The NFL might have handed the Eagles a win this Sunday against Chicago simply by where they placed the game.
Of the four Wild Card games being played this weekend, none will be on a bigger stage than the Eagles' game, which is the last of the four. It was placed in the primetime spot of the weekend, landing at 4:40 on NBC. No lights this weekend will be brighter than the ones shining down on the Eagles and the Bears.
It is the kind of game that Eagles quarterback Nick Foles has been nearly impossible to beat in.
"I think there is an 'I've been-there' type of confidence that Nick can carry into the game" Groh said.
Saying Foles has been there before is true, but it also might be an understatement. Foles hasn't just been there —he has been there and dominated.
Here is a game-by-game look at how Foles has played in prime-time games, in both the regular season and playoffs, throughout his career (not including his rookie year):
2013: Beat Bears, 54-11, on SNF…21/25, 230 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 131.7 QBR
2013: Beat Cowboys 24-22 on SNF...17/26, 263 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 124.4 QBR
2013: Lost to Saints, 26-24 in Playoffs...33/23, 195 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 105 QBR
2014: Beat Colts, 30-27 on MNF...21/37, 331 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 84.4 QBR
2014: Beat Giants 27-0 on SNF...21/34, 248 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 79 QBR
2017: Beat Raiders 19-10 on MNF, 19/38, 163 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 59.4 QBR
2017: Beat Falcons 15-10 in Playoffs...23/30, 246 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 100.1 QBR
2017: Beat Vikings 38-7 in Playoffs...26/33, 352 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT, 141.4 QBR
2017: Beat Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl...28/43, 373 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 106.1 QBR
2018: Beat Atlanta on TNF...18-12, 19/34, 117 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 50.7 QBR
2018: Beat Los Angeles on SNF…24/31, 270 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 89.4 QBR
As you can see, Foles has not only won in prime time, he has played very well in the biggest spots. He has had a quarterback rating over 100 in six of his last 11 primetime games. He has 16 touchdowns to seven interceptions in those 10 games. Has hasn't lost a prime-time game since 2013, and in that game -- a playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints -- you might have heard that he left the field with the lead.
Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, on the other hand, has been terrible in primetime games for the Bears.
Trubisky and the Bears have played in primetime this season four times. They do hold a 3-1 record, but the wins have not been because of Trubisky.
Here is a game-by-game look at Trubisky in primetime this season:
Week 1: SNF…24-23 loss to Packers…23/35, 171 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 77.2 QBR
Week 2: MNF…24-17 win over Seahawks…22/36, 226 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 86.1 QBR
Week 11: SNF 25-20 win over Vikings…30/46, 262 yards, 2 INT, 2 INT, 76.5 QBR
Week 14: SNF 15-6 win over Rams…16/30, 110 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT, 33.3 QBR
As you can see, Trubisky has yet to top a quarterback rating of 100 in primetime, and more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (five) in the four primetime contests. In his biggest game of the season -- a huge matchup vs. the Los An geles Rams in Week 14 -- Trubisky threw three interceptions to just one touchdown. Although four games is a small sample size, it is worth noting that Trubisky was also terrible in his only primetime start as a rookie, losing 20-17 to the Vikings on Monday Night Football with a quarterback rating of 60.1.
Trubisky and Foles won't be lining up across from each other on Sunday, but there is little doubt that in the NFL — especially in the playoffs — you need strong quarterback play to win.
This Sunday, with the entire NFL watching, the Eagles should feel confident they will have Foles under center — and the Bears should be worried about Trubisky.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
