The Departed: Nick Foles Benched For Week 11

Monday afternoon, the inevitable became the reality. Jeff Fisher benched Nick Foles as the Rams’ starting quarterback in favor of Case Keenum after nine underwhelming games from Foles, the quarterback they traded for this offseason and extended before the regular season began, writes ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.

“We’re going to go ahead and go with [Keenum],” Fisher told reporters Monday, per Wagoner. “This is my decision. Nobody came down the hall and said, ‘This is what we need to do.’ The lack of offensive production is a collective effort and coaching. But we need more production, and it starts with that position.

“I don’t expect Nick to like it,” Fisher continued to tell reporters. “He’s competitive, but he understands, and we’re gonna move forward here. I’m not saying this is week-to-week, but this is what’s best right now for our team as we move forward, from a production standpoint offensively.”

According to Wagoner, after 10 weeks in the Rams’ offense, Foles was near the bottom of the league in a number of key categories, including 32nd in QBR (34.1), 29th in passer rating (75.9), and 28th in passing yards (1,678).

The Rams rank dead last in the league in passing yards per game.

Despite an impressive start from rookie running back Todd Gurley and possession of one of the best defensive units in the NFL, the Rams are 4-5 with seven weeks left to go.

In March, of course, the Rams traded Sam Bradford for Foles, acquiring a second-round draft pick in the swap as well.

Fisher said Monday that he and the Rams’ front office are still backing Foles in the long-term, and don’t regret the offseason acquisition.

“By no means do we regret the trade, by no means do we regret the extension,” Fisher told reporters. “Nick is a good quarterback.”

The Rams face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11.

Here’s a look at how the rest of the Eagles’ offseason departures are faring.

After a shaky start to the experiment, the LeSean McCoy trade is paying big dividends for the Bills in recent weeks, writes the Buffalo News’s Tyler Dunne.

Thursday’s 22-17 win over the New York Jets should trash the narrative that teams can plug and play any old Dollar Store backs off the waiver wire. McCoy sure didn’t look like an overpriced player at a disposable position – he was often untouchable. Neither team at MetLife Stadium seemed too interested in winning as the fourth quarter plodded along. Rex Ryan’s team hung on for life more than it socked it to the Jets as Ryan’s theatrics on the sideline would suggest.

But in No. 25 is a reason to believe the playoff drought could end. He was in pure form.

One major outside concern – that LeSean McCoy was set to hit the proverbial, sudden, unapologetic running back wall – was muted with a 19-carry, 112-yard expedition against the NFL’s No. 1-ranked run defense.

Jeremy Maclin fired his team up, and the Chiefs shellacked Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, writes the Kansas City Star’s Terez A. Paylor.

Inside the visitor’s tunnel at Sports Authority Field, Jeremy Maclin gathered 10 of his fellow skill players around him.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid signed Maclin this offseason for games like this, and the seven-year vet — who has been through his share of wars in the NFC East during his time with the Eagles — knew exactly what to say to his younger teammates

“Listen up now,” Maclin began. “We’ve got a chance to do something special. Play for each other. Play for yourself. Let’s go out here and fun. Our show on three.

“One, two, three … our show!”

Turns out it was — for the first time in four years against Denver, no less.

Cary Williams and the Seattle secondary were dismantled by Carson Palmer and the Cardinals’ passing game, writes Jacson Bevens of Field Gulls.

On the next drive, [Michael] Floyd beat Cary Williams down the left sideline in a straight man-to-man go route that he may* or may not have false-started on. To be honest, Floyd didn’t beat Williams with his feet, as Cary stayed on his hip the whole way; no, Floyd beat Williams with his hands, knocking Cary’s down at the last moment while extending to catch a perfectly thrown pass before tucking himself inside the pylon for his second score in as many minutes.

Here’s the thing: this is how you beat the Seahawks. You need not only the talent but the balls to challenge Seattle’s vaunted secondary at the third level and Arizona has both. It doesn’t always work, obviously, but that’s now twice in the last three years Arizona has entered Century Link Field and left with a win.

The Broncos ran for just 69 yards on 16 carries and Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler were sacked a combined five times as Evan Mathis and the Broncos lost to the Chiefs, 29-13.

Brandon Boykin saw 13 special teams snaps in the Steelers’ 30-9 win over the Browns.