Foles Back To Old Form Against Pats

FOXBORO, MASS. — Concerns with this team, there are a few. But at least the quarterback looked more like his 2013 self on Friday night.

After a shaky outing in Chicago in the preseason opener Nick Foles rebounded against the Patriots, going 8-of-10 for 81 yards including a six-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ertz to cap his night.

Foles didn’t see much action early. Cary Williams returned a Tom Brady pass for a touchdown on the Patriots’ opening drive. When the Eagles offense finally did get on the field with just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter, Ifeanyi Momah fumbled a Foles pass on the first play of the drive, handing possession back over to New England. Foles had only two pass attempts in the entire first quarter.

He got things going in the second, hitting Brent Celek in stride over the middle for a 23-yard gain. Foles couldn’t connect deep down the left sideline on a third-down pass to Momah later in that drive, and Alex Henery booted a 47-yard field goal attempt wide right. Foles found Celek again along the right side for a 22-yard gain on the next possession (Celek absorbed a pair of hits that jarred his helmet loose) before connecting with Ertz, who muscled his way into the end zone.

Foles threw a pair of interceptions against the Bears and has had some down days in camp as well. Part of the issue is that he has been working with a depleted receiving corps. It was no different on Friday. Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin both sat out, so Momah and Arrelious Benn got the start. The third-year QB leaned on his tight ends and was able to move the ball.

The kicker missed badly on a field goal try, right tackle Allen Barbre got beaten soundly for a sack and the defense had its share of shaky moments. Those will likely be the concerns discussed this week. The quarterback conversation, meanwhile, will probably quiet down for the time being.