The most unassuming of eras could be underway in Philadelphia whether anyone wants it to or not.
(USA TODAY Sports) Today’s big winner: Nick Foles
The Eagles’ backup quarterback — he is the backup, right? — threw seven touchdowns yesterday. He would have thrown more had he not sat out the majority of the fourth quarter of Philadelphia’s 49-20 thrashing of Oakland. Foles’ performance keeps the Eagles on pace with the Cowboys in the dilapidated NFC East, but also creates something of a dilemma for coach Chip Kelly.
You see, Kelly’s offense was built for Michael Vick. Vick has the legs, the explosiveness, the gusto — at least whatever remains in his 32-year-old body.
Foles literally has none of that.
He’s a pocket passer and a reserved personality. There isn’t an ounce of flash in his game. By all appearances, he’s pretty average. And therein lies the conundrum.
Average quarterbacks don’t throw for seven touchdowns and 400 yards in a game. Peyton Manning throws seven touchdowns in a game. Perhaps even more impressive is that Foles only threw six incompletions Sunday. He threw more touchdowns than incompletions.
Unassuming backup quarterbacks don’t have that output in them — stars do. So now what is to be done with totally average star quarterback Nick Foles? Lucky for Kelly, Vick’s status remains up in the air so perhaps a decision won’t need to be made immediately. Perhaps Foles’ play will even out and any questions will answer themselves. But the best scenario for Kelly could very well be that Foles fails, and Philadelphia has a shot at drafting a quarterback that fits his system better than either current option. Kelly’s former quarterback and current Heisman contender Marcus Mariota will be on the board after all.
But if Foles continues to perform and the Eagles continue winning, the most unassuming of eras could be beginning in Philadelphia whether anyone wants it to or not.
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More of today’s winners …
Tom Brady: He had been waiting three weeks for a high five, and he finally got one.
Pam Anderson: The former Baywatch star ran in the NYC Marathon in 5:41:03, which is about a 13-minute mile.
Usain Bolt: Ate 1,000 McNuggets at the Beijing Olympics and then became the fastest man in the world.
Russell Westbrook: The Oklahoma City guard made a triumphant return nearly a month early.
Gayle Benson: The wife of New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson found a reporter’s engagement ring Sunday, and returned it.
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