Raise your hand if you were booing as the Birds trotted off the field at halftime of last week’s opener vs the Jags?
Someone forgot to tell Nick Foles and his buddies that this was no longer the exhibition season, that this was one of those 16 precious games that actually count.
Last year Foles stunned the league by throwing 27 touchdowns and just two picks. His turnover ration was just a tad higher on Sunday. The QB again looked like a fish out of water for much of the first half, holding on the ball for an eternity and fumbling twice. The Jags cashed in both turnovers in racing to a 17-0 lead.
Luckily, they play two halves in the NFL.
After putting a goose egg on the board and earning the wrath of the feisty home fans, the Birds turned on the jets in the second half. They scored 34 unanswered points to win going away. They even covered to make all those degenerate gamblers happy.
Chip Kelly probably didn’t help much by ignoring the best back in the league, LeSean McCoy, for big chunks. This team needs to be fueled by McCoy’s legs, not Foles’ arm.
The Birds can’t afford a repeat of their struggles in the first half when they go prime time vs. the Colts.
I hope I’m wrong, but I still have not shaken the nagging questions I have about Foles and whether he really is THE quarterback this team needs.
The Pick: Make it Colts 29, Eagles 23. This is not the Jags. Look for Andrew Luck to skewer an Eagles’ defense that at times in the first half on Week One still had that dazed & confused look they sported so often last year.
Last Week: The Eagles are coming off an exhibition season that saw them get better each week. That’s a good sign. Kelly’s team should be
revved up and ready to roll. Maybe the best thing I saw in this pre-season is that should anything happen to Foles - or if he struggles - Sanchez looks supremely confident in Kelly’s offense. That’s a huge plus.
Season Record: The Birds and I both got out of the gate at 1-0. Of course, it took them a half to wake up and realize this was no longer the preseason. I’d like to take them again Monday night, but I’m still suffering from nagging Nick Foles doubt.
Game by Game: Eagles 34, Jaguars 17 (My Pick: Eagles 31, Jags 16)
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