CINCINNATI (AP) - Carson Wentz threw the ball directly to linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who made his second interception of the game.
Just one bad moment in a game full of them for the Eagles rookie quarterback.
Wentz threw a season-high three interceptions and could have easily had a few more picked off on Sunday during the Cincinnati Bengals’ 32-14 win .
When the game was on the line, Wentz couldn’t do much of anything in an injury-depleted offense.
It’s not the first time. Wentz is in a five-game slide that includes three touchdowns and eight interceptions. And it’s not as if he’s getting surprised by opposing defenses.
“What we see on film throughout the weeks is what we’re generally getting,” Wentz said .
Call it a rookie quarterback learning the hard way.
The No. 2 overall pick in the draft was an early sensation despite being the backup for most of training camp.
He was selected as the starter eight days before the opener when the Eagles traded Sam Bradford to Minnesota. Wentz then became the first rookie in league history to throw at least one touchdown pass without an interception in each of his first three games.
Now he’s having trouble getting a depleted offense to move consistently. With receiver Jordan Matthews and running back Ryan Mathews sidelined by injuries on Sunday, the onus was on Wentz.
The Eagles (5-7) fell behind 29-0 and wound up with their most lopsided loss of the season.
Wentz was only 15 of 31 for 164 yards with a passer rating of 48.3 as the Bengals (4-7-1) took control. He threw a lot in the fourth quarter against a defense giving up the short pass. Wentz finished 36 of 60 for 308 yards with one sack, one touchdown, three interceptions and a 58.2 passer rating, his second-lowest of the season.
Wentz’s 36 completions were a club rookie record and tied for the third-most in club history overall. He has three 300-yard passing games this season, the most by an Eagles rookie.
He was off-target on numerous throws and could have had several more passes picked off. Bengals defenders got in position to make an interception but dropped the ball.
“You throw the ball 60 times, you’re going to miss some,” Wentz said. “That kind of happens.”
After winning those first three games, the Eagles have dropped seven of nine, falling out of contention in the NFC East.
“Teams have film on us and film on Carson,” coach Doug Pederson said. “They’ve attacked differently. It just all begins to kind of snowball. It gets us obviously in the situation we’re in.”
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