With a 3-1 record as a starting quarterback this season while throwing 16 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, Nick Foles has earned the right to be the Eagles quarterback moving forward.
Make no mistake about it, Nick Foles is in the nidst of a history making season.
In just his second year as a pro, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback not only tied the record for passing touchdowns in a single game, with seven against the Raiders on Oakland 3rd, but he has also posted the best touchdown-to-interceptions ratio in NFL history.
With 16 touchdowns without tossing an interception this season, Foles has the opportunity to surpass Peyton Manning's record of 20 touchdowns before tossing his first interception.
Yet Foles has yet to universally capture the hearts and minds of the Eagles fanbase nor any long-term job security from his head coach Chip Kelly.
To be fair, Foles was far from perfect Sunday. He dangerously under-threw DeSean Jackson on a deep ball and lost his first fumble of the season in the fourth quarter. Yet despite those mishaps, he posted the highest passer rating ever by a visiting quarterback to Lambeau Field at 149.3.
In the process Foles completed 12 of 18 passes for 228 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions while averaging 13 yards per attempt and showing off his arm for the deep ball multiple times. Perhaps more impressive, he did not throw an incompletion in the second half, finishing 6-6.
His production not only this season but over his first ten starts are hard to be ignored.
In his last two games, Foles has thrown 10 touchdowns and 12 incompletions.
His passer rating of 132.5 is second-highest in NFL history after 10 games among quarterbacks who’ve thrown at least 100 passes.
In his last five games, his passer ratings have been 114.9, 133.3, 46.2, 158.3 and 149.3
Yet even with the Eagles posting a 3-1 record in his starts, compared to Michael Vick's 2-4 record as a starter this season, Kelly remains coy on his quarterback moving forward. That could change today, but he was noncommittal after Sunday's 27-13 win.
"Nick has a really great grasp of what we're trying to do here," Kelly said afterwards. "He doesn't make any egregious mistakes. If he's a little off, he doesn't turn the ball over. I'm really comfortable with him right now."
Whether or not Kelly ultimately names Foles the starter for the rest of the season, it is clear that the 24-year old has earned the opportunity not only to finish out this season but be the quarterback for this franchise moving forward.
Foles is almost a victim of circumstance in that being a third-round draft choice he is not afforded the same patience or perception of a first-round choice. Had Foles been a first round pick, it's likely that these back-to-back performances would be viewed through the scope of a pedigreed passer realizing his potential and coming of age as the starter.
However, for Foles, he is waiting for his name to be called for the long-term.
To his credit, labels don't seem to rattle him.
“I’m not worried about that,” Foles said. “Whatever the situation is, I respect it and I’m going to work hard. I love this team, I love the city of Philly, I love playing for this organization. Whatever they ask me, I’m ready to go do.
“I respect Chip, and whatever the situation is, I’m going to be there to support whoever’s playing.”
After ten weeks the Eagles sit tied with the Dallas Cowboys atop the NFC East, thanks in large part to Foles' strong play in relief of Vick.
Yes, there was one dreadful performance against the Cowboys thrown in there where Foles ultimately left in the third quarter with a concussion. However, that was one game out of ten in an NFL career of a quarterback who already consistently completes 60 percent of his passes and is averaging 9.24 yards per attempt this season alone.
As the Eagles move further up in the standings and further down in the draft order, it's becoming apparent that the upper echelon quarterbacks will be long gone off the board before Kelly and company go on the clock next May.
Even if one of the perceived franchise quarterbacks slip to the Eagles in the middle of the first round, if Foles continues to play at this level the franchise would be much better suited to address one of the many holes on defense or adding a wide receiver in an effort to build around Foles moving forward.
Whether or not Foles can keep up this pace for the final six games this season, he has more than earned the opportunity to take the reigns not only the rest of the season but into next year as well.
Matt Lombardo is the Editor-In-Chief of Eagledelphia and also an on-air personality on 97.5 FM The Fanatic in Philadelphia. Join the conversation and follow Matt on Twitter.
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