From the Desk of Eagles Outsider Barry Bowe

Several quarterbacks are drawing the attention of this Eagles Outsider as the 2015 NFL season unfolds. I’ve got my eyes on four Eagles QBs:

1. Sam Bradford
2. Mark Sanchez
3. Thad Lewis
4. Stephen Morris

Plus two former Eagles:

1. Nick Foles
2. Matt Barkley

One Chip Kelly heartthrob:

1. Marcus Mariota

And on two QBs who stink – in my opinion:

1. Johnny Manziel
2. Jameis Winston

This week, only four of my QBs played:

1. Sam Bradford
2. Nick Foles
3. Marcus Mariota
4. Jameis Winston

In a move that was somewhat surprising to me, Johnny Manziel was back on the bench after relieving Josh McCown the week before, throwing two long TD passes to Travis Benjamin, and leading the Cleveland Browns (1-2) to a 28-14 win over the Tennessee Titans.

In my opinion, Johnny Strip-Club doesn’t belong on the bench – he belongs in Las Vegas with his ne’er-do-well buddies. Fortunately for him, no matter how much money he blows, his oil-rich family will bail him out.

Only one of my QBs won. So we’ll start with him.

Sam Bradford

Sam Bradford didn’t play all that well:

• 50% completions – 14-for-28
• 118 yards gained
• 73.2 QB Rating

But he helped guide the Eagles (1-2) to a 24-0 lead at halftime and then held on tight as the Jets pecked away to close the margin to 24-17.

It was the Eagles first win of the season and instantly transformed the team’s fate from dismal to promising.

In Bradford’s defense, he threw perfect passes to wide open receivers – Darren Sproles and Ryan Mathews – who should’ve caught the balls and waltzed in for scores. Those scores could’ve transformed the game into a blowout. But he also missed a few wide-open receivers.

I’m looking for continued improvement next week against the (1-2) Washington Redskins.

Marcus Mariota

Marcus Mariota opened my eyes with his performance yesterday – even though the Titans (1-2) fell to the Indianapolis Colts (1-2) by a 35-33 count.

In just his third NFL start, Mariota’s numbers were impressive:

• 61% completions – 27-for-44
• 367 yards gained

He threw two TDs and two INTs. One of those interceptions was the receiver’s fault, but it was returned for 69 yards and a TD by Dwight Lowery to give the Colts a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.

Mariota rallied the Titans for 27 unanswered points and a 27-14 lead after three quarters – and the game was starting to look as if it were as good as over. But thanks to another Mariota interception and a three-and-out, the Colts scored twice in less than two minutes near the end of the fourth quarter to take a 35-27 lead with less than three minutes left to play.

After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, Mariota took over at the 20 yard line. And after being sacked on the first play, he then drove the team 86 yards in nine plays to pull the Titans to within a two-point conversion of tying the score at 35-33.

But in a curious bit of play calling, the attempted dive into the end zone ended with a meandering run that lost 14 yards.

But I’ve gotta tell ya – after that showing I can understand Chip Kelly’s fascination with Mariota.

Nick Foles

Nicky Football failed to drive the (1-2) Rams into the end zone in a 12-6 loss to the suddenly Ben-Roethlisberger-less Steelers. It was a lost opportunity for Foles and the Rams.

In his defense, he threw a perfect pass – around 40 yards or so – to a wide-open Lance Kendricks who could’ve backed into the end zone. But Kendricks dropped the ball.

Still, trailing by 9-3 with 9:44 left to play, Foles moved the Rams 62 yards in seven plays. But instead of it being a game-winning drive, it ended with a field goal that left the Rams on the short end of the 9-6 score.

The Steelers then went four-and-out and Foles had another opportunity to snatch a victory.

But Foles threw an interception on the next play.

When the Steelers converted the turnover into a field goal and a 12-6 lead, Foles had yet another opportunity.

He took over at his own 21 with 1:51 remaining and still another chance to win the game. And he started moving the Rams. Facing a fourth-and-five at the 39, he hit Kenny Britt for a 7-yard completion and a first down, but the play was reversed upon review – the ball having kissed the ground – and the game was over.

Jameis Winston

I didn’t see any of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-2) game against the Houston Texans (1-2). But Jameis Winston failed to set the world on fire:

• 47% completions – 17-for 36
• 261 yards

He threw for one TD – but also threw one costly INT.

This guy was the number-one pick in the draft. I didn’t see it then and I don’t see it now.

In addition to being an official Eagles Outsider, Barry Bowe is also the author of:

• Born to Be Wild
• 1964 – The Year the Phillies Blew the Pennant
• 12 Best Eagles QBs
• Soon-to-be-published novel Caribbean Queen
• Soon-to-be-published novel Stosh Wadzinski
• Soon-to-be-published novel Polish Widow
• Soon-to-be-published Birth of the Birds