(It should real easy to spot everyone who didn’t actually read this article.)
QB Nick Foles accounted for 2 of our 3 turnovers in the loss at Arizona. So it’s pretty clear that we should blame him for the loss, right? Sure, until you consider that he threw 62 passes and that 2 picks is just 3%. That number stacks up pretty well against most NFL QB’s. It doesn’t stack up to well against Top Ten QB’s like Peyton Manning, Steve Young and Tom Brady. Then again Nick Foles isn’t a Top 10 QB. He is most certainly NFL caliber, and given a weapon like say…DeSean Jackson, he’s capable of getting a team to the playoffs, but he is no Top 10 QB, and that level of play cannot be expected from him. The coach simply cannot put that sort of load on his shoulders.
And what about Chip Kelly? Isn’t it his job to know that Foles isn’t an elite QB? If he does know that, then why would he call 62 plays vs just 26 rushes!? The game should have never been in Foles hands to begin with, right? Sure, until you consider that all of our scoring came through the air, and with only 2 RB’s active you can lean only so hard on them. Especially against the NFL’s #2 run defense. With half an Offense, you need your Defense to keep you in the game.
So we’ll blame the Defense! They allowed not one, but TWO, long passes to happen with defenders in coverage, both times they were simply outrun after the catch by the receiver en route to a TD. So whether it was sloppy coverage, or not enough pass rush, it’s the Defense that let those scores happen, right? Sure it was. But wasn’t it the Offense’s turnovers that robbed us of points and gave extra possessions to the Cardinals, putting extra pressure on the Defense?
Wait. So now were back to blaming the Offense??
How about this? It was the EAGLES who lost the game. Kelly told Foles during the vagiants game that culture wins ballgames. Culture also loses them. We’ve been getting away with some less than fundamentally sound football since September 7th. This is the second time we faced a team above .500, and both times we ended up on the ground. That’s telling.
Our redzone percentage has been atrocious. We struggle to run the ball, in a run first offense. (O-line injuries you say? Okay. So our back-up O-linemen can’t run block? Then why are they on OUR roster?) Culture.
Our second round draft pick doesn’t even average 10 yards per catch. Our first round reach has been a healthy scratch for half of our games and despite playing in 4 straight games has yet to record a single stat. Any stat. Or the third round reach? Culture.
Our defensive philosophy sucks. We allow too many easy completions. The culture has become to say that it’s Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher. But remember when it was Nnamdi Asomugha and DRC before that? And Asante Samuel before that? And Sheldon Brown right before he was traded? DO you realize how many talented CB’s have sucked in Philadelphia since 2008? We haven’t had one we liked. Despite the EAGLES calling in Defensive gurus who focused on improving the pass rush, when it failed we always buried the CB’s. Culture.
You want a scapegoat, THERE is your scapegoat.
EAGLEMANIACAL.com 
Nick Foles is a serviceable QB. I still think his arm is suspect. But he played like I expected of a mid range starter that cant run or throw exceptionally well. We were the better team that lost our second game to a west team because of questionable play calling. I like how Chip has put the team together but his goal line calls were just pathetic. With an inch for a first down and a foot for a touchdown he should have dialed up a QB sneak. Got the first at a minimum and killed the clock. He blew it. and im reminded in this game why lurie is a crap owner and why we wont win a superbowl. Loose ends as usual.
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This loss to me is one the HC. To failures on that drive that he chose to kick a field goal on. The first was failing to challenge the spot of the second down run of Polk. If nothing else it seemed he got enough to get the first down. Maybe even score. The second error was to take Polk out and run a SHOTGUN run with McCoy. There were at least three Cardinals who got inside penetration on the play. Shady had no chance. Chip blew the play calling. I would also add the Eagles are putting too much in these rookies this season and the mistakes are showing. Mathews on the final play didn’t have proper setting to stay in bounds. Huff had a disastrous fumble. Mathews has a drop off his own friggin knee. Matt Tobin is a turnstile, but I didn’t fully blame him for it. The scheme was overall faulty. Every shotgun play was predictable. Herremans would look for Foles to lift his leg. He would then tap Molk, and Molk would hike the ball. Peters tried to anticipate this, but even he struggled, because THE CARDINALS KNEW THE PREDICTABLE SNAP COUNT! The Eagles line was at a disadvantage all game. That’s why Chip should have called more under center plays with varying snap counts and silent counts. Frankly when you’re playing a PAC-10 cupcake you can pull off something like that. After all your team has more talent, but this is the NFL. That’s not going to fly.
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I agree with you EZ. I think Foles is no savior but he can move the ball. We dont need a superstar QB but at least make his job easier with the right plays. I would classify Foles as a very solid game manager. And in the near term I dont see any better alternative and in the longterm Im not ready to pull trigger on a new direction. Chip needs to get with his own program.
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I’m a “Foles guy”, but I have to admit he’s not getting the job done this season and he’s been terrible at protecting the football. The offense as a whole has been awful in the Red Zone which makes no sense considering how the Eagles have so many players over six four in height. I think it starts with the play calling. I think even Chip is second guessing himself and his offense in the Red Zone. He’s trying to be to cute and out think it. Red Zone is man verses man. The Eagles players are simply going to have to win their battles. If you can’t get one yard in the NFL then you probably shouldn’t be in the NFL. Just ask Joe Bugel and Barry Switzer.
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The Eagles were a player away from being a superbowl calibur team last year. You keep Jackson add Sproles and Jenkins you are elite. You drop Jackson and you are back to square one. I told you years ago there was going to be a QB musical chairs lasting about 3- 5 years in Philly. If they cant sign Foles for the right price you can bet he is getting his walking papers and Sanchez will sign a one year deal. Sanchez will be gone in two years and the Eagles will draft the next prospect . In all Lurie will buy an additional 3 years to make decisions. His two years of additional Reid years count as two wasted years. When will you blame Lurie?
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