Everyone can agree that Carson Wentz has struggled this year. But as I was looking at the passing stats inside the 10, I am reminded that he’s long been one of the league’s best players in that part of the field.
It’s inside the 10 where the stakes are raised. You’re either getting the ball in the end zone, or you’re trotting off the field, settling for 3 points. Everything is compressed, making the throws and decision-making harder.
And Wentz, for all his struggles this year, has continued to thrive in that area.
I almost don’t believe the numbers that are in front of me. Inside the 10, he’s completed 18 of 22 passes, including 14 scores. Factoring in 2 sacks, he’s gotten the ball into the end zone on 58 percent of his pass plays inside the 10. That’s 2nd-best in the league – better than Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.
The numbers are almost as good as what Wentz did in his sort-of MVP season in 2017. He was also effective in this part of the field in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Some of those stats, of course, have come late in the games, with defenses having called off the dogs. But as you look at his overall body of work, he’s been good there – it’s a strength of his.
I don’t know if anybody can help Wentz get his swagger back. I’d sure like to see Frank Reich try (Reich was his offensive coordinator in 2017).
Below are the numbers through Week 12. I’ve got them in descending order of end zone percentage. These are home-cooked numbers, so I’ve included 2-point conversions. (“EZ” includes both touchdowns and successful 2-point throws).
Surprising number: Russell Wilson has league-high 3 interceptions inside the 10.
| PASSING INSIDE THE 10-YARD LINE | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Com | Att | TD | Int | Sack | EZ% |
| K.Cousins, MIN | 19 | 28 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 61% |
| Wentz 2017 | 20 | 29 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 59% |
| Wentz 2020 | 18 | 22 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 58% |
| A.Rodgers, GB | 31 | 38 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 58% |
| R.Tannehill, TEN | 19 | 27 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 57% |
| K.Murray, ARZ | 17 | 28 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 50% |
| R.Fitzpatrick, MIA | 12 | 20 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 48% |
| Wentz 2019 | 18 | 32 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 47% |
| Wentz 2018 | 17 | 25 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 46% |
| T.Brady, TB | 26 | 44 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 45% |
| P.Mahomes, KC | 26 | 38 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 45% |
| J.Allen, BUF | 21 | 34 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 43% |
| J.Goff, LAR | 10 | 19 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 43% |
| B.Mayfield, CLV | 19 | 33 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 42% |
| R.Wilson, SEA | 22 | 38 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 42% |
| B.Roethlisberger, PIT | 15 | 29 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 41% |
| M.Stafford, DET | 14 | 25 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 41% |
| L.Jackson, BLT | 16 | 26 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 39% |
| J.Herbert, LAC | 13 | 21 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 38% |
| D.Lock, DEN | 10 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 35% |
| J.Burrow, CIN | 13 | 26 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 34% |
| D.Carr, LV | 20 | 35 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 34% |
| P.Rivers, IND | 12 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 33% |
| M.Ryan, ATL | 13 | 32 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 32% |
| T.Bridgewater, CAR | 12 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 30% |
| D.Watson, HST | 17 | 34 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 28% |
| G.Minshew, JAX | 11 | 22 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 26% |
| N.Mullens, SF | 14 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 26% |
| N.Foles, CHI | 9 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 23% |
| D.Jones, NYG | 11 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 17% |
| FEWER THAN 20 PASS PLAYS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Com | Att | TD | Int | Sack | EZ% |
| T.Tagovailoa, MIA | 7 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 35% |
| D.Brees, NO | 12 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 56% |
| M.Trubisky, CHI | 8 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 47% |
| C.Newton, NE | 7 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 27% |
| A.Dalton, DAL | 5 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 38% |
| D.Prescott, DAL | 7 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 25% |
| T.Hill, NO | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| S.Darnold, NYJ | 4 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 30% |
| J.Garoppolo, SF | 5 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 44% |
| A.Smith, WAS | 5 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22% |
| M.Glennon, JAX | 3 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25% |
| J.Flacco, NYJ | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17% |
| D.Haskins, WAS | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 17% |
| K.Allen, WAS | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17% |
| J.Driskel, DEN | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 40% |
| J.Winston, NO | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| P.Walker, CAR | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| T.Taylor, LAC | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| C.Beathard, SF | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| G.Gilbert, DAL | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| T.Kelce, KC | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| B.Hoyer, NE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| J.Stidham, NE | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50% |
| C.McCoy, NYG | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| R.Griffin, BLT | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| B.Allen, CIN | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| B.DiNucci, DAL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| C.Lamb, DAL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| B.Rypien, DEN | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| C.Daniel, DET | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| R.Cobb, HST | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| J.Brissett, IND | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| J.Luton, JAX | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| J.Robinson, JAX | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| C.Henne, KC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| J.Hurts, PHI | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
—Ian Allan