Photo courtesy Brian Blanco/The Associated Press
Nick Foles runs for one of his three touchdowns, the other two of which came courtesy of his arm, as he led the Philadelphia Eagles to their fourth come-from-behind victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-21.
Nick Foles is growing up right before our eyes.
The third-round rookie quarterback stole the spotlight from rookie running back Bryce Brown by leading the Philadelphia Eagles (4-9) to their fourth-comeback victory this season on a time-expiring, one-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin that snapped the Eagles’ eight-game losing streak and gave them a 23-21 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7).
Brown has been the big story the past two weeks as much for his impressive 150-plus rushing games as his devastating fumbles. Foles, on the other hand, has been able to steadily grow as a quarterback in his fourth start, doing it mostly in the shadows of Brown’s spotlight.
Yesterday, the two rookies switched roles, as Brown was limited to a measly six yards on 12 carries. Two weeks after Brown broke an Eagles’ rooking rushing record, Foles broke one of his own, throwing for an Eagles’ rookie record of 381 yards on 32 of 51 passes and three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). Perhaps most impressive of all was what he didn’t do: turn the ball over.
Foles’ steady improvement is a promising sign for a team in desperate need of a spark, but it might also signal some news that would make most Eagles’ fans cringe. Since Foles is making strides in Andy Reid’s system, it would not be inconceivable to see Reid back for another year.
Photo courtesy Chris O’Meara/The Associated Press
Jeremy Maclin caught Nick Foles’ time-expiring, game-winning touchdown throw to propel the Eagles to victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, snapping their longest losing streak in 42 years.
Think about it. Reid is considered to be a quarterback guru who knows how to develop quarterbacks. Look what he did with Brett Favre in Green Bay, Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick and even Kevin Kolb (before Kolb was traded away and exposed in a new system with the Arizona Cardinals).
To bring in a new coach would almost certainly mean learning a new system, which would essentially halt any progress Foles has made and send him back to square one. Jeffrey Lurie finds himself in a precarious situation because of the backlash he would receive if he kept Reid around for another year. Yet Foles’ steady progress may be the one thing strong enough to save Reid’s job.
Is an improving rookie third-round quarterback worth keeping the much-maligned coach around for another year? Foles’ performance in the last three games of the season may determine that answer.
Philadelphia Eagles Phanatic 