Nick Foles Suffers Through Rough First Half, Helps Eagles Defeat Jaguars 34-17
Nick Foles had a dream season in 2013. Unfortunately, 2014 started with a nightmarish first half.
NewJersey.com is reporting that The Jacksonville Jaguars jumped to a 17-0 halftime lead due partially Foles’ one interception and two fumbles in the first half. Boles threw only two interceptions and lost two fumbles all of last year, to go with his 27 touchdown passes in a most impressive first year with the Philadelphia Eagles.
In the first half of this years’ inaugural game, Foles found himself and the Eagles to be upside down, losing 17-0 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. For the first half, Foles finished with the aforementioned one interception, two fumbles, and zero touchdowns, while his counterpart, Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne, had two touchdown passes to unheralded rookie Allen Hurns.
For Foles, however, there was the second half, and a measure of redemption.
ESPN reports The Eagles scored 34 unanswered points in the second half to blast the Jaguars 34-17. Foles finished with 27 completions out of 46 attempts for 322 yards, along with 2 touchdowns to go with those 2 fumbles and one interception. One touchdown was a magnificently-timed 68-yard pass to Jeremy Maclin in the fourth quarter to take the lead. It was partial redemption for Maclin, who missed all of last season with a torn right ACL he suffered in training camp. He is now considered the Eagles deep threat with the loss of DeSean Jackson, who was cut and then signed by the Washington Redskins.
The second half saw the Eagles offense begin to fire on all cylinders. Darren Sproles, acquired from the New Orleans Saints during the offseason, scored on a 49-yard touchdown run, the longest scoring run in his career. In addition to his 68-yard touchdown pass, Foles also hit tight end Zach Ertz for a 25-yard touchdown pass. The defense pitched in on the scoring, as defensive end Fletcher Cox picked up a fumble and ran 17 yards for a touchdown. Rookie Cody Parkey’s 51-yard field goal rounded out the Eagles’ scoring.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, bad news carried over from the first half. The already depleted offensive line suffered two more injuries, left guard Evan Mathis injured his right knee and right tackle Allen Barbre suffered a right ankle injury. Coach Chip Kelly did not have an update on either injury.
Both teams go on the road next weekend. Jacksonville keeps traveling, this time to Washington D.C. to the host Redskins, while the Eagles get an extra travel day to play the Colts in Indianapolis.
