The great Nick Foles debate continues. The Eagles are 5-2, and and about two and a half yards from being a perfect 7-0, but little of that can be placed at Foles’ feet.
The truth is that in his second year the Eagles signal caller has been wildly inconsistent. I don’t think this is a sophomore jinx. I think this is what Nick Foles is, an average NFL quarterback.
He continues to struggle with his mechanics, immediately drifting backwards even though he’s in the shotgun, and throwing balls off his back foot. He is making the kind of terrible decisions that he avoided last year when he surprised everyone by compiling 27 touchdown passes and just two interceptions. This year he’s been more of a turnover machine, tossing nine picks so far and also coughing up several fumbles.
One of his interceptions last week took points off the board with the Eagles in the red zone.
Coach Chip Kelly didn’t help much. Yes, the Cardinals came into the game as the top-rated defense against the run, and much more susceptible against the pass. But to take the ball completely out of LeSean McCoy’s hands and have Foles heave it up there 62 times is just absurd.
On the other side of the ball, the Eagles played well, with the excpetion of two plays, which cost them the game. The got burned on a slant by Larry Fitzgerald (dont’ they always?) and of course there was the meltdown from safety Nate Allen, who allowed a Cardinals wideout to get behind him late in the 4th quarter, in the process snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Look for Chip Kelly to return to his senses and run the ball more this week against a J.J. Watt and a stout Texans’ defense. The Birds’ offensive line should be buttressed by the return of center Jason Kelce.
This one likely will be a struggle. Look for Watt to sack Foles and force at least one fumble. But I still like the Eagle to prevail. Should Foles struggle again, expect to start hearing more talk about Mark Sanchez.
The Pick: Make it Eagles 29, Texans 19. The Eagles will look to control the game with LeSean McCoy. The last time these two teams played, Shady had a big day. They will need him and Chris Polk to keep the Texans ferocious pass rush honest and take the heat off Foles.
Season Record: That bitter loss in the desert dropped the Eagles to 5-2. It didn’t help me much either. I had the Birds beating the Cardinals. That drops me to 4-3 on the season.
Game by Game: Cardinals 24, Eagles 20 (My Pick: Eagles 24, Cardinals 23)
Eagles 27, Giants 0 (My Pick: Giants 31, Rams 26)
Eagles 34, Rams 28 (My Pick: Eagles 35, Rams 19)
49ers 26, Eagles 21 (My Pick: 49ers 33, Eagles 29)
Eagles 34, Jaguars 17 (My Pick: Eagles 31, Jags 16)
Eagles 30, Colts 27 (My Pick: Colts 29, Eagles 23)
Eagles 37, Redskins 34 (My Pick: Eagles 24, Redskins 23)
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