Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Foles, Eagles look to make new memories vs. Raiders
PHILADELPHIA » No matter how much time passes, Nick Foles will be inextricably linked to the Oakland Raiders, having tied a league record by dropping seven touchdowns on them in 2013.
Though the Monday night game between the Eagles and the Raiders (8:30 p.m., ESPN, Channel 6, WIP 94.1-FM) won’t be the first time Foles has faced them, it brings back memories.
Eagles guard Stefen Wisniewski played center that day for the Raiders. Wiz knew almost nothing about Foles when the game began on that postcard perfect November day. By halftime he was on the wrong side of history.
“Well, honestly, we got our butt kicked a lot that year,” Wisniewski said. “But that was probably the worst one. I think in the second quarter the game was kind of already over. We were down by four touchdowns or something. At that point it’s not a lot of fun to be on the other team. You’re just kind of trying to put some good effort in, trying to finish, and not look bad and not hurt yourself.”
The Eagles are the NFL’s most recent worst-to-first success story, having elevated themselves from the basement to the NFC East pennant and a league-best 12-2 record entering the weekend. They need one victory to clinch the top seed in the NFC playoffs, which would be the first time they’ve done so since 2004, when they reached the Super Bowl.
The Raiders (6-8) were widely considered the team most likely to take the next step this season, their stellar 2016 season basically ending around Christmas when quarterback Derek Carr sustained a broken leg. With Carr back in the lineup, the Raiders were favored to win the AFC West. For a variety of reasons, including dropped passes, it didn’t happen.
Now it’s the Eagles counting on their backup quarterback to salvage what’s left of the season in the wake of a season-ending knee injury to Pro Bowl passer Carson Wentz.
Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio, who had to turn to Matt McGloin last year, thinks the Eagles will be fine after viewing film of Foles throwing four TD passes to help beat the New York Giants last weekend.
“Carson Wentz is a tremendous player,” Del Rio said on a conference call. “It’s really a shame they
ball player and really had a tremendous year. But Nick’s very capable. He’s a guy that’s had many good starts in the league and has played at a high level, and is very capable of running that offense.”
Foles and the Eagles will get their shot against a porous Raiders defense. The Philly defense wants to reestablish the way it played before the recent threegame road trip in which it surrendered a total of 88 points.
“I definitely think we need to start faster than we have in the last couple games,” safety Malcolm Jenkins said. “Just get back to our style of football. We’ve done some uncharacteristic type of things. The Rams did a really good job of running the ball. We’ve been good at stopping the run. But we really kind of shot ourselves in the foot that game.
And then last week starting three straight drives with scores, that’s just not how we operate.
“A lot of the things we feel we can fix. That’s been the big emphasis this week is to do everything we can to make sure we’re prepared for the Raiders and what they present, because they’ve got a lot of playmakers.”
At Carr’s disposal are running back Marshawn Lynch and wide receiver Michael Crabtree. The Raiders have gotten very little out of wide receiver Amari Cooper, an ankle injury limiting him.
The Eagles, on the other hand, have a backup quarterback with 21 career victories, Del Rio was quick to point out.
“It definitely helps,” Del Rio said. “So, you’re looking at a guy who has experience - good experience - and is off to a great start in his first opportunity last week.”
Wisniewski pities the Raiders for having to make the cross-country flight to play on Christmas. While he enjoyed his time with the team, his four-year tour ending in 2014, he doesn’t enjoy being on the wrong part of history.
“As the game’s going, you’re not thinking about it,” Wisniewski said of Foles’ record day. “But when you look back on it, you’re like, that guy just threw a ridiculous amount of TD passes. No one wants to be on the bad side of it. I also was on the most penalized team in history as a Raider (in 2011). Yeah, another way to be on the bad side of history. It’s not one you brag about too much.”
No one expects Foles to drop another seven scoring passes on the Raiders Monday. Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham, however, didn’t expect that the last time Foles started against the Raiders.
“I just everything happening real good for Nick,” Graham said. “And I’m hoping for a repeat.”