Old Vikings Nemesis Takes Over at QB in Indy
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings groundbreaking comeback over the Indianapolis Colts last Saturday evidently prompted structural change — and who can blame them? Veteran signal-caller and old Vikings nemesis Nick Foles will start this Monday night as the Colts host the Los Angeles Chargers.
Foles hasn’t started a game since Week 16 last year and will now take over for Matt Ryan, who has struggled mightily in 2022.
The 33-year-old is no stranger to success, though, as Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles ruined the Vikings would-be storybook season in 2017. Minnesota was led by a hellfire defense, a gritty quarterback in Case Keenum, and a prime version of Latavius Murray, finishing 13-3 while racing to the NFC Championship. But Foles and friends gutted the Vikings Super Bowl aspirations, crushing Minnesota in the NFC title game, 38-7. Indeed, Foles prevented the Vikings from hosting a home Super Bowl at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Foles and the Eagles later won Super Bowl LII over the New England Patriots in Minneapolis.
Old Vikings Nemesis Takes Over at QB in Indy
Foles holds a litany of NFL records, including 7 touchdown passes in a game, the highest completion percentage in a game with 7 TD passes (78.5%), the most passing touchdowns (7) with a perfect passer rating (158.3) in a game, and most consecutive pass completions (25). He also won the Super Bowl MVP award and visited the Pro Bowl in 2013.
The Colts benched Ryan once before in 2022, paving the way for a glimpse at second-year passer Sam Ehlingher. But that didn’t last long as then-HC Frank Reich was fired, Jeff Saturday was installed, and the Colts switched back to Ryan — until now.
Reporters asked Foles on Wednesday if he experienced any frustration weeks ago when Indianapolis chose Ehlinger over him when Ryan was benched. Foles replied, “None at all. None at all.”
The Arizona alumnus has played 69 games in his career, starting 56 and recording 202.9 passing yards per game, 82 touchdown passes, 43 interceptions, and an 87.3 passer rating. Teams led by Foles have a win-loss record of 29-27 (.517) on his watch.
Even with the move to Foles, the Chargers are favored by 4.5 points to defeat the Colts.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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