Chip Kelly’s opinion is the only one that matters in this case, which is why the Eagles still don’t have a quarterback controversy after their 36-21 win Sunday over the hapless Giants.
Nick Foles might have taken over for a gimpy Michael Vick just before halftime and methodically directed a second-half comeback that ended the Birds’ three-game losing streak, but Vick still has the backing of his first-year coach.
Kelly was unequivocal after Philadelphia improved to 2-3, saying Vick would start at Tampa Bay in Week 6 unless what was described as a minor hamstring injury the veteran passer suffered Sunday worsens in practice.
As a result, anyone in Philly hoping to revive the QB controversy that so dominated the Eagles’ offseason, training camp and preseason will be sorely disappointed.
“I said since really the first day we walked in here that we’ve got to have two quarterbacks,” Kelly said. “I felt confident in Nick with Mike not being 100 percent. If Nick had gone down, we would’ve been able to put Mike back in the game.”
There was no need for that, though. The Eagles — who won at the Meadowlands for the sixth time in their past seven trips — were in more than capable hands with Foles as the second-year pro completed 16 of his 25 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns while compiling a 114.9 passer rating.
That rating was the highest by an Eagles’ quarterback on the road against the Giants since 1971, when Pete Liske posted a 148.4 rating at Yankee Stadium.
The Eagles led 16-7 when Foles came in, but he still got credited for a comeback after leading Philly — with the help of some late ugly interceptions by Eli Manning — to the game’s final 17 points after the Giants had rallied for a 21-19 edge late in the third quarter.
Foles is a pocket passer, so the Eagles lose the threat of a running quarterback when he’s in the game. But that certainly wasn’t a problem Sunday.
“I do everything I can during the week to prepare, and then if something like this does happen, then I know I did everything I could and I can just let my natural ability take over,” Foles said.
It wasn’t as if the Eagles were struggling with Vick in command, though, mainly because of Vick’s still-dangerous legs. He had rushed for 79 yards on seven attempts — a mix of scrambles, option reads and designed runs — before pulling his hamstring a the end of a 13-yard dash late in the second quarter.
Kelly said Vick’s injury wasn’t severe, but that he was pulled because the coach was concerned about sending him back out against the Giants’ talented pass rushers at less than 100 percent physically.
Eagles wideout DeSean Jackson said Vick is teased by his teammates to avoid running as much “because he’s a older now, in his thirties.” But Vick, aware that he has the full backing of his coach, didn’t sound like he plans to change his style anytime soon.
“I’m just glad I can still run a little bit,” Vick said with a laugh.