DeSean Jackson makes the catch on a deflected pass for the first touchdown of the game for the Eagles in their 27-13 win over the Green Bay Packers. Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com
When it was revealed that Aaron Rodgers was down with a collarbone injury on Tuesday, the advantage at quarterback instantly shifted to the Eagles. Still, looming was the last time Nick Foles started out of a career week.
Points were at a premium in the first half, but Foles would help lead the Eagles to two more touchdowns in the second half, helping them defeat the Green Bay Packers from Lambeau Field on Sunday by a score of 27-13.
Philadelphia opened the scoring just past the halfway point of the first quarter. With 6:07 remaining, Foles fired a pass deep for DeSean Jackson. The pass was deflected by a pair of Packers' defenders before floating into the waiting hands of Jackson, completing the 55-yard touchdown pass.
The Packers would suffer another injury on the next drive, as second-string quarterback Seneca Wallace, starting in place of Rodgers, suffered a groin injury, forcing third-string quarterback Scott Tolzien, fresh off the practice squad, into the game.
The teams swapped missed field goals as the Eagles failed to capitalize on a goal-line stand that ended with an interception returned 76 yards by Brandon Boykin.
The Eagles and Packers did add late field goals in the first half with Alex Henery hitting one from 25 yards and Mason Crosby from 26 yards at the close of the half.
Foles would find a familiar target for a pair of third-quarter touchdowns. Riley Cooper would score twice on a pair of Foles passes. The first was from 45 yards on the Eagles first drive of the half. The second was from 32 yards with 17 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Cooper's second touchdown followed the Packers first touchdown of the game, a 22 yard pass from Tolzien to Brandon Bostick.
The Eagles had to avoid a pair of late challenges by the Packers that appeared to be inconclusive. First, Foles lost the ball after being sacked on third-and-long. The call on the field was down by contact, but reversed after a Green Bay challenge. It was Foles first turnover of the season.
Going for it on fourth-and-four moments later, a pass to the end zone by Tolzien intended for Jordy Nelson was nearly corraled but ruled a drop as Nelson never had full control. Green Bay challenged again and lost as the ruling on the field was confirmed.
That started a drive that erased the final 9:32 of the game, as the Eagles ran the ball effectively to kill the remaining clock.
Foles shined once again, going 12-for-18 for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Again, his top target was Riley Cooper, who caught two touchdowns on three catches, tallying 102 yards.
LeSean McCoy also snapped out of a funk with 155 yards rushing on 25 carries, several of them on the final drive to close the game.
Tolzien posted a solid debut, completing 24 of 39 passes for 280 yards. He threw one touchdown and two interceptions.
The Eagles defense also posted another solid game. They held the Packers to 396 total yards and forced a pair of Tolzien interceptions, one by Boykin and the other by DeMeco Ryans.
Ryans also led the team with 13 tackles including two for loss. Vinny Curry had the team's only sack of the game.
The 5-5 Eagles return home next Sunday to face the Washington Redskins.
Kevin Durso is a contributor for Eagledelphia. Look for his Monday Review the morning after every Eagles game. Follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
