Nick Foles Must Play Better for Eagles Offense to Get Back on Track

Nick Foles is about to become a case study in quarterbacks getting all of the glory when their team wins and shouldering all of the blame in a loss.

The Philadelphia Eagles were down three offensive lineman on Sunday. Foles was hurried on a sizeable number of dropbacks. There was no semblance of a rushing attack to help ease the pressure on the passer. Foles has been battered and bruised behind his makeshift protection, the hits piling up and undoubtedly taking their toll.

Fair or unfair, though, Foles needed to play better to give his team a shot at the victory. A field general must be able to prop up his offense even when the goings get tough—especially when the goings get tough.

	GMS	CMP%	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	RAT	FUM
2014	4	57.8	1,173	7.1	6	4	81.7	3
2013	13	64.0	2,891	9.1	27	2	119.2	4

The third-year signal-caller gave one of his worst performances as a professional in the Eagles' 26-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Foles completed 21 of 43 pass attempts (48.9 percent) for 195 yards with zero touchdowns and two interceptions. In fact, he failed to lead the Philadelphia offense on a single scoring drive all afternoon.

To his credit, Foles nearly authored a comeback for the fourth week in a row, guiding the Eagles all the way down to San Francisco’s 1-yard line. Ultimately, pass attempts into the end zone on third and fourth down fell incomplete.

Of course, the fact that the Eagles needed to come from behind for a fourth week in a row in the first place only serves to highlight one of the underlying problems here.

While Foles was posting big numbers and his team winning over the first three weeks of the season, the passing game was struggling with slow starts to games. Foles opened 2014 with three turnovers through two quarters versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Eagles misfired in the red zone during the first half of their tilt with the Indianapolis Colts.

The only game this season where Foles appeared to be on point from beginning to end was Week 3 against Washington.

Fans and analysts may have micro-analyzed Foles' play in the first three games, but outings such as the one in San Francisco are a much more sincere cause for alarm.

GM	CMP%	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	RAT
Wk 1 vs. JAC	60.0	322	7.2	2	1	87.5
Wk 2 @ IND	56.8	331	8.9	1	1	84.4
Wk 3 vs. WAS	65.9	325	7.9	3	0	114.4
Wk 4 @ SF	48.8	195	4.5	0	2	42.3

The question becomes, how can he find his way again?

Many may suggest that Foles' historic campaign in 2013 was a fluke. And, yes, leading the league in passer rating and etching his name into franchise and NFL record books—all while leading his team to victory in seven of its last games—in his first full season as a starter might’ve set the bar impossibly high for Foles. But there now is enough of a body of quality work to inspire confidence in Eagles fans that Foles' prospects as a productive NFL quarterback are legitimate.

The good news is Philadelphia gets some reinforcements along the offensive line beginning this week when right tackle Lane Johnson rejoins the squad after missing four games with a suspension. The returns of center Jason Kelce and All-Pro left guard Evan Mathis from injuries are much farther off, but Foles can expect both of them back at some point as well.

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

You have to wonder how much of the pounding Foles is taking is affecting him as well. You can literally see him grimacing, hobbled or slow to get up almost every time he takes a shot, which has been quite a bit lately. He’s playing hurt, of that there seems to be little doubt, and for all we know, it’s something that’s having a subtle effect on his throws.

In spite of everything, Foles was just a hair off from completing some big passes down the field against the 49ers, any one of which could’ve changed the complexion of the entire game. Actually, you could say the same thing every week this season, and it would be true. One of these days, Foles is going to connect on a bunch of plays over the top for a really spectacular performance.

As for the 49ers’ part, sometimes you just have to give the opponent credit as well. While some may have overlooked the defense due to the absences of All-Pro linebackers Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman, the fact of the matter is that San Francisco hasn’t been to three consecutive conference title games because of two players.

It’s entirely possible, if not likely, the 49ers were simply the wrong opponent at the wrong time for Foles and his patchwork offensive line.

But all excuses aside, Foles still needs to do better than he did on Sunday. Clearly, the offense has flaws right now that extend beyond who’s under center, from limitations in the running game to issues in pass protection.

The Eagles can overcome those problems and get back to their winning ways, but only if their quarterback sees them through. Some of Foles’ struggles are a result of the team around him; some are his own.

Whatever the case, it will be up to him to turn it around and keep Philadelphia’s season on track—fair or unfair.