy who was available to be picked up in August may not be the Vikings’ almighty answer.
Carson Wentz‘s stat line didn’t reek of disaster in Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh in Dublin. Making his second consecutive start, the journeyman threw for 350 yards and two scores.
But Wentz was a major reason the Vikings dropped back to .500 after four games. More than half those passing yards came in the final 12 minutes of play, with Minnesota already trailing by multiple scores — a very Kirk Cousins-esque performance.
Over the first three frames, Wentz was unable to maneuver around traffic in the pocket. He succumbed to pressure time and time again. And when he did have opportunities to make plays, few of his throws were placed in the proper spots to either complete the pass or set up his receiver to maximize a gain.
Wentz was solid a week ago against the Bengals, but who wouldn’t be on a day the running game and the defense were on fire? There are 50 quarterbacks at the pro level who can succeed under optimal conditions. When the chips were stacked against him Sunday, Wentz looked lost.
Given the chance to salvage the performance with a game-tying field goal drive in the final minute, he again underwhelmed. Wentz should have been intercepted on the opening play of the drive, and later took an intentional grounding penalty that effectively doomed Minnesota.
This is what everyone should have expected from Wentz, who has bounced from one stop to another during an 11-year NFL career. He’s not a guy who you will win because of. Those quarterbacks don’t grow on trees, but they’re the ones franchises anchor themselves to.
Because those are the guys who help you lift Lombardis.
Sunday’s disappointment not withstanding, Minnesota has a good enough team this year to win 10 games and reach the playoffs with a caretaker under center. But what’s the point of that? Even after a 14-win regular season campaign, fans didn’t exactly leave last year’s playoff drubbing at the hands of the Rams overly enthused about their professional football franchise.
The point of this league is to contend for a Super Bowl. To do that, you need a star under center.
It’s too early in the season to punt on the prospect of identifying a quarterback who can make something happen while staring trouble in the face in a pivotal moment once or twice a game. Yes, this offensive line is a work in progress, to put it politely, but the skill position players are awesome and the defense is very good.
There’s more than enough on this roster to win, and win big.
But it has to be led by a quarterback who can win under less-than-ideal circumstances. Wentz is not that guy. He’s proven that at countless junctures in his career. And after looking solid last week in a 48-10 victory over Cincinnati, he reminded everyone of it Sunday.
J.J. McCarthy was unimpressive in seven of his first eight quarters of play this season. But if the potential exists for the second-year signal caller to grow into that type of player, coach Kevin O’Connell and Co. likely have to roll the dice on the 22-year-old.
There is also a Door No. 3 here — Max Brosmer. That sounds silly, but his play against the Titans’ defensive starters when surrounded by third stringers in Minnesota’s preseason finale was the closest thing we’ve seen to high-level quarterbacking thus far this fall.
Just a thought.
The simple answer to Minnesota’s quandary was suited up for the Steelers on Sunday. Aaron Rodgers is no longer an elite quarterback in the latter stages of his career. But he was probably the best choice to steer the ship for a ready-to-win roster.
The Vikings neglected that route. And, nearly a quarter of the way through the season, still find themselves searching for a solution that, unfortunately, may not exist.
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