Carson who? UA product Nick Foles leads Eagles to Super Bowl
Jan 21, 2018, 7:46 PM | Updated: 8:08 pm
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles throws during the first half of the NFL football NFC championship game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
When quarterback Carson Wentz went down for the NFC-leading Philadelphia Eagles with three games left in the regular season, the media and fans alike counted the Eagles out. In many minds, they were no longer a threat to make a postseason run.
Even when backup quarterback and Arizona Wildcat product Nick Foles led Philadelphia to two wins the following two weeks to secure the team’s playoff spot, it didn’t lead to much more belief in the Eagles.
Now the critics, analysts and fans have no choice.
Foles and Philadelphia are for real.
After two playoff wins, including a 38-7 NFC Championship victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, they’re headed for the Super Bowl to face Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Foles completed 26-of-33 passes (79 percent) for 352 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers in the win. He’s one of five quarterbacks to throw for at least 350 yards, three touchdowns without an interception in a conference championship game, joining Brady, Matt Ryan, John Elway and Peyton Manning.
Through three career playoff games — one outing for Philadelphia in 2013 plus two games this year — Foles has gone 72-of-96 (75 percent), averaged 8.3 yards per attempt and thrown five touchdowns to no interceptions.
Foles got going early, running Philadelphia’s offense to perfection. He made touch throws, completed quick passes under pressures from blitzes and in the third quarter put the Eagles ahead 31-7 with a perfectly-thrown ball on a 41-yard flea-flicker pass to Torrey Smith.
Is it too late for Nick Foles to win MVP? pic.twitter.com/AiApm2j76u
— Barstool Sports (@barstooltweetss) January 22, 2018
His first touchdown came when he stood in the pocket, reloaded a few times and found Alshon Jeffery for a 53-yard touchdown with 1:09 left in the second quarter.
That was the longest touchdown pass against the Vikings this season.
Nick Foles..HOW?! 😳
The Eagles take a 21-7 lead over the Vikings after Alshon Jeffery TD.pic.twitter.com/MJQaZIpS6t
— LeadingNFL ™ (@LeadingNFL) January 22, 2018
Maybe they hadn’t noticed Foles’ solid play to end the regular season, or his play in the Eagles’ 15-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Divisional Round a week ago, but people were recognizing Foles’ excellence on Sunday.
The Philadelphia crowd gave Foles a nod while simultaneously trolling the Vikings’ “Skol!” chant.
SAVAGE. @Eagles fans doing the Skol chant, but they’re saying “Foles” 😮 pic.twitter.com/ne4AZZyQyA
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 22, 2018
Foles even became a meme.
Foles on the phone with Mitch McConnell solving the government shutdown pic.twitter.com/akvf0ELIvC
— Will Bunch (@Will_Bunch) January 22, 2018
“is this the krusty krab?”
“no this is nick foles” #flyeaglesfly pic.twitter.com/8QLJDQMCco— tehr (@tehrrific) January 22, 2018
Jeff Fisher jokes were to be had (Fisher cut Foles as coach of the Los Angeles Rams, a moment that was captured on the HBO series “Hard Knocks”).
hear me out….. if you just delete every moment of nick foles's life where jeff fisher is within 200ft of him… hes had one hell of a career.
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) January 22, 2018
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) January 22, 2018
At the end of the day, safe to say that former players, fans and analysts were impressed by Foles.
In foles we trust hahaha happy for my guy
— Lesean McCoy (@CutonDime25) January 22, 2018
BREAKING Football experts began eating a record-breaking number of words about Nick Foles not being up to it as #Eagles quarterback.
— EJ Dionne (@EJDionne) January 22, 2018
Nick Foles is shredding the #1 defense in the NFL
— trey wingo (@wingoz) January 22, 2018
congrats to nick foles on randomly becoming the best qb in nfl history
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) January 22, 2018
how many people are deleting old nick foles tweets right now
— Danny Kelly (@DannyBKelly) January 22, 2018
.@NFoles_9 crushing it out here!!!!!
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) January 22, 2018
Nick Foles has 341 yards, 3 TDs, and 0 INTs today. He's the first QB to have 300+ yards, 2+ TDs, and 0 INTs in the playoffs against the team that had the NFL's #1 defense since…*stares at notecard*…Tim Tebow https://t.co/LZZ3oQgypn pic.twitter.com/ym4pa71nd7
— ProFootballReference (@pfref) January 22, 2018
"Do they pull Nick Foles early to make sure he's healthy for the Super Bowl?" is not a thought I expected to have tonight.
— Joe Giglio (@JoeGiglioSports) January 22, 2018
Ok, Aaron Rodgers can take off the Nick Foles costume now. #WeKnowItsYou
— Frank Caliendo (@FrankCaliendo) January 22, 2018
Nick Foles. pic.twitter.com/SJ2sanPCOU
— Stefan Buczko (@StefanBuczko) January 22, 2018
Viking fans watching Nick Foles complete pass after pass on their top rated defense….. pic.twitter.com/aYB3umicGj
— Stacey King (@Stacey21King) January 22, 2018
Nick Foles is simultaneously winning a huge football game and auditioning (brilliantly) for a starting job somewhere next season
— Jeff Pearlman (@jeffpearlman) January 22, 2018
Nick Foles right now pic.twitter.com/ebHUkhNb8M
— Joe (@JoeRiveraSN) January 22, 2018
Nick Foles to all the haters…#MINvsPHI pic.twitter.com/1jCfkEXR6Y
— Gabe Ikard (@GabeIkard) January 22, 2018
350+ yards, 3+ TDs, and 0 INTs, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line:
John Elway
Peyton Manning
Matt Ryan
Tom Brady
Nick Foles— ProFootballReference (@pfref) January 22, 2018
