Sure — when your NFL Team is ninety-two years old, like a lifetime full of tons of happy memories and some that you’d probably rather forget — it’s often hard to believe that one moment defines you.
And of course — from a franchise that stopped Emmitt Smith on 4th and 1 in 1995, threw a 46-yard dagger into the Chiefs’ secondary in the second half of Super Bowl LIX to end the competitive phase of the contest, and pulled off not one but three Miracles in the Meadowlands — it’s hard to pick just one moment. But it certainly helps when ESPN’s SportsCenter 30 for 30 has produced a film about one of those moments.
Eight years ago this weekend , the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. That brought home the first-ever Lombardi Trophy for the franchise, even without quarterback Carson Wentz, Jason Peters, Darren Sproles, or Jordan Hicks, by defeating the New England Patriots, perhaps the best quarterback-coach combination in NFL history.
Right before halftime with the Eagles up 15–12 — Philadelphia running back Cory Clement took a swing pass 55 yards from Nick Foles. Three plays later, Philadelphia had a 4th-and-goal from the one-yard line.
One aspect that defined the Eagles’ 2017–2018 season was their boldness in keeping the offense on the field on fourth down. Right before halftime and nursing a three-point advantage, this was no exception for Doug Pederson. Calling timeout — Pederson wildly scanned his playsheet. When Foles ran over to the sideline, and their eyes met , he immediately asked for Philly, Philly . This play had been included in the Eagles’ Install Package two weeks earlier for the NFC Championship Game against Minnesota. Moments later , Cory Clement took the snap, flipped it to Trey Burton, who threw the ball to Nick Foles for a touchdown to put the Eagles up by ten.
The irony was that earlier in the game, the Patriots tried to run a similar halfback pass to Tom Brady, who dropped the ball.
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Philly Special was not the play that won the Super Bowl. The Eagles would need some 4th-quarter magic on both offense and defense to win 41–33, and even trailed 33–32 in the final period.
But what the Philly Special did was to symbolize the fearlessness of the 2017-2018 Philadelphia Eagles. Not only the confidence to go for it on fourth down, but to run a play that they had never called before.
That same boldness and fearlessness wasn’t just a perfect fit for the Eagles.
It was a perfect reflection of the city that they have called home since 1933.
One whose unyielding resolve had never waivered in its support — each season waiting for another championship celebration — the first since 1960.
One year ago, thousands of fans who enjoyed a 55–23 rout of the Washington Commanders at the Linc — passed a bronze statue capturing that decisive moment when Foles and Pederson decided on a play to stun the opposing team completely. It will forever live as the most remembered play from a storied franchise nearly as old as the NFL itself — a play known now to the ages with just two words:
As of this writing the Eagles are still without an offensive coordinator and a lot of favored options are off the board. With Mike McDaniels opting to stay in warm weather with the LA Chargers, Brian Daboll signing as the Tennessee Titans head coach, and even long shot Bears OC, Declan Doyle declining the position to stay in Chicago. It leaves the Eagles questioning what the best option is for the Super Bowl caliber roster. To quote the famous Matthew McConaghy in a Lincoln ad, “Sometimes you havto go back to go forward.” Here I’ll go through a couple famous names you know but may not have considered for Offensive Coordinator.
Frank Reich (Offensive Coordinator for Super Bowl 52)
Yup all these picks are from Super Bowl 52 and now out of league which means you can probably guess at least one but the last one will SHOCK YOU (not clickbait/s). But about Frank, he quickly went from golden boy who oversaw everything on the Eagles offense that was going to lead the Colts as their head coach to out of the league and an interim head coach/advisor at Stanford all within a few years. You think he wants another shot at the big leagues? What better spot than the place he helped deliver a Super Bowl? Sounds good to me. While it might be strange for him to return under Nick Sirianni since Sirianni was the offensive coordinator under Frank during his 4-year stint with the Colts, I say why not get weird. Frank is a proven play caller which is exactly what the Eagles have been missing and the odds of him getting success and immediately leaving are slim since he already tried it.
Doug Pederson (Head Coach for Super Bowl 52)
Yeah you probably guessed it and I know what you’re thinking, “he was the Super Bowl winning coach why would he take a back seat?” Answer is that Sirriani has always managed big heads who think that they can control a room. Doug was also a bit of a trend setter in the NFL. He popularized going for it on fourth and short which has become a standard across the league. Honestly I think this is the worst of the trio I’m going to pitch so I’m keeping it short. Considering he also wasn’t a play caller when he was head coach and only had two years of experience in Kansas City. Still, any experience is better than no experience right? Maybe not considering my next pick.
Nick Foles (Super Bowl 52 MVP)
So here’s where it gets a little strange. He doesn’t have experience coaching and jumping straight into a position where a team expects instant success might be a struggle. What he lacks in coaching experience he makes up with on the field experience. Even if you ignore his famous Super Bowl run, which would be dumb, he was in the league for a decade and played with six different franchises. He’s had a full array when it comes to coaching quality. From the greats like Andy Reid and Doug Pederson to average in Jeff Fischer and Frank Reich and even the bad like Jeff Saturday and Matt Eberflus. Seeing what has or hasn’t worked by good and bad coaches gives him plenty of experience when it comes to running an offense. Plus he runs a podcast where he breaks down football and if you’ve listened you know he can communicate it all very clearly.
Do I think that they’ll end up any of these guys? Not necessarily. Do I think these guys can be successful? Honestly yes, it helps to walk into one of the best rosters in the league with players that have a well-placed chip on their shoulders. But if they do take the job, they’ll have the added bonus of being accustomed to Philadelphia and its media. They also might get a little of a longer leash given that all three helped deliver a Super Bowl. Knowing my luck they sign no one here in the next couple hours but it could’ve been fun. Go bird dickheads!
Photo Credit: Clem Murray
Hello, I’m a greater Philadelphia native writing mostly about the Eagles and the rest of the NFL. Articles aren’t … More about Kyle Lavin
New England Patriots fan Brian Kureta screams among his fellow fans on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Jackson’s LODO in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
“Honestly, man, after losing two Super Bowls to Eli Manning and one to Nick Foles,” Grant’s friend Jordan Buck, a Pats fan from Lakewood, told me, “I’m not overlooking anybody. But you’ve got to be confident in your squad, so I like my team’s chances.”
Love them, though?
Not after Osweiler. Or Foles. Or Eli twice.
“Yeah, (Stidham) hasn’t played in a long time,” Buck shrugged. “But I mean, he played for us for three years, so he knows us well.”
New Englanders packed into Jackson’s LODO for a pep rally just within shouting distance of Coors Field. Most of the shouts were distinctly of the NC-17 variety.
Patriot Pat signs New England Patriots fan Sumaya Faggan’s bag on Saturday at Jackson’s LODO in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
“I LOVE DRAKE MAYE!” a Patriots fan cried.
“(EXPLETIVE) THE BRONCOS!” Another screamed.
The “Night Before” rally was a brainchild of the Pikes Peak Pats fan club. PPP typically hosts a night-before primer on the eve of an AFC title game in Denver, but it’s been a while. January 2016 brought roughly 700 Front Range Pats fans together. PPP president Anne Stone told me they were expecting at least 1,000 this time around — if not more. With the sun setting and temps falling at 5:15 p.m., a line of at least 100 patrons was seen snaking out from the front door of Jackson’s and around the block.
Near the DJ stage on the second floor, the Patriots’ “All-Access” television show did a live shoot for the locals back in Beantown. Pat Patriot danced in one corner. A giant ice sculpture of the New England logo rested in another. Former New England kicker Adam Vinatieri, the Patriots’ honorary captain for Sunday, showed up for his “All-Access” cameo as faithful waved tiny cardboard heads of New England rookie tackle Will Campbell.
“We all we got?” Vinatieri asked.
“We all we need!” they cried.
“We all we got?” Vinatieri repeated.
“We all we need!”
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Vinatieri said.
Former New England Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan signs autographs for fans on Saturday at Jackson’s LODO in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
It’s OK to roll your eyes. But not at the cause. PPP ran a raffle during the rally on Saturday, with a plethora of signed Pats items, in order to raise money for the Pikes Peak Region Peace Officers Memorial.
As a Boston native, Stone’s accent is thicker than chowdah, bless her, with a laugh that lilts like a fly ball onto Lansdowne Street. She moved to the Front Range 30 years ago when her husband got a new gig — and never left.
The Pikes Peak Pats Club started in 2006. Stone became president a year after that. PPP counts about 90 active members now. Before the pandemic, it was closer to 400. Things are more transient now, with East Coast military transplants looking for a good watch pah-ty coming and going as Uncle Sam ships them in and out of the Springs.
“It’s good,” Stone said. “You get to meet new people all the time.”
Pats owner Robert Kraft has even visited PPP tailgates and parties over the years, although he wasn’t on the guest list for Saturday’s rally.
And if Stone’s got any PTSD, deep down, she sure as heck wasn’t showing it.
“To tell you the truth, in all honesty, I think a lot of people, all of my Pats friends, everyone’s hearts are broken for poor Bo Nix,” Stone said. “Some of us are old enough that he could be our son. Here was a 25-year-old who spent the night crying. It’s just awful.”
A pause.
And cue the “but” …
“That being said, I don’t think we’re a shoo-in,” Stone continued. “I do think we’re going to win. That’s my gut reaction. You know what they say: ‘Any given Sunday.’ It’s true. And we don’t have good luck (in Denver).”
Oh and four.
As in, uh-oh and four.
“That worry you?” I asked Grant.
“Yes, it does,” he replied. “It worries me a lot.”
He just wishes Stidham would stop giving him that old Osweiler vibe.
“So hopefully,” Grant said nervously, “history doesn’t repeat itself.”
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Since the creation of the NFL team, the Philadelphia Eagles, one fact that their fans are quite familiar with is the emotion that surrounds their support.
Credit: Bruce Emmerling-Pixabay
Especially with the playoffs, which are usually filled with heartbreak, loyalty, and belief. However, they have come out on top in some victories that will be etched in the minds of every Eagles fan and will be continually remembered.
In today’s world of sport, brands are also leveraging this emotional investment. We have seen how global brands — including the best crypto casinos — are sponsoring teams, broadcast partnerships, and fan engagement campaigns. This move adds another layer to how fans interact with the sport.
So, what are these moments that fans have set aside as “religious” dates for the Philadelphia Eagles? What playoff wins have validated that the city and fans breathe football?
This post will look at some endearing moments to remember and why it means to wear green.
4 Iconic Eagles’ Playoff Moments That Would Never Be Forgotten
Here are some of the top moments etched in the hearts of every Eagles fan:
1) 1960 NFL Championship: Ending Lombardi’s Reign
Before the Super Bowl became the thing, the Eagles stunned the football world by clinching their most historic win in a match against the Green Bay Packers in the 1960 NFL Championship game. Led by the legendary Buck Shaw, the team went up against the power-packed Packers, who were dominating the league at the time.
However, with a combination of a great strategy, a strong defense, and a lethal attack led by Ted Dean, they were able to seal a late victory by a score of 17-13. And that was the first NFL title that the team won.
2) 1980 NFC Championship: Knocking Off Dallas
In 1980, the Philadelphia Eagles decided it was time to decorate their trophy room, and what better way to do that than against their bitter rivals, the Dallas Cowboys. In the 1980 NFC Championship game that ended 20-7, the Eagles went on to ease to victory.
This win means so much more because it was against the Cowboys, who had dominated the NFC throughout the 1970s. And it was an added bonus because they were able to prevent the team from reaching another Super Bowl final.
3) 2003 Divisional Round: “4th and 26”
Every hardcore Eagles fan would always remember the historic “4th and 26th” game that set a precedent for the team. In the 2003 NFC Divisional round, the Eagles had to claw out a win against the Green Bay Packers in the brutal cold. A match that most already tipped in the opponents’ favor, the Eagles were visibly behind in the fourth quarter.
Then they faced fourth-and-26 from their 25-yard line before the magic happened when Donovan McNabb found Freddie Mitchell on a crossing route for 28 yards. This helped them win in overtime with a score line of 20-17.
As NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Ray Didinger put it:
“He will always be remembered for the 4th-and-26. A lot of better players came to Philadelphia and played for the Eagles, and won’t be remembered as vividly as Freddie Mitchell will be remembered for that one play.”
4) Super Bowl LII: The Ultimate Victory
The final topping on the cake came at Super Bowl LII, and cemented the result as the greatest win in Eagles’ history. As the underdogs in a match against the Patriots, who had names like Tom Brady and Bill Belichick on their roster, they even expected them to lose.
However, in a shock of the decade, Nick Foles decided to drop an A-class performance that saw him get three touchdowns and throw for 373 yards. He even went on to catch a touchdown on the famous Philly Special. And this helped the Eagles earn their first-ever Super Bowl title in over 50 years.
As Doug Pederson, Eagles’ coach said after the Super Bowl victory:
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Carson Wentz arrived in Philadelphia with big expectations, giving the Eagles fans hope.
Unfortunately, then came the injuries and setbacks that stole the momentum.
It’s a story that feels more human than headline-glamour, and Philly still has mixed feelings.
The Promising Rise
Drafted as the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Wentz showed promise. But it was in 2017 that things really kicked into gear, and by the time he got hurt near season’s end, he’d thrown for 3,296 yards with 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions in just 13 games. His passer rating was 101.9 in that stretch. He also rushed for 299 yards that season.
Credit: NFL Network-Facebook
That stretch had everyone talking. He had the kind of spark that made fans believe he could be special. And when you look at what defines the greats, like steady leadership and the ability to make a team feel, it’s easy to see why some thought Wentz might join top NFL quarterbacks of all time. For a brief stretch, he looked like he was heading straight there.
…And Then The Fall
One play in Los Angeles changed everything. An awkward step, an ACL tear, and suddenly his season was done. Nick Foles took over. They won the Super Bowl, and Wentz had to watch the celebration from the sideline.
Injuries have followed him ever since. Back, knee, head. All at different times. He played only 11 games in 2018, and the numbers were fine, but the rhythm was gone, as was the explosiveness.
In 2019, he posted more than 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns, but still, it simply wasn’t the same as he was pressing. By 2020, the confidence had cracked. The throws that once looked automatic were suddenly forced or late.
He bounced from Philadelphia to Indianapolis to Washington. Each stop brought the same story: flashes of talent, followed by inconsistency.
NFL executives started using a brutal word – “broken.”
They said he looked fine in practice, but when the games started, everything had to be perfect around him. If it wasn’t, his mechanics unraveled. He’d freeze up, double-clutch, miss the open read. He wasn’t the same athlete anymore, either, with the pocket becoming a cage.
The Verdict
By late 2023, the league had made up its mind, and analysts compared his situation to Sam Bradford, who was talented, got paid well, but was out of the league before 35.
And yet, people who’ve worked with him still like him. They describe him as earnest, coachable, and even kind. He tried to fix things, tried to make it work. But sometimes, football doesn’t give you another shot.
Why It Unraveled
The physical damage was part of it. But the mental toll might’ve been worse. Wentz never seemed to fully trust his body again. That led to hesitation. Hesitation led to mistakes. And mistakes, in the NFL, cost you your job.
The Eagles moved on. The Colts moved on. Washington did too.
More recently (2025), he signed with the Minnesota Vikings, seeing action after younger QBs were injured and revealing that he’s now more of a stopgap option than a long-term franchise leader.
Why Philly Fans Still Feel Something
If you’re a Philadelphia fan, you saw Wentz do something rare. He gave hope and made big throws. He helped the team earn an 11-2 record in games he started in that 2017 run, then got hurt, and the team won the Super Bowl with the backup. A lot of complicated feelings: gratitude, frustration… and sadness for what might have been.
The human side matters. Wentz wasn’t perfect; he made bad throws and had games where he struggled. But he also overcame injuries, came back, and tried to lead. Loved his team. The “could’ve-been” element resonates.
Ideally, What Could He Have Been?
Had Wentz stayed healthy, kept improving, and maybe adapted his game, he might have joined the ranks of the top-tier quarterbacks – those are QBs who remain elite 8-10 years, evolve when defenses evolve, maintain leadership.
The missing piece in Wentz’s story is the “sustained” part. One season isn’t enough. Injuries interrupted the rhythm. Changes in team staff, receivers, and the offensive line all added turbulence.
The Takeaway
So here’s what I came away with: Wentz achieved a level that gave hope. But he didn’t stay there. That doesn’t mean he failed. He still had a good career, made plays, and was a starting QB for many years. But he didn’t reach the “special” level that the very best QBs show.
And for Philly fans, it’s okay to feel both pride and disappointment. He gave you the thrill of imagining a franchise quarterback. You bought into that. Then reality hit. And life moved on.
In a world where so many QBs never even get close to what Wentz did in 2017, his story is one of both promise and caution. A reminder that in the NFL, being very good isn’t enough if you want to be legendary. Being durable, being consistent, being the guy on the late-night drives in January, that’s where the legends live. Wentz almost got there. He had that moment. But he didn’t live there.
And maybe that’s okay. Because sometimes the most human quarterback stories aren’t about records or Hall-of-Fame résumés. They’re about the rise, the fall, the “what if,” and how fans remember it.
You’ve got to give Carson Wentz credit for this. He just keeps on coming back. Last year — as a member of the Chiefs when asked what NFL quarterback that he would trade places with for one chance — one opportunity — of course he wanted to suit up instead of Nick Foles’ in Super Bowl LII’s 41–33 Philadelphia win over New England.
And who could blame him?
This Sunday — Carson Wentz has resurfaced against the Eagles once again as he leads the Minnesota Vikings against 4–2 Philadelphia. It’s just another episode of Wentz vs. the team that drafted him in the first round in 2016. After being traded in 2021 and passing an incoming Nick Sirianni like ships in the night when Nick left Indianapolis and Carson went to the Colts — Wentz has now played for five NFL teams. Last season — he ended the year trying his best to support Patrick Mahomes in the second half of the Eagles 40–22 domination of Kansas City in Super Bowl LIX.
Eight years ago — when Wentz ripped multiple ligaments in his knee against the Rams in Los Angeles — almost everyone thought that although the Eagles 11–2 season was over that Wentz was it’s future franchise quarterback. But coming back from injury too soon in 2019 coupled with other ailments, a regression, and a sense of invincibility amid a 4–11–1 season all contributed to finally sending Wentz packing.
To Wentz’s point — what if things had been different? Do we really think that he could have put on an aerial performance worthy of outscoring Tom Brady and the Patriots in Super Bowl LII? Or if Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni had refused to give up and re-tooled and fortified around him in 2021 — keeping Jalen Hurts on the sideline? Would the Eagles have advanced to play in Super Bowl LVII and win Super Bowl LIX? And would Jalen Hurts have been satisfied as a backup quarterback?
The answer to certainly all of these questions is no. Even at the level that Wentz was playing at in 2017 would have been a hard sell to believe that in his second year he could have mirrored Nick Foles’ veteran offensive output in the Super Bowl. Even with Nick Foles already gone it would have been difficult to fortify the future around Wentz — a quarterback who had already asked for a trade. And would Jalen Hurts have been the player asking for that trade a few years later if the Eagles had been unwavering in their support of Carson Wentz?
Carson Wentz is now 32 years old. It’s increasingly unlikely to be targeted as a franchise quarterback with another NFL team. Odds are that he’ll finish his career as a journeyman — filling in for JJ McCarthy until his return or a backup to players like Patrick Mahomes. The difference between the former first-round draft pick and the team that drafted him in April 2016 has one constant — it turned out to be a missed opportunity for both.
In One Hundred Years of Football We’ve Seen It All on the Field. Almost.
When you’ve had professional football in your city limits for a century — chances are you haven’t missed much. But if Philly football is asking for a gift from Santa in September— here is something to wish for.
Since 1924, The Philadelphia Eagles and Frankford Yellow Jackets gave Philadelphia some incredible moments. No, we don’t have ten Super Bowl trophies or three dynasty’s. What we do have, are some cherished moments of exhilaration for one of America’s most important original cities.
We’ve seen devastating defenses like the 1991 Gang Green and the Jim Johnson aggressive scheme of the early 2000s. We’ve seen miracle seasons that seemed to come out of nowhere like 1960 and 2017. We’ve seen dominating performances when it seemed like our teams were almost unbeatable like the 1948–1949 Eagles and the 1926 Frankford Yellow Jackets. And we’ve seen such pulsating physical performances that added the the lore of Veterans Stadium that no away team wanted to visit.
Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
But what Philadelphia has never seen is a quarterback who wasn’t just good enough to win the Super Bowl, but to take the Eagles back there for years to come. Many thought that the Eagles had that quarterback in Donovan McNabb, Ron Jaworski, or Randall Cunningham. But injuries, changes in coaching, as well as squandered opportunities meant that none of the Philly quarterbacks saw even one championship.
The one time that Philly football had a signal caller that brought the Eagles multiple shiny reminders in the trophy case was Tommy Thompson. Thompson led the Eagles to championships in 1948 and 1949. They should have had one in 1947. Just like in 2022.
Aside from Thompson, only Nick Foles, Harry Homan, and Norm Van Brocklin have won championships as NFL Quarterbacks in Philadelphia.
None have been able to repeat.
If Kellan Moore and Nick Sirianni can get Jalen Hurts to be the nearly unstoppable force that he was in 2022–2023, then the quarterback who came one possession from Super Bowl glory can capture his first Super Bowl title at age 26 with perhaps a decade left in his career for many more.
How A Kid from Texas Gave Philly What They Craved for 57 Years.
During a December 2012 away game in Tampa Bay— on an under .500 Eagles team that was in the midst of the longest losing streak in over fourty years — rookie quarterback Nick Foles took over for an injured Michael Vick in the fourth quarter and threw the winning touchdown pass with no time remaining to secure a 23–21 victory.
No, the story of Nick Foles is not the story of an Eagles franchise quarterback. It’s not the story of a first round draft pick, nor of a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Is this the story of how a kid from Texas gave us more than any of that.
In fact, he gave us more than the the first round, franchise quarterback that was on the Eagles roster at the same time.
Photo Courtesy of Wikapedia.com
It’s not the first time that this is happened. In 1939, quarterback Davey O’Brien was drafted by the Eagles from Dallas, Texas. Jalen Hurts is also from the Houston area. It was, however the first time that an Eagles quarterback had delivered a championship in 57 years.
In his over 30 years of coaching in Philadelphia, Andy Reid knew quarterbacks. He had coached other position groups over the years, but his plan to build a football team from the ground up always centered around that franchise quarterback. When he drafted a tall, strong-armed kid from South Texas who had thrown the ball all over the field at the University of Arizona.
Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
On Thursday, after an NFL Career that included stints with the Eagles, St. Louis Rams, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, and Kansas City Chiefs — Foles announced his retirement. The Eagles have retired his number 9, and will honor him before the September 16th home game against the Atlanta Falcons.
When Nick Foles joined the Eagles in 2012, the team was at end of an era. After a 3–1 start, the Eagles would finish the season with a 1–11 slide and end up with a 4–12 record. Andy Reid would be fired that same December.
The next season- amid the Chip Kelly Era — Foles would beat out Michael Vick as the Eagles starter. Over the next two seasons — Foles would run the majority of Chip Kelly’s fast-paced, no-huddle offense, even tying an NFL record for touchdowns with seven against the Oakland Raiders and going on a run of 27 touchdowns to 2 interceptions.
After two seasons — with the NFL in amazement — Chip Kelly traded Nick Foles to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for Sam Bradford. After joining Andy Reid once again in Kansas City in 2016 — Doug Pederson brought him back to Philadelphia for the 2017–2018 season. The rest is history.
Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
Taking over for an injured Carson Wentz in 2017, Foles led the Eagles on a magical run that would gain them the NFC First Seed, NFC Championship, Super Bowl victory, and Super Bowl MVP. In an offensive dual against perhaps the best ever NFL quarterback-head coach combination in Tom Brady and Bill Belichick — it was Foles who brought the Eagles out on top throwing for three touchdowns and 373 yards. The following year in the playoffs, the reins were turned over to Foles again when Wentz was injured.
After the 2019 season — the Eagles picked up Foles’ $20 Million option — but without a commitment to be the starter, Nick declined and left in free agency. The Eagles would never return to Super Bowl form with Wentz under center. Likewise, Foles would never reach the heights that he did as an Eagle.
In 2020, once again relegated to a backup role this time in Chicago — Foles entered the fourth quarter of a game against the Atlanta Falcons down 26–10. With 6:44 left in the fourth quarter, Foles threw three touchdown passes to win the game.
Foles was overlooked as the kid from Texas when Philadelphia was consumed with a draft miss on Russell Wilson in 2012. The Eagles traded him away in 2015 when it was thought that he wasn’t the perfect fit for our no-huddle offense. The Eagles let him go when they couldn’t commit to him as the starter in 2019 because we had a $150 million quarterback and first round draft pick in Carson Wentz. You have to wonder what would have happened if he had led the Eagles to the NFC Championship Game in 2019 with a win in New Orleans and saved us another two years of the Carson Wentz Era?
We’ll never know if Andy Reid’s rebuilding plan in 2012 included Nick Foles as a centerpiece. What we do know is that the homage that will be paid during a pre-game ceremony cannot begin to even out the magical championship that he gave this city — one that he had been starved from for nearly 57 years.
The tragedy of Nick in Philly is not about Foles. Rather, it is about how we lamented not getting Russell Wilson. that we questioned Foles as the quarterback who could lead Chip Kelly’s no-huddle offense. Or that we were ready to throw in the towel when Carson Wentz was injured in 2017.
No matter. Despite all that, Nick Foles delivered for us anyway.
After 11 years, Nick Foles has called it quits—he’s retiring from the NFL. Fittingly, he’s doing it as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at his five most unforgettable performances with the team.
Following an injury to starter Carson Wentz in 2018, Foles took over in an impossible situation. He had started that season due to the former still recovering from an ACL and LCL tear the season prior, but things were rocky once Wentz went down for the second time. Sitting at 6-7, the team’s only real chance was going undefeated the rest of the way and getting some help on top of that. Upsetting the 11-2 Los Angeles Rams in Week 15 was a start, but the 10-4 Houston Texans were up next—Foles took charge.
Not only did Foles set his own career high in passing yards with 471, but he set the franchise record, too. Completing 35 of his 49 attempts (71.4 percent) basically fresh off the bench with four touchdown passes to just one interception, he was incredible. It was enough to clinch an intense 32-30 win at home, setting up a do-or-die Week 17.
That was another game that the Eagles won, so they finished 9-7. But they had a problem. Needing the Chicago Bears (who had already clinched the playoffs and were thus content with benching their starters) to beat the Minnesota Vikings, things still looked dire. As fate would have it, the Bears came through and Philadelphia made the postseason.
If we’re just looking at individual performances from Foles, this one is far closer to average than good stats-wise. He wasn’t even on the field when the most memorable play of this game happened, but he’s the one who made it possible. Let’s revisit Cris Collinsworth’s notoriously-coined “double doink” affair in wildcard weekend against, ironically, the Bears.
Following three consecutive wins at the end of the 2018 regular season (of course, including the one against the Texans), the Eagles were back in the postseason when it looked like they had no chance. Against the soaring Bears, Foles—but especially Philadelphia‘s defense, admittedly—kept the game close.
He had a sufficient day moving the ball with 25 completions on 40 attempts (62.5 percent), 266 yards in the air, and two touchdown passes versus two interceptions (one of which was a ball wrestled out of Wendell Smallwood’s hands). But his last drive of the game—with everything on the line—is when he stood out. Taking the Eagles all the way down the field with a roaring Soldier Field crowd making that just a bit harder, Foles was as cool as a cucumber and threw for a sweet touchdown on fourth-and-goal.
The Bears swiftly drove down the field, but the Eagles’ defense gave themselves at least a slight chance by making Bears kicker Cody Parkey take a stab at a 43-yard attempt. The kick was partially blocked and went off both the left upright (single doink), the crossbar (double doink), and out—Foles and the Birds lived to see another day with a 16-15 victory.
Tying what could very well be an unbreakable NFL record (more so due to the “code” and not any athletic limitations) would probably be first on the list for most quarterbacks who only started 63 total games in the league, but not for Foles—we’ll see why in a bit. Getting back to this matchup, passing for a whopping seven touchdowns in a 49-20 win against the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders was a game to remember.
Foles had fewer incompletions (six) than touchdowns on the day, throwing for 406 yards on 28 pass attempts. He threw for his last touchdown with some time to spare in the third quarter, evidence of how hard this record is to beat—games aren’t ever close enough to justify keeping a starting quarterback off the bench after that seventh touchdown pass. There’s a code that teams do respect, so Foles should be in the history books for a very long time.
The impressiveness of passing for seven touchdowns aside, this was a huge victory that set up great things to come for Philadelphia. Starting the season 3-5 and scoring just 10 points combined against their division rival Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants at home in the previous two weeks, things were spiraling for head coach Chip Kelly and his team. But that all changed with this win.
The Eagles won seven of their last eight games, clinching the NFC East title and finishing with a 10-6 record. The playoffs were a bit of a heartbreaker, losing to Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints on a last-second field goal in the wildcard round, but this record-setting afternoon for Foles made that a reality. You know, if that season did go poorly, perhaps the Eagles wouldn’t have signed him in 2017. That’s purely speculation, but the 2013 season was his defining run and probably a big reason why he was brought back.
Speaking of which, why was 2017 so special, anyway?
Following a 10-2 start to their season, the Eagles lost Wentz to that aforementioned ACL and LCL tear for the rest of their 2017 season—he was basically the undisputed MVP of the league at this time. Foles, signed to be the backup in the offseason after contemplating retirement during his post-Eagles days, was there to take over for a Philadelphia team starving for a championship. On paper? That sounds pretty bad.
And, immediately, almost nobody believed in him. In fairness, there was really no reason to even after he clinched out a low-scoring nail-biter against the Atlanta Falcons to make it to the NFC Championship in the first place. Foles, with all the pressure in the world and a Super Bowl berth on the line, had what was quite easily the best performance of his career since that Raiders game—four-and-a-half years later.
Against what was regarded as the NFL’s best defense at the time by many, Foles torched the 14-3 Minnesota Vikings. On 33 throwing attempts, he had 26 completions (78.8 percent), 352 passing yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He led the Birds to a 38-7 massacre—and their first trip to the Super Bowl in 13 years.
With a performance like this, that’s when real hope started to be put in Foles. One game doesn’t completely sell anyone on a player, but people were at least starting to respect the Eagles somewhat. The team was still an underdog heading into the Big Game, but they proved one thing, in the words of legendary center Jason Kelce: “Hungry dogs run faster”.
The hungry dog did indeed run faster against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at what was arguably the peak of their dominance. Foles didn’t just win, and he didn’t just win Super Bowl MVP. He had one of the best performances in Super Bowl history—pretty good for a “backup quarterback”.
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With tens of millions of people watching across the country, Foles made each and every one of them remember his name. He completed 28 of his 43 passes (65.1 percent) for 373 yards, passed for three touchdowns, caught one on perhaps the most iconic trick play in history, and threw just one interception that wasn’t his fault, anyway—it was bobbled. Most importantly, he won the game 41-33 and gave Philadelphia its first Vince Lombardi Trophy in history—it took them 52 tries.
For this game, Foles will always be a hero in the city of Philadelphia. The sentimental value (perhaps somewhat unfairly) makes this the most important performance in Philadelphia sports history. Nothing will ever top it. This was a city that hadn’t seen a professional sports championship in 10 years, and its most popular team—the Eagles—hadn’t won since 1960.
Tears were shed, poles were climbed, lifelong fans got a long-awaited moment of triumph, and a city was brought together. Foles was the biggest reason for that.
They say championships are a team accomplishment—fair enough. But when we look back at Foles’ career, one piece of information is essential to remember. This backup out-dueled the greatest quarterback to ever live with everything on the line.
For the Eagles Quarterbacks and For Philly, It’s A Fourth Year Fenzy.
During the 2020 season — in a frigid December game in Green Bay — the Eagles brought the Carson Wentz Era came to an end when he was sent to the bench in favor of rookie Jalen Hurts. The move wasn’t just because Wentz had become increasing resistant to coaching, molding, and mentorship, or that he had shown selfishness instead of selflessness as documented in a video postgame showing a jubilant Eagles locker room after winning Super Bowl LII while Wentz put his head in his hands. It wasn’t even because he had seethed at the selection of Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft just four years after the Eagles traded up to the first pick to select the North Dakota State product in the 2016 NFL Draft.
It was all of the above.
By the start of Training Camp in 2021 both Wentz and Doug Pederson were gone, and Jalen Hurts was the Eagles anointed starter. The Eagles were now his team. Over the next three seasons, Hurts guided the Eagles to three playoff appearances, one NFC Championship, and one Super Bowl.
History shows us that for franchise Eagles quarterbacks — year four is a tremendous ride.
Tommy Thompson — In a league where running, not passing was the road to a championship, the vision-impaired Thompson returned to the Eagles in 1945 and became the starter in 1946 to lead the Eagles offense through the air. By 1949, the Eagles were at the top of the NFL and Thompson was a two-time NFL passing leader.
Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
Ron Jaworski — When Jaworski was traded to the Eagles in 1977, he would join Dick Vermeil’s improving Eagles and lead them the playoffs in four straight seasons. In 1980, the Eagles would make it to the Super Bowl with Jaworski at the helm of an offense including Wilbert Montgomery and Harold CarMichael. The Eagles would not challenge for a championship again for nearly 25 years.
Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
Randall Cunningham — Perhaps the most athletic quarterback of any ever in Philadelphia, Randall was never surrounded by offensive talent. In 1989 he rushed for 621 yards, threw for 3,400, and accounted for 25 touchdowns while leading the Eagles to the playoffs.
Donovan McNabb — Although Donovan McNabb became the Eagles franchise quarterback in 1999, his first full season wasn’t until 2000 as a starting quarterback. In 2004, with the addition of Terrell Owens along with Javon Kearse, McNabb and the Eagles defeated the Patriots to advance to Super Bowl XXXIX. That season, McNabb threw 31 touchdown passes for 3,874 yards and had a passer rating of 104.7.
Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
In 2017, a former Andy Reid draft pick arrived back in Philadelphia after contemplating retirement. The 2017 season would be his fourth as an Eagle, two with Chip Kelly and one under Andy Reid. By the end of the 2018 Super Bowl, he’d be a World Champion.
When the Philadelphia Eagles acquired 30-year-old running back doubled return man, Darren Sproles, from the New Orleans Saints back in March of 2014 for a fifth-round pick, they were likely expecting a couple of solid seasons before he hung up the cleats.
Instead, they got six seasons of dominance, including three Pro Bowls, the first Super Bowl in team history, and every last ounce of what he had left in him before he ultimately retired.
While Sproles was more defined by what he did before he joined the Eagles, his time in Philadelphia was integral to his NFL story. Let’s revisit what the borderline Hall-of-Famer did for them and what made him so special.
Sproles’ Prime Years With the Eagles
Sproles was a player who excelled at everything he did, making him an attractive addition to the Eagles. It wasn’t forced — he truly was a jack of all trades.
In 2014, the 5-foot-6 running back started out with a bang. He proved his ability to be good at pretty much everything that season, starting with his 329 rushing yards on just 57 carries, coming out to 5.8 yards per attempt. He was immensely dangerous after the catch, shown by his 40 receptions for 387 receiving yards for 9.7 yards per catch — nearly a first-down average for a running back is fairly good. And, finally, he led the NFL in punt return yards with 506 and a league-leading average of 13.0 per return.
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With 1,230 all-purpose yards, with just 15 of those coming on kick returns, as well as two touchdowns rushing, receiving, and on punt returns, Sproles earned the first Pro Bowl nod of his career. As a punt returner, he was also a second-team All-Pro for his efforts.
If that was it for his time with the Eagles, it would have been a fantastic trade. Even though his team failed to make the playoffs despite their 9-3 start to the season, he helped lead the Eagles to the third-best offense in the NFL.
But that’s not where it ended. Sproles was right back at it in 2015, having a less efficient but still great season for the Birds. His 317 rushing yards on 83 attempts for 3.8 yards per attempt and three touchdowns would be a relatively positive outcome for a 32-year-old running back if they stood alone, but they didn’t. He had 55 receptions for 388 yards to — literally — one-up his yardage from the season prior, but he was most importantly exceptional on punt returns with 446 total yards and two touchdowns. He was no longer a prominent figure on kick returns like he was early in his career, notching 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons, but it kept his longevity intact.
Sproles wasn’t as great of an all-around player in terms of efficiencies, but he was still a Pro Bowler with his league-leading punt return yardage. With back-to-back Pro Bowls when he probably should have been exiting his prime, this was no longer a coincidence. Perhaps a vast decline was coming, but the Eagles had already won the trade six ways to Sunday.
That “vast decline” wasn’t coming yet, however. In 2016, he had the best-rushing yardage he posted as an Eagle to that point, with 438 on 94 carries and an improved 4.7 yards per attempt for two touchdowns. Sproles also had his highest total receiving-wise, posting 427 yards on 52 receptions. He was less involved return-wise, with just 224 yards on 17 attempts, but it was ironically the best return average of his career with 13.2 yards per return.
And for the third season in a row, Sproles was a Pro Bowler. He hadn’t had a single accolade during his career, but that changed once he got to the Eagles. At 33, age was not stopping him.
Injuries Pile Up, But So Do Accolades
By 2017, injuries were stopping Sproles more than his declining physical abilities. He tore his ACL and broke his forearm in Week 3 against the New York Giants, sidelining the 34-year-old for the rest of the season. At that age, it might have been tempting to retire right then and there, considering how devastating those injuries are. But he didn’t.
Sproles unfortunately had to watch his team from the sidelines after his cataclysmic series of injuries, but perhaps the Eagles were motivated by his absence. The veteran watched his team cruise to a 13-3 record after starting 1-1 when he was fully healthy, and we all know the story from there. Backup quarterback Nick Foles whom he was teammates with back in 2014, led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl. And Sproles got his ring.
Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Sproles only played in six games in 2018 but made his impact felt. He only had 365 all-purpose yards, but a handful of those came on a fourth-down catch in the Eagles’ Week 16 clash with the Houston Texans, a do-or-die contest that Philadelphia needed to keep their playoff hopes alive. He had a 37-yard touchdown in the 32-30 win, looking like someone in their prime and not a 35-year-old coming off an ACL tear. And yes, the Eagles made the playoffs.
Rounding out his career with six contests in 2019, Sproles had 176 all-purpose yards, but it was clear that his age made it so his time in the NFL was slim. He even meant to come back in 2020 for his age-37 season but couldn’t due to injury. It probably wasn’t the way he wanted to go, but it was the right call at that age.
Getting to a more positive note, Sproles was a part of the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s — a prestigious honor he shared with fellow Eagle running back LeSean McCoy and left tackle Jason Peters.
Since he had joined the Eagles, Sproles was awarded this on top of three Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl. It took a bit, but he finally brought in the accolades to give himself a legitimate shot at winning a gold jacket. He might have to wait it out for that to happen, but it’s certainly possible.
Take his diligence from Sproles himself, “I owe so much to the game of football, and I gave it all I had in return. I gave it everything I had on every play. I rode it until the wheels fell off.”
And Eagles fans wouldn’t have it any other way. He was everything Philadelphia hopes an athlete can become. Sproles was born to be an Eagle.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Los Angeles Chargers tried to keep their postgame playoff celebration private.
No such luck. After shaking hands and walking off the field in Indianapolis, players jogged through a tunnel to blaring music, high-fives and hugs and headed into a first-time locker room scene for many of these Chargers — a playoff party.
Austin Ekeler scored on two 1-yard runs and Los Angeles clinched its first postseason berth since 2018, intercepting Nick Foles three times to beat the overmatched Colts 20-3 on Monday night.
“We’re in it, now let’s go win it!” one player screamed before reporters were allowed into the locker room.
The bash included second-year coach Brandon Staley handing a game ball to owner Dean Spanos, whose organization earned its second playoff spot since 2014, a little less than a year after a brutal overtime loss at Las Vegas in last season’s finale game kept LA out of the postseason.
Justin Herbert threw for 235 yards and Cameron Dicker made two short field goals for the Chargers (9-6), who won their third straight after getting the help they needed this weekend from Las Vegas, Miami, New England and the New York Jets. When all four lost, the Chargers simply needed a win to clinch a playoff spot, and they did their part.
“It’s been a while,” receiver Keenan Allen said after catching 11 passes for 104 yards, his sixth straight 100-yard game on the road. “The playoffs are never guaranteed, so when you get in, it feels good. Now the season starts.”
Indy (4-10-1) lost its fifth straight under interim coach Jeff Saturday, though this was a more ho-hum defeat than the previous two, when it gave up 33 fourth-quarter points to Dallas and blew a 33-0 halftime lead at Minnesota.
Foles, making his first Colts start, squandered two first-quarter scoring chances by throwing picks, wound up getting sacked seven times and went 0 for 10 on third down.
As usual, though, Indy’s third starting quarterback of the season was only part of the problem.
“We started out, thought we had some shots early but obviously the turnovers hurt you and dissuade you to keep doing it,” Saturday said. “We ran the ball well, but when it’s second-and-14, it’s hard to catch back up. I thought we ran the ball effectively but couldn’t stick with it.”
Herbert also struggled early until Ekeler scored the first points of the game with his short TD run midway through the second quarter.
The Colts took advantage of two personal foul calls that led to the ejection of Pro Bowl safety Derwin James to drive for their only score of the game, a 46-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin.
But that was it for the Colts. Dicker’s two kicks made it 13-3, and Ekeler’s second scoring run sealed the victory.
Ekeler had 18 carries for 67 yards, became the fourth player in 15 years to score at least 15 TDs in back-to-back seasons and needs one more catch to post the sixth 100-catch season by a running back in league history.
While Herbert went 24 of 31 and his three-game streak of 300-yard games ended, the numbers didn’t matter. The win did.
“It was tough to lose to the Raiders at the end (last year),” Herbert said. “The guys in that locker room deserve this. So it’ll be exciting to have that opportunity.”
Foles was 17 of 29 for 143 yards and threw his final interception in the third quarter. The Super Bowl MVP after the 2017 season with Philadelphia was sacked seven times in his first NFL start since Dec. 26, 2021, with Chicago.
FUTURE PLANS
The Colts have already fired offensive coordinator Marcus Brady and coach Frank Reich and have benched quarterback Matt Ryan twice. Ryan was inactive behind Foles and backup Sam Ehlinger on Monday night.
Team owner Jim Irsay addressed the future of his organization during an interview that aired on ESPN’s pregame show. Irsay said Saturday will be a candidate to keep the job next season.
“I will go into it open-minded, and I will be looking for the best direction for us to win,” Irsay said. “Jeff I believe is an outstanding candidate so, obviously, he’s competitive for that. Chris Ballard will be our general manager and the quarterback, it’s very much up in the air right now on what direction we’ll be going.”
SHORT RETURN
James returned after missing two games with a quadriceps injury, but he didn’t even make it through the first half.
Two plays after being called for a facemask when Michael Pittman Jr.’s helmet came off, James was flagged for hitting a defenseless receiver with the crown of the helmet and was ejected with 5:18 to play. The hit sent Colts receiver Ashton Dulin to the locker room, and Dulin was eventually ruled out with a concussion.
Staley said James also entered the concussion protocol, adding that the helmet-to-helmet hit was unintentional.
“He made an aggressive play but he didn’t intentionally go for the helmet,” Staley said.
UP NEXT
Chargers: Return home to face the Rams in Sunday’s Battle of Los Angeles.
Colts: Close out their road schedule with a New Year’s Day trip to the New York Giants.
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INDIANAPOLIS — Nick Foles waited all season to start taking snaps with the Indianapolis Colts starters.
The 33-year-old quarterback is about to get his chance.
On Wednesday, interim coach Jeff Saturday announced Foles will replace Matt Ryan as Indy’s starter against the Los Angeles Chargers, giving Foles his first start since Dec. 26, 2021, and his second since October 2020.
“No, none,” Foles said when asked if he’s even taken first-team snaps in practice. “You never know what’s going to happen each week, it’s sort of been that kind of year. Unfortunately, in the NFL there are years like that. For me, it’s always just doing what I need to do in my role.”
It’s been a painful season for the Colts (4-9-1) and Foles, who initially signed as a free agent to rejoin coach Frank Reich only to watch his longtime friend get fired in early November.
He’s also seen Indy switch play-callers, fire the offensive coordinator and even got bypassed when Reich initially benched Ryan in October.
Reich turned the team over to second-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who attended the same Texas high school as Foles. Indy lost both of Ehlinger’s starts.
Foles began this season listed No. 2 on the depth chart, slid to No. 3 and now has been promoted to starter just four days after the Colts blew a 33-0 halftime lead and allowed Minnesota to rally for a 39-36 overtime victory — the largest comeback in NFL history.
“This is never an easy decision and I love Matt, he’s a pro’s pro and I love the way he’s handled it,” Saturday said. “I feel bad for Matt but ultimately, Nick gives us the best chance of winning and that’s the direction we’re headed.”
Saturday declined to say whether Ryan or Ehlinger would serve as No. 2 against the Chargers on Monday night.
Ryan’s roller-coaster season — and perhaps his career — could be over.
The 37-year-old rallied the Colts in all four of their wins this season, but has been sacked 38 times, fifth in the league, and has a league-high 18 giveaways despite missing two games. Ryan also suffered a separated shoulder in October.
He’s scheduled to count $35.2 million against Indy’s salary cap next season, but the Colts can free up $17.2 million by releasing the 2016 league MVP and four-time Pro Bowler who ranks fifth in NFL history in completions (5,551) and pass attempts (8,464), seventh in yards passing (62,792) and ninth in touchdown passes (381).
But after last week’s historic collapse, a four-turnover fourth quarter that led to 33 points in Indy’s previous game at Dallas and four consecutive losses, Saturday pulled the plug on Ryan’s starting role and is giving Foles a crash course to show what he can do with a lineup he knows little about.
“I know him and got to know him personally, unfortunately not on the field,” said center Ryan Kelly, who will be snapping to his third quarterback this season and eighth since 2017.
“Just doing the walkthrough stuff. Just keep it simple and go out there and play fast. Nick’s obviously stayed ready, working out literally every day, keeping his body right.”
But it’s unclear whether the same guy who replaced the injured Carson Wentz as the Eagles starter in Week 15 of the 2017 season and led Philadelphia to the Super Bowl title can replicate that kind of success in Indy. Foles was the Super Bowl MVP that year after throwing for 373 yards and three TDs while catching another memorable score in the game.
Saturday believes Foles can help stretch the field with more downfield throws and better efficiency and safety Rodney McLeod believes Foles is much the same player he saw in the Eagles locker room in 2017.
“It’s his confidence, leadership ability, guys have a way of kind of following Nick and I think also he’s a real good quarterback when it comes to deep balls,” McLeod said. “He’s seen a lot of ball and he’s a man of faith and I think you see that kind of calmness he can bring to a huddle.”
The Colts are hoping that even applies to a quarterback still getting his feet wet with Indy.
“Sometimes you’re with a team for a couple years and then you go in and out and then you play like this is my first time to really be with the guys,” Foles said. “For me, it’s just getting that mindset of trying to execute this offense, running this offense because really it was training camp and now since then it’s really been scout team cards, but I’ve watched Sam and Matt do a lot of reps.”
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Carson Wentz takes enough hits on and off the field that short rest is just another obstacle.
Fresh off his coach running him over figuratively, Wentz leads the Washington Commanders (1-4) against the Chicago Bears (2-3) on Thursday night with each team trying to snap a losing streak.
Commanders coach Ron Rivera caused quite a stir this week when he blamed the team’s four-game skid and last-place standing in the NFC East on his quarterback. Rivera later explained his response was misconstrued but the damage was done.
For Wentz, it’s just another shot. He’s been taking plenty of them since his days in Philadelphia when nothing seemed to go right after he helped the Eagles start 13-3 in 2017, tore two knee ligaments and watched backup Nick Foles become a Super Bowl MVP.
“I learned very early on you gotta just find a way to get out there Thursday,” Wentz said. “Your recovery is definitely expedited. … It’s very tough, very challenging, but it’s also prime time and guys get fired up to go play and hopefully put on a put on a good performance.”
The Bears have lost two in a row after a 2-1 start. Second-year quarterback Justin Fields is the league’s third-lowest rated passer and has only 17.6 attempts per game.
Chicago is a 1-point favorite, according to FanDuel. In a week with seven road favorites, Pro Picks likes the slight underdog Commanders to rally around Wentz.
UPSET SPECIAL: COMMANDERS 23-19
New York Jets (plus 7) at Green Bay
The Jets (3-2) are improved but Aaron Rodgers and the Packers (3-2) can’t lose to New York teams two straight weeks.
BEST BET: PACKERS 30-17
Tampa Bay (minus 8 1/2) at Pittsburgh
The Steelers (1-4) were embarrassed in Kenny Pickett’s first career start. The Buccaneers (3-2) still haven’t played up to their lofty standard after barely holding on to beat the Falcons.
BUCCANEERS 24-17
Jacksonville (plus 2 1/2) at Indianapolis
Matt Ryan and the Colts (2-2-1) seek to get even for a 24-0 shutout in Week 2. The Jaguars (2-3) have stumbled lately.
COLTS 23-16
Cincinnati (minus 1 1/2) at New Orleans
The defending AFC champion Bengals (2-3) try to even their record after another late loss. The Saints (2-3) look to do the same. Joe Burrow is the difference-maker in this one.
BENGALS 24-20
New England (plus 3) at Cleveland
The Browns (2-3) gave up 238 yards rushing to the NFL’s worst rushing team. Facing that kind of run defense, the Patriots (2-3) don’t need Mac Jones.
BROWNS 23-21
Minnesota (minus 3) at Miami
The Vikings (4-1) facing the Dolphins (3-2) and third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson seems like a mismatch.
VIKINGS 23-17
Baltimore (minus 5) at New York Giants
After knocking off the Packers in London, the Giants (4-1) get no respect from oddsmakers. The Ravens (3-2) should be undefeated if they could hold big leads.
RAVENS 33-20
San Francisco (minus 5 1/2) at Atlanta
Jimmy Garoppolo is the DJ Khaled of the NFL. All he does is win.
49ERS 24-20
Carolina (plus 10 1/2) at Los Angeles Rams
Welcome back to head coaching duties, Steve Wilks.
RAMS 34-6
Arizona (minus 2 1/2) at Seattle
Kyler Murray and the Cardinals (2-3) are far better on the road than at home under coach Kliff Kingsbury.
CARDINALS 28-17
Buffalo (minus 2 1/2) at Kansas City
A potential preview of the AFC title game that could determine who hosts the game in January. Bills (4-1) look to get even for their playoff loss in Kansas City last season. The Chiefs (4-1) have a short week after a Monday night win.
BILLS 30-27
Dallas (plus 5) at Philadelphia
The Eagles (5-0) face their toughest test as they aim to remain the only unbeaten team in the NFL.
EAGLES 23-20
Denver (plus 5 1/2) at Los Angeles Chargers
Russell Wilson hasn’t given the Broncos (2-3) and their fans what they expected. Justin Herbert and the Chargers (3-2) are back on track.
CHARGERS 24-20
2022 RECORD
Last Week: Straight up: 11-5. Against spread: 6-9-1.
Season: Straight up: 49-31. Against spread: 40-39-1.
Best Bet: Straight up: 1-0. Against spread: 1-0.
Season: Straight up: 4-1. Against spread: 4-1.
Upset Special: Straight up: 0-1. Against spread: 1-0.
Season: Straight up: 2-3. Against spread: 3-2
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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robmaaddi
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