NFL Power Rankings, Week 14: Patriots keep rising, Eagles near rock-bottom

It’s hard to explain, but everything looked better for the Philadelphia Eagles when they finally decided to bench Carson Wentz. Jalen Hurts took over in the second half when Doug Pederson finally realized what everyone else was seeing all season — this team does not believe in Wentz.

After the game, the coach downplayed the move, saying they just “needed a spark.” That leaves things up in the air as they prepare for a Week 14 game at home against the New Orleans Saints. By staying non-committal, he can revert to Wentz and if we look simply at the numbers, it’s a tough call.

Hurts wasn’t exactly dominant, going 5-of-12 for 109 yards with a touchdown and a pick. However, he had 30 more yards through the air than Wentz with the same number of attempts and he added 29 yards on five carries. That’s not what was important though, as the vibe surrounding the team was different with Hurts on the field.

Philadelphia started to close the gap and while a long touchdown run from Aaron Jones put the game out of reach, Hurts did provide that needed spark. If we are looking at pure talent and production, it seems simple. The problem is, Philly just gave Wentz a contract with more than $100 million guaranteed. That means he will probably get more opportunities to prove he can keep the job.