The Philadelphia Eagles had one of the NFL’s most anemic downfield passing offenses last year and they still were able to secure a playoff spot.
Without DeSean Jackson or Alshon Jeffery for stretches of the season, the Eagles utilized the short passing game and Miles Sanders to secure the NFC East crown. Even when pressured or without a sure option, Carson Wentz usually never checks down to the running back or an outlet receiver and it showed.
During a breakdown of quarterbacks most and least likely to check down pass to a running back, the Eagles star landed at No. 6 in a group of signal-callers who like to take the top off of defenses by Pro Football Focus.
Lowest Two-Year Checkdown Rates | 2018-19
Rank Player Tot. Attempts Checkdowns Checkdown %
1 Josh Allen 880 20 2.3%
2 Patrick Mahomes 1360 45 3.3%
3 Mitchell Trubisky 1065 37 3.5%
4 Kyler Murray 575 22 3.8%
5 Sam Darnold 903 37 4.1%
6 Carson Wentz 1073 45 4.2%
7 Daniel Jones 493 21 4.3%
8 Jimmy Garoppolo 667 30 4.5%
9 Lamar Jackson 695 32 4.6%
10 Baker Mayfield 1104 53 4.8%
Wentz was just as aggressive on third down, still choosing to chase yardage over a check-down pass.
Lowest Two-Year Checkdown Rates on Third Down | 2018-19
Rank Player Tot. Attempts Checkdowns Checkdown %
1 Josh Allen 245 1 0.4%
2 Ben Roethlisberger 183 2 1.1%
3 Patrick Mahomes 309 4 1.3%
4 Sam Darnold 254 5 2.0%
5 Baker Mayfield 282 7 2.5%
6 Carson Wentz 272 7 2.6%
7 Matthew Stafford 251 7 2.8%
8 Lamar Jackson 177 5 2.8%
9 Andy Dalton 244 7 2.9%
10 Cam Newton 131 4 3.1%
On the flip side, guys like Blake Bortles, Mason Rudolph, Derek Carr, Phillip Rivers, and DeShaun Watson are avid supporters of checking down if no one is available.
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