Last year, Eagles quarterback Nick Foles had one of the most extraordinary stat lines in NFL history, throwing just two interceptions all season. This year, Foles is a much different player.
Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals was Foles’s third two-interception day in his last four games. Overall, Foles has nine interceptions this year along with 12 touchdown passes, a far cry from his 27-touchdown, two-interception year in 2013.
Foles, who has also already lost more fumbles this year than he did all of last year, told reporters on Sunday that there’s no point in comparing his 2014 season with his 2013 season. Regardless of what happened last year, Foles knows he needs to get better this year.
“I told you all at the beginning of the season that those games last year don’t really help me this year,” Foles said, via Philly.com. ". . . Yes, I made mistakes, but I will continue to work to correct them. We can’t have turnovers.”
Eagles coach Chip Kelly indicated after the game that on one of Foles’s interceptions he should have just taken a sack instead of throwing the ball under pressure, and on the other he missed an open Riley Cooper.
“We talk about it all time - you can’t turn the ball over and be a successful football team,” Kelly said. “We’ve got to clean that up.”
Kelly got a little testy with reporters who asked whether Foles has a pattern of big mistakes.
“He’s not trying to throw interceptions,” Kelly said. “No, I’m not seeing a pattern.”
Kelly may not see it, but the pattern is easy to see: Foles is going in the wrong direction.