Brian Baldinger On the Eagles

NFL Films produces a Super Bowl Show recapping the season using coaches and players to tell the season-long story in documentary form called, “America’s Game.”

They have produced 51 such shows and as an avid viewer, I believe I have seen them all.

Recently while speaking with the President of NFL Films, Ross Ketover, I was told that for the first time in the show’s history, they were going to tell the story of the Philadelphia Eagles using both quarterbacks: Carson Wentz and Nick Foles.

Never before in the first 51 episodes of America’s Game had they used 2 QB’s.

Then again, never was a team crowned Super Bowl Champions, where 2 QB’S were so instrumental in the team’s success.

And that is a strong story line to the Birds ultimate success: Carson Wentz and the MVP path he was on before his unfortunate knee injury in week 14 against the Rams; and Nick Foles picking up the baton and going on a post season run unlike any in Super Bowl history.

Carson started the first 14 games and helped them achieve a 12-2 record in those 14 games.

It was the start they needed to stay in front of the Minnesota Vikings and hold the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

It insured an important bye week during Wildcard weekend and it insured them home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

Along the way Carson lead the NFL in touchdown passes with 33 all the way until the final week of the season when Russell Wilson tossed a few to surpass Carson with 34. He did lead the league in touchdown percentage with 7.5 percent of his total passes went for touchdowns.

It was a number that no other quarterback came close to.

He also led the NFL in an unofficial stat of pure highlight plays.

Everyone has their favorite list and it varies depending upon the game and perhaps if you were in attendance. In addition the Birds had many blowout wins against the Bears, Broncos, Cowboys, Cardinals, and 49ers.

Foles came into the postseason with much doubt as to whether he could find the touch and confidence that seemed to elude him in the seasons final two starts against the Raiders and Cowboys.

It didn’t take long to realize that the postseason was going to be one that Nick was going to rise to the highest level in.

His postseason stat line is surreal; 3-0 ( including SB 52 MVP ), 72.6 percent completion, 9.16 yards per attempt, six TD’s versus one interception, and a QB rating of 115.7.

Everyone of those categories he would have lead the NFL during the regular season.

The story of Championship Sunday on February 4, 2018 was Nick Foles.

It wasn’t the Patriots, and it wasn’t Brady and the Hoodie.

They had been through this day many times and were the experienced force.

The story was Nick Foles.

How would he respond on the world’s biggest athletic stage. I always say that if you want to win the Super Bowl then your QB has got to make at least five throws that almost no one else can make.

Nick made no less than 12. And as a result the confetti that fell in Eagles green and white shaped in Lombardi Trophy cutouts would fall and fall like the tear drops of the legion of fans that have cheered the Birds on in the long long history of this franchise.

And the parade was world class and seemingly will not end anytime soon.

Perhaps the best part of the story as I write this column on the spring equinox of March 20th; Nick Foles is still a member of the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles.

Tyrod Taylor, AJ McCarron, Teddy Bridgewater, Case Keenum, Sam Bradford among-st others have all moved along on the QB carousal. Foles, perhaps because he is under contract for 2018, and would require compensation to the Birds for him to move, has him still at NovaCare.

This is such a luxury. Super Bowl Champions are expected to lose coaches and good players.

There has been plenty of plucking the talent pool of both from the Eagles Nest. John DeFillpo, and Frank Reich have both moved on.

Carson Wentz and Nick Foles could end up being one of the more unique post Super Bowl quarterback rooms in the history of the NFL. Photo by Andy Lewis/contrastphotography.com

Vinny Curry, Patrick Robinson, Torrie Smith, LeGarrette Blount, and Trey Burton have all moved on. But the Super Bowl 52 MVP is still here.

It’s important because we do not know yet about when Carson Wentz will be ready to strap up the chin strap and take some hits from some opposition.

Instagram video shows him throwing the football already. He was injured on December 10 and somehow was cleared to have full ACL reconstruction before the Birds next outing against the NYG. That would give him eight months before the Birds first preseason contest.

There will be no rush to play him very much, if at all, throughout the preseason.

It’s nice to put Nick in during those exhibition games to get the starting offense work before the regular season kicks off.

At this writing it looks as if the Birds will kickoff the 2018 season against the Kirk Cousins led Vikings at the Linc on a Thursday night in prime time on NBC.

Perhaps Carson is ready for prime time on his mission to regain his MVP form that he adroitly displayed throughout 2017.

But it’s nice to know that the Eagles do not have to force Carson into that spot if he doesn’t feel ready. It’s also nice to know that Nick is in the bullpen should anything happen to Carson along the way

Perhaps a significant part to this Cinderella story is that when the QB’S assemble at the first mini-camp and beyond; Carson, Nick, and Nate Sudfeld will all be in attendance.

That’s a strong room with a stronger work ethic and a collectively high football IQ. If the NFL is truly a quarterback driven league, then the Super Bowl Champion Eagles get the pole position as the 2018 race gets started. *

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Can you crop these photos – keeping their length – so Carson and Nick are next to each other as one photo? – for page 9…thanks.

Caption: Carson Wentz and Nick Foles could end up being one of the more unique post Super Bowl quarterback rooms in the history of the NFL. Photo by Andy Lewis/contrastphotography.com