‘When he’s hot, he’s really dialed in’

Information for this report was obtained from NFL scouts.

Nick Foles (6-foot-6, 243 pounds) is in his seventh season out of Arizona, selected in the third round (88th overall) in 2012. He’s making his fifth career postseason start after leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl title last year. He made five starts this season, including the final three, filling in for the injured Carson Wentz.

Foles has 44 career regular-season starts and played at a high level in December, completing 77 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and three interceptions as the Eagles won their final three games to earn the No. 6 seed.

“He’s throwing some balls down the field, but it’s mostly quick-release stuff,” a scout said. “Doug Pederson is scheming up stuff for him to get the ball out quickly, and you’re seeing the difference between Foles and Wentz. They’re using the running backs much more in the passing game, and that also points to Darren Sproles being back and healthy. Those are short routes, a lot of man beaters, a lot of pick-and-rub routes to get guys open so Foles knows where to go with the football.

“When he throws it downfield, a lot of those are 50-50 throws. He has a lot more confidence in Alshon Jeffery than Wentz does. Wentz will check it down and take what is there. Foles, if his first or second schemed-up reads are not there, he’s going to force the ball down the field and it’s usually going to Jeffery. He’ll take a lot of chances, and when he’s hot, he’s really dialed in. He kind of rides that wave.

“Against a Bears defense that is super opportunistic, they’re going to have a chance to make some plays on the ball if they can take away his primary reads. Take away those and he’s going to push the ball into coverage. If the Bears win the turnover battle, this game is over.

“Foles can move around. That goes back to him playing for Chip Kelly. He had designed quarterback runs for Foles. He’s a very good athlete, and with Wentz out, I think you will see more RPOs, a lot of the same ones you see Matt Nagy run.

— Brad Biggs