If you could pick one quarterback in Eagles history to win a big game, who would you pick?
It is an interesting question, and considering the Eagles’ interesting history at the position, not the easiest one to figure out.
The answer could be their best quarterback of all time, but he has a mixed record (to put it kindly) in big playoff games. The answer could be the only quarterback who won them a Super Bowl, but he was a career backup. The answer could even be the quarterback who arguably won bigger games for another team.
So who would be the best choice?
Here is a ranking of the six quarterbacks that would be in the discussion:
1. Donovan McNabb
Fourth-quarter comebacks: 14
Game-winning drives: 22
Postseason: 1 comeback, 1 game-winning drive
Total wins: 92
Notable: 9 playoff wins, 5 NFC Championship Games, 1 Super Bowl appearance
Analysis: There is an argument to be made that the guy at No. 2 on this list deserves the top spot, but when it comes to winning, no quarterback has done more of it consistently than McNabb. With 14 fours-quarter comebacks and 22 game-winning drives, plus 9 playoff wins, the franchise has seen the most success with McNabb under center. No, he didn’t win the Super Bowl, but if you had one game to win McNabb has the best combination of skill, consistency and big-game experience.
2. Nick Foles
Fourth-quarter comebacks: 7
Game-winning drives: 8
Postseason: 2 comebacks, 2 game-winning drive
Total wins: 21
Notable: Super Bowl win, Super Bowl MVP
Analysis: He has fewer comebacks and game-winning drives than the other quarterbacks below him, but the eye-test doesn’t lie — when it comes to winning a big game, not many do it better than Foles. Not only did Foles have the epic 2017 run in the postseason that ended in a Super Bowl MVP, but he showed in 2018 that it wasn’t a fluke, leading the Eagles on three-straight wins they had to have to make the postseason, then upsetting the Bears in Chicago. If Alshon Jeffery doesn’t drop a fourth-quarter pass, the Eagles might have been back in the Super Bowl. Foles has a low floor, which is why he falls to No. 2, but in a big game he has the ability to raise his game up a level perhaps more than any other quarterback in franchise history.
3. Randall Cunningham
Fourth-quarter comebacks: 18
Game-winning drives: 21
Postseason: 1 comeback, 1 game-winning drive
Total wins: 63
Notable: 5 playoff wins, 7 playoff losses
Analysis: I was surprised to see how many comebacks/game-winning drives Cunningham had in an Eagles’ uniform. On skill alone Cunningham has an argument to be No. 1 on this list, especially at his bests. Add in the resume and he could arguably go ahead of Foles. The lack of playoff success, however, knocks him down.
4. Ron Jaworski
Fourth-quarter comebacks: 15
Game-winning drives: 20
Postseason: 0 comebacks, 1 game-winning drives
Total wins: 69
Notable: 3 playoff wins, 1 Super Bowl appearance
Analysis: Jaworski’s time with the Eagles is an interesting one, considering he does have the second-most wins of any quarterback on the list, but also has very little postseason success. He did have the one run to the Super Bowl, but with just three playoff wins, it is hard to put him ahead of McNabb, Foles or Cunningham, who all have had more success in the postseason.
5. Michael Vick
Fourth-quarter comebacks: 7
Game-winning drives: 6
Postseason: None
Total wins: 20
Notable: Never won a playoff game (with Eagles)
Analysis: Vick is a tough one to place. At his best, he is arguably better than any quarterback on this list — even McNabb. The issue is that, as exciting as Vick was, that never really resulted in much success on-the-field during his time with the Eagles. Vick also came up small in the one playoff game he did have with the Eagles, throwing a bad interception in the end zone to end the game. He avoids the No. 6 spot on this list simply because when he is at his best he is better than the quarterback who did come in last.
6. Carson Wentz
Fourth-quarter comebacks: 9
Game-winning drives: 10
Postseason: None
Total wins: 35
Notable: Never won a playoff game
Analysis: There is no denying Wentz’s ceiling is high, which we all saw in 2017 and then again in 2019. The issue? Wentz appeared in just one playoff game in five seasons as the starter, and although it wasn’t his fault, missed basically that entire game. He never was able to lead the Eagles to consistent double-digit wins like some quarterbacks on this list did. He never won in the postseason like most quarterbacks on this list. He also, as the numbers show, was never really that special in the fourth quarter. Wentz will always be one of the most debated quarterbacks in the history of this franchise due to what could have been, but the reality is that on paper, his resume with the team ultimately wasn’t that special.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!