On Sunday afternoon, the Los Angeles Rams were likely getting prepared for their season opener Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles were in the process of rolling past the Cleveland Browns, 29-10. It’s highly doubtful the Rams saw much of that game, but it’s one that Rams general manager Les Snead and coach Jeff Fisher may have at least taken a peek at on their phones.

The reason is obvious, and his name is Carson Wentz.

The No. 2 pick in the 2016 NFL draft is the player the Rams chose to let slide, instead selecting Cal quarterback Jared Goff with the first overall pick. We all know the story at this point, but we’ve come a long way since that phone call on draft night and the infamous selection of Goff.

First, there was speculation about who the correct pick was, then there was talk about how far both players were from being ready, and now, we’re sitting back watching Wentz start Week 1 for the Eagles, with Goff not even being active for the Rams.

It’s just one game. But realistically, if you’re a Rams fan and watched Wentz’s debut Sunday, you were probably left with a bad taste in your mouth.

Evaluating Wentz’s debut for the Eagles

Wentz wasn’t perfect, but he didn’t need to be. The Eagles jumped out to a quick early lead, and the rookie showed a great connection with each of his wide receivers, but specifically No. 1 wideout Jordan Matthews, tight end Zach Ertz and another young playmaker in Nelson Agholor.

His final stat line featured 22-of-37 passing for 278 yards and two touchdowns. He posted a quarterback rating of 101, was only sacked twice and threw several beautiful passes.

The preseason and Monday night make it an even tougher pill to swallow

Goff saw extended action for the Rams this preseason but was just never able to get comfortable. He was sporadic, couldn’t adjust to the speed of the NFL and in the end, was beaten out by not only Case Keenum but also third-year quarterback Sean Mannion.

On the flip side, Wentz got action in just the first preseason game before getting injured, and while he didn’t look great in that game (12-of-24 for 89 yards and an interception), he quickly proved to be the much more NFL-ready prospect out of the gate than Goff.

Yes, Carson Wentz is the more pro-ready prospect compared to Goff, and he has been all along.

It’s the painful truth. Wentz was strong when it mattered and did an excellent job of not only managing the game but also making big plays when needed.

That performance well may wind up being the best of Wentz’s entire 2016 season. Even if that’s the case, it was still painful for the Rams, largely because it’s still going to give the former North Dakota State product a leg up on Goff, who may not see a regular-season snap all year long.

The flipped script

While some people may be prepared to make the snap decision and call Wentz the better quarterback, all this means currently is that the script has flipped since draft night.

Instead of Goff being the pro-ready player, he’s the project. Wentz, on the other hand, is more ready for NFL action. We all had it backwards, and sometimes, that sort of thing happens.

With that said, Goff is still a player with big upside and one who can grow into a strong NFL quarterback. Patience is going to be key, and while the start of the 2016 season for Wentz was nightmare-ish for the Rams, it can still be a happy ending for both the Eagles and, yes, for the Rams as well.