PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 25: Quarterback Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles is seen on the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field on September 25, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

When the Philadelphia Eagles traded quarterback Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings for a first-round pick, the move was viewed as the Eagles throwing in the towel on the 2016 season. The expectation after trading Bradford was for the team to rebuild with second overall pick Carson Wentz at quarterback. But that hasn’t been the reality in Philly, as the Eagles have instead been one of the hottest teams in football.

Fresh out of a run of national titles at North Dakota State, Wentz has the Eagles back atop the NFC East after three games. It’s a turnaround few expected, as the Eagles have made the seamless transition from the Chip Kelly era to the Doug Pederson era. Three straight wins to open the season with Wentz at the helm has lifted the Eagles from a team viewed as rebuilding to one viewed as a contender in the NFC East alongside the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys.

Wentz and the Eagles were dominant in their first true test of the season at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. A 34-3 blowout was a big statement of intent from the Eagles, entering an early bye week as one of the NFL’s few undefeated teams left.

About Chase Ruttig

Chase Ruttig is a Canadian sportswriter who covers North American sports for various outlets.

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