At the beginning of last week, Eagles coach Doug Pederson told quarterback Nick Foles, “Let’s go be Nick.” After the Eagles’ 15-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional playoffs Saturday when Foles outplayed former MVP Matt Ryan, Pederson said, “Nick was Nick.”
This is not faint praise, but rather Pederson’s understanding of Foles and the Eagles. After Carson Wentz’s injury, Pederson emphasized that the team’s success is not about one player. When Foles struggled during the final two games of the season, Pederson echoed the same message. The Eagles didn’t ask Foles to be Wentz. They just needed Foles to function within the offense, making plays when available and avoiding the mistakes that could plague a playoff game.