Philadelphia Eagles: After four years, Nick Foles finally gets first playoff win

Everyone remembers when the Philadelphia Eagles’ lost a nail-biter to the Saints, but four years later, Nick Foles has finally overcome his demons.

“Nick Foles left the field with a lead” was a common phrase uttered throughout the Philadelphia area over the past four years. Philadelphia Eagles fans are of course referring to when Foles hooked up with Zach Ertz to give the Eagles are 24-23 lead in the 2013 NFC Wildcard Game against the Saints, but that lead drifted away as Drew Brees marched down the field and defeated the Eagles 26-24 on a game-winning field goal.

Well on Saturday night, Foles once again left the field with a lead, with the Eagles up 15-10 after Jake Elliott connected on a field goal, but this time, the Eagles defense made a stand and captured Foles his first career playoff win. One that was a long time coming.

After the loss in 2013, it seemed like the playoffs would become a regular thing for Foles and the Eagles, but sadly for fans across the Delaware Valley, it wasn’t meant to be. It would be another four years before the Eagles returned to the playoffs and Foles would endure his own roller coaster ride along the way.

After a sluggish start in 2014 that saw him throw 13 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, Foles suffered a broken collarbone in Week 8. Instead of getting a chance to lead the charge in 2015, Foles was traded to the Rams for Sam Bradford.

In his first and only season in St. Louis in 2015, Foles struggled mightily, and after going 4-7 as a starter he was benched for none other than his opponent in the NFC Championship Game in Case Keenum.

Foles admitted that he even considered retirement after his poor 2015 season. It was incredible that after being on top of the world two years prior, he had fallen that far. But rather than retiring, Foles reunited with his former coach Andy Reid and signed a deal to serve as the Chiefs‘ backup quarterback.

And in limited action filling in for Alex Smith in 2016, Foles looked good. He capitalized on his solid 2016 season and resigned with the Eagles on a two-year deal to serve as Carson Wentz’ primary backup. Foles would also be reuniting with head coach Doug Pederson, who was with the Eagles in 2012, during Foles’ rookie year.

But when Wentz went down with a torn ACL, the hopes of an Eagles playoff run landed solely on Foles’ shoulders. After a poor outing to finish the season, many had their doubts, but those doubts were quieted as Foles had a very efficient effort on Saturday against the Falcons.

Four years after suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of the Saints, Foles finally got that monkey off of his back and got that coveted playoff victory. This time he left the field with a lead and the defense was able to hold on.

Next: Philadelphia Eagles: Postgame observations from win over Falcons

Foles has had a long, up and down battle to return to relevance since that loss in January of 2014, but all of that is in the rearview mirror now as Foles and the Eagles are just one win away from returning to the Super Bowl.

Home/Philadelphia Eagles