Eagles News: Nick Foles says Philadelphia will always have a special place in his heart

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Nick Foles grows emotional in what sounded like goodbye to Philadelphia - NBCSP
It was hard to miss the fact that Nick Foles kept using the past tense when talking about his Eagles career. Every single time. Foles wasn’t specifically saying goodbye, but it sure felt that way. And it was wistful, poignant and heartfelt. Exactly what you’d expect. “The big thing is what the city means to me. It’s always welcomed me and my family. It’s really been a joy to live there and wear the green and wear the jersey. No matter what, you can’t ever take that away. We were able to do some really special things. We’ll see what happens, but I’ll tell you this, I’ve enjoyed every single moment and (Philadelphia) will always have a special place in my heart. The city, the fans, the people, everything about it. There’s nothing like playing in the Linc in front of the crowd. It’s some of my favorite moments. My family got to experience them, my daughter got to experience them. We’ll see what happens, but I’ve enjoyed everything.”

Some closing thoughts on the Eagles’ 2018 season - BGN
The NFL is such a year-to-year league that the Eagles’ success over the past two seasons doesn’t necessarily guarantee more success in 2019 and beyond. But there are certainly some reasons to be optimistic about the future. Doug Pederson is a damn good head coach. Carson Wentz has shown he can play at an MVP level. The Eagles will still have key players like Malcolm Jenkins, Zach Ertz, Lane Johnson, etc. with them in 2019. Young guys like Avonte Maddox and Dallas Goedert will continue to develop. Howie Roseman and Joe Douglas have proven they can make savvy roster moves to improve the team. The Eagles truly have a LOT of questions to answer this offseason. There will be some real tough decisions to make. As always, we’ll be here every step of the way to discuss them.

The Kist & Solak Show #70: The Eagles’ Season Ends - BGN Radio
Michael Kist and Benjamin Solak react to a heart-breaking 20-14 loss to the Saints in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. What happened? Where do we go from here? Join the gang and get their reaction. Powered by SB Nation and Bleeding Green Nation.

Handing out 10 awards from the Eagles-Saints playoff game - PhillyVoice
Foles will forever be a legend in Philadelphia, for his heroic postseason run last year, culminating in the city’s first Super Bowl. This was very likely his last game as an Eagle. Foles came out on fire in this game, leading what seemed like a pair of flawless touchdown drives to start the game, but he went cold thereafter, missing more than a handful of throws that could have been big plays. He was not the Super Foles we grew accustomed to seeing in the Eagles’ biggest games. Carson Wentz is definitively the future of the quarterback position in Philadelphia, but Foles will forever be one of the most beloved sports figures in Philadelphia history.

And So It Ends - Iggles Blitz
This was one of the weirdest, wildest football seasons I’ve ever been a part of. The Eagles looked terrible at times, but came together late and made us all believe. They got us to buy in and think another run just might be possible. In the end, there were just too many injuries to overcome. I feel terrible for Alshon Jeffery. He’s been nothing short of great for the Eagles since coming here, but had the ball go through his hands to seal tonight’s loss. The 2018 Eagles were absolutely maddening at times. Blowing the late leads against CAR and TEN left me as frustrated and angry as I’ve been in a long time. Seeing this team beat the Rams, Texans and Bears made me love this bunch.

Heads Held High, Eagles’ Season Ends With Tough Loss - PE.com
An Eagles season that turned around after a November 18 loss at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome ended here amid an avalanche of injuries, an offense that went stagnant after that Foles interception – you could also add in a Brandon Graham strip-sack just a few moments before the interception that Graham couldn’t corral. Had he, the Eagles would have had the football deep in New Orleans territory late in the first quarter – and a defense that couldn’t solve Brees to get off the field for long stretches of time and, in the fatal moment, the Jeffery drop and the Lattimore interception. So, it’s over. It was a wild, invigorating ride while it lasted. In the next few weeks the Eagles will put together their plan to bounce back for the 2019 season, but for now the sting of losing and ending the quest to repeat as Super Bowl Champions stings.

The day after: Pride amid disappointment as Eagles’ magical run with Foles comes to an end - The Athletic
Pederson stood outside of the locker room after the game to greet and hug all the players as they walked in. He told them he was proud of them and that they should keep their heads held high. There was a strong feeling of pride amid the disappointment. The Eagles knew they’d blown a chance to advance and get within one game of the Super Bowl. But they’d also turned a nothing season into something. Perhaps more than anything, they took a look around and realized many of the faces next to them would be different when they returned in the spring. “This is tough because this is the last time this team will be together,” Foles said. “That’s the toughest part about this.”

Nick Foles’ legacy is intact, but loss to the Saints shows why he won’t be back with the Eagles - Inquirer
But Foles’ future is yet again unclear. The only certainty is that he won’t be the starting quarterback for the Eagles next season. There may be speculation that they will keep Foles and trade Carson Wentz this offseason. But barring something unforeseen, Wentz will be back — and likely with a contract extension — and Foles will be playing in another uniform. He wants to be a starter again, and considering the way he’s played the last two seasons, he should get that chance. Ideally for him, you’d imagine, it would be for the Eagles. “That’s a tough question,” Foles said when asked how much he wanted to stay in Philadelphia. “It’s a really unique situation, something that, honestly, I need time to step back. I love this city. I love playing there. We have three guys in that quarterback room that can play in this league.” But Wentz is the only one who can be the best player in the NFL. Nothing is guaranteed. There will be those who insist that Foles is the better option. They will point to his postseason success. They will mention Wentz’s record in close games. They will cite his injury history and his failure to finish the last two seasons. They are all fair arguments. But Foles has had his struggles as well. He’s had as many injuries. And, frankly, he didn’t get the job done on Sunday. After a torrid start, Foles reverted to the quarterback who hesitates for a click and gets timid with throws.

Refocused, NFL Divisional Round: New Orleans Saints 20, Philadelphia Eagles 14 - PFF
Foles started the game off hot with a 37-yard touchdown on the first drive of the game. Foles then orchestrated a drive down to the Saints one-yard line, where he punched it in himself on a sneak. Foles and the Eagles’ offense struggled from there. Foles under threw a deep ball to Zach Ertz that was intercepted by Lattimore and also missed his fair share of throws after the opening quarter, which stalled many Eagles drives. The Eagles’ offensive line as a unit did a good job overall protecting Foles. Foles sat in a clean pocket on the vast majority of his throws. Although they were unable to run the ball effectively, they protected the quarterback well, which is much more valuable.

Eagles fall short of repeating, but late surge reflects mettle of a champ - ESPN
What will they do with DE Brandon Graham? Graham, a free agent, has been a fixture along the defensive front in Philadelphia for nine seasons. Despite some conversations earlier in the year, the two sides never came to an agreement on a new deal. It looks like the Eagles will let Graham explore the market, with hopes that he’ll eventually be open to a hometown discount. Whether it’s Graham returning or via some new blood, Philly needs a pass-rusher (or two).

Divisional Weekend: Doobie Pump and a Big Piece of Cheese—How the Saints Saved Their Season - FMIA
Before we move on, a note about the 2018 Eagles. That is one noble franchise. In two straight years, Philadelphia lost its franchise quarterback to injury in mid-December. Last year, the Eagles went 5-1 after the Wentz injury, they won the Super Bowl for the first time, and Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles became one of the biggest heroes in the history of Philly sports. This year, the Eagles went 4-1 after the Wentz injury, they rebounded from a 4-6 start and a 41-point loss at New Orleans to make the playoffs, and Foles solidified his folk-hero status. It’s how they won, and how they lost, too. They did both with class. One of their best players in this mini-Super Bowl run, Alshon Jeffery, had a perfect Foles pass whip right through his hands with the game on the line and two minutes to play. Jeffery’s miss became a Saints pick, and the game was over. Jeffery lay on the ground, crestfallen, for a good 15 seconds. Doug Pederson hugged him and told him the sun will come up tomorrow and we love you, or something like that. Then it was Foles’ turn to comfort Jeffery, who looked like he was going to cry. That’s what good teams do. The Eagles dug a huge hole for themselves, but they did all the right things to try to get out of it. Sometimes, as we saw Sunday, the other team is just better. The home field helps too.

Defenses, the Ground Game and the Powerhouse Patriots: On to Championship Week - MMQB
Foles underthrew the ball a little, opening a door that the Saints would moonwalk through. From there, Lattimore said, the game “changed tremendously”, and he wasn’t kidding. Consider the before and after: Pre-pick: Eagles 20 plays, 169 yards. Saints 10 plays, 21 yards. Eagles 14, Saints 0. Post-pick: Eagles 27 plays, 81 yards. Saints 61 plays, 399 yards. Saints 20, Eagles 0.

Premature Elimination: Nick Foles and the Eagles’ Magic Runs Out Against the Saints - The Ringer
Foles’s run could never have lasted forever. The reason we so frequently go to the supernatural or fictional or religious to describe him is because every time he does this—no matter how many times he does this, really—it doesn’t seem believable. Foles played some of the best football anyone has ever seen last postseason, and he helped will the Eagles to an unlikely playoff berth this year. But expand the sample size out a bit, and it’s clear that those stretches of greatness are not emblematic of Foles’s career as a whole. Foles is no elite QB: Among active players, he is 17th in adjusted net yards per attempt and 20th in passer rating. Even if you include the postseason, when many QBs falter but Foles seems to shine, his ranks among active players don’t change much. Meanwhile, Wentz is just as good or better by virtually every statistic, and he’s cheaper and younger.

Cowboys still see bright future after loss vs. Rams: ‘We have a team that can win a championship’ - SportsDay
All-Pro right guard Zack Martin added: “We’re going to be back in this situation. We’re very confident about the guys we have in that locker room and how we’re going to respond to this. ”Everyone in that locker room believes we have a team that can win a championship.”

9 winners and 8 losers from the Divisional Round of the 2019 NFL playoffs - SB Nation
Loser: Nick Foles’ magic. You can’t impugn what the guy did prior to this game. The Eagles wouldn’t have been playing this weekend, or last, if Foles hadn’t stepped up as the team’s “closer” again this season with Carson Wentz hurt. But he turned into a pumpkin again, underthrowing his receivers and just unable to get the ball to his receivers when the Eagles needed it the most. With free agency looming this spring, Foles may have cost himself some money with his performance this week, maybe not much, but enough to notice.

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