Quarterback Nick Foles wasn't the starter at the beginning of the 2013 season. Today, he's one of the NFL's Top 100 players. Tackle Jason Peters didn't play a single snap in 2012. In 2013, he reclaimed his spot among the league's elite.
On Wednesday night, Foles was named No. 70 and Peters ranked No. 67, respectively, on the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2014.
"Talk about a breakout player, the guy was on fire," said Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich of Foles' rapid ascension. "He uses his poise to know when to run and when to pass."
Herzlich had a birds' eye view of the game where Foles stepped in for an injured Michael Vick. It was in the Week 5 win over the Giants where Foles came off the bench and threw two touchdown passes in the Eagles' victory. That performance sparked the beginning of one of the best seasons by a quarterback in NFL history.
Foles was the first player in NFL history to throw 20 or more touchdowns (27) against just two interceptions. He led the league with a 119.2 quarterback rating, the third highest in NFL history. He started the season throwing 19 touchdown passes before his first interception. Against Oakland, Foles tied the NFL record with seven touchdown passes in a single game. He led the Eagles to the NFC East title in Chip Kelly's first season as head coach and ended the year with Offensive MVP honors at the Pro Bowl.
"I knew when he took over last year when Vick got hurt that he was going to be a special quarterback," said wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.
Peters, unlike Foles, is no stranger to the NFL's Top 100 list. Two years ago, Peters was at the top of his game as he ranked No. 42 on the list. However, he missed all of the 2012 season with an Achilles injury. Peters rebounded in a huge way in 2013 as he earned his sixth Pro Bowl honor and second first-team All-Pro selection as he was a fixture on the most prolific scoring offense in franchise history.
"First of all, he's big and he's quick as a cat," said Washington defensive end Jason Hatcher. "He probably goes in the category of (Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle) Walter Jones and guys like that."
"It goes to show (LeSean) McCoy led the league in rushing," Maclin said, "and why Nick was able to have the amount of success that he had. The best offensive tackle in this league."
