Nick Foles has not been shy about what his focus has been during the last month of the season: Staying in the moment.
Doing so has helped him on multiple occasions during his professional career. Sunday night in Chicago was the latest.
Despite two early interceptions, Foles stayed in the moment and calmly rebounded to throw a pair of touchdowns. The latter, a 2-yard pass to wide receiver Golden Tate on fourth-and-goal, capped off a 12-play, 60-yard drive that helped the Eagles defeat the Bears, 16-15, and advance to the Divisional Round for a rematch against the New Orleans Saints.
Foles completed 25 of his 40 pass attempts for 266 yards, respectable considering the Bears' top-ranked defense. Despite flashes of production early, the Eagles only mustered three first-half points. While the offense struggled to find its footing, the Eagles' defense, which had been one of the best units in the league the last three weeks, kept the team in the game with timely stops.
"It's just belief in one another," Foles said after the game. "That's just from being around these guys, having the relationship, and that's what wins games in the fourth quarter."
"We talk about brotherhood, going to work every single day" he added. "The game wasn't going great in the first half offensively, but our defense was keeping us in it, and they just kept coming to the sidelines: 'We got you. We got you. We're going to get you the ball back.'"
Foles and the offense eventually got things going in the second half, and made some big plays at some crucial moments.
"We didn't have to do anything too crazy. We just needed to play," Foles recalled. "We were able to settle down in the second half and make some plays and it was a huge team win for us."
On the drive the put the Eagles ahead, Foles completed six passes to five different receivers with methodical precision.
It was clear that the moment was not too big for Foles and the rest of the offense. The task was difficult, but it wasn't impossible.
The offensive line had to keep Khalil Mack and company at bay. It did.
The pass catchers had to make plays down the field. They did.
And Foles had to distribute the ball like a point guard and allow his playmakers to … make plays.
"The last drive was really just – stay in the moment, let's play the play, let's just keep going. Let's march," Foles said.
That drive and a missed field goal from Bears kicker Cody Parkey extended the Eagles' season for at least one more week, and Foles has full intentions on making each day count leading up to next Sunday.
"I realized then that I'm blessed to wear this uniform at least one more week," Foles said. "I get to play with these guys one more week. I get to be with these coaches one more week and that's something I look forward to and pleased to be a part of it."
Check out the best photos from the Eagles' game against the Bears in the Wild Card Round.
WR Golden Tate and OT Lane Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Head coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
QB Nate Sudfeld
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
DT Tim Jernigan and QB Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
DE Chris Long
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
S Corey Graham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
DT Tim Jernigan and QB Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
RB Boston Scott (left) and DB Avonte Maddox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
K Jake Elliott
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
DT Tim Jernigan and QB Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
G Stefen Wisniewski
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
S Deiondre' Hall
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
LB Jordan Hicks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
P Cameron Johnston
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
G Isaac Seumalo
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
DB Avonte Maddox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
DB Avonte Maddox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
DB Avonte Maddox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
RB Darren Sproles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
CB Cre'Von LeBlanc
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
LB Nigel Bradham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
DB Avonte Maddox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Cb Cre'Von LeBlanc
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
DT Haloti Ngata
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
LB Nigel Bradham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
RB Darren Sproles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Jordan Matthews
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
CB Rasul Douglas
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
S Tre Sullivan
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
LB LaRoy Reynolds
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
OT Jason Peters
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
DT Tim Jernigan
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 6, 2019
