NFL Pre-Season: Tracking the Quarterback battles

Philadelphia Eagles – Mike Vick and Nick Foles

Both of the Eagles quarterbacks carried themselves well in the pre-season opener, which gives new head coach Chip Kelly the sort of selection headache every head coach wishes he could have.

Mike Vick, who started the game against New England, looked in good touch against the Patriots starters. Vick threw a couple of beautiful passes, including a laser to Jason Avant down the seam and a deep toss to DeSean Jackson down the right sideline for a touchdown, to finish his series with a stat line of 4 of 5 for 94 yards and a touchdown. He looked poised in the pocket and displayed an accuracy that had been missing at times over the course of last season.

Nick Foles also acquitted himself well when he came in, throwing 5 of 6 for 43 yards in his short time on the field. However, Foles did commit a turnover; the young thrower fumbled after being hit from behind whilst attempting a throw at the end of the first quarter.

The growing feeling around camp is that this is Mike Vick’s job to lose, but Foles will get the chance to change that around tonight. Head coach Chip Kelly has already announced that Foles will be the starter in the Eagles second pre-season game against the Carolina Panthers. With the Panthers front seven being talked about as potentially one of the best in football, this should be a good test for Foles to prove himself worthy of the starting gig. If he can perform with the starters as Vick did last week, he could gain some valuable ground in one of the most intriguing quarterback battles of pre-season.

Leading the race right now:

Buffalo Bills – EJ Manual

New York Jets – Mark Sanchez

Jacksonville Jaguars – Chad Henne

Philadelphia Eagles – Mike Vick