What Was It That Spooked Nick Foles?

Earlier in the season, I watched the tape of the Eagles battle with the Denver Broncos and I was wondering why the Birds secondary was playing so scared.  It was as if they had seen a ghost or a scary movie on the night before the game.  They were playing ten to twelve yards off the receiver, whom they were supposed to be covering.

I knew that they had been intimidated by all the talk of how great Peyton Manning was and how he was a sure Hall of Famer.  It had spooked nearly all of them.

I don’t know what spooked Nick Foles yesterday, but something did.  He wasn’t himself.  He seemed to frightened by the moment.  The chance to beat the Dallas Cowboys, put the team on top of the NFC East and win the team’s number one quarterback position was right there before them.

Prior to yesterday’s game against the Cowboys, Foles had been able to handle everything.  He was level-headed during his battle with Michael Vick for the starting quarterback position.  The former Arizona quarterback had responded to all the questions during the quarterback competition with class and composure.

“Nothing bothers this kid”, I said to myself numerous.

After losing the battle for the starting job, he showed us he could be a terrific backup for Vick by the way he continued to prepare for each game like he was the starter.   Sure as day he stepped up to the plate when he was needed in the Giants game.  He played even better the next week against the Buccaneers, but yesterday Foles wasn’t able to handle the big stage.

We didn’t play like the cool-headed youngster, anymore.  He seemed to be in a panic.

The first time he was sacked he was looking downfield for somebody to get open, but didn’t see LeSean McCoy releasing out of the backfield with a little room between himself and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter, who was responsible for him.  All the other receivers were being covered like a blanket on the play.  He wound up getting sacked by Dallas defensive end George Selvie.

In the Tampa Bay and New York games, Foles looked up McCoy when he got his opportunities.  He wasn’t seeing the field yesterday like he did the week before in Tampa Bay.  I don’t know what spooked the kid but something did. Giants with class.  He was more than ready when Vick sprained his hamstring.

Nothing had bothered Nick Foles before the Dallas Cowboys game, but he lost his way yesterday.  In the two other games, everything had worked for him.  He had gotten the ball out of his hands as quickly as possible, but the youngster couldn’t see anything yesterday.  He couldn’t find the receivers who were open and he couldn’t get them the football.

Foles completed only 11 of 29 passes for 80 yards.  His quarterback rating was pathetic at 46.2.

Foles had been so accurate with his throws against the Giants and the Buccaneers.  Foles couldn’t throw the ball into the ocean against the Cowboys.  Jason Avant was wide open in the end zone and Foles threw the ball into the ground.  He threw the ball behind his receivers or over their heads.