Chip Kelly: 'We'll Continue To Go With Mark Sanchez'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Just like that, the season is over before it's even over.
With one game left to play, the 9-6 Philadelphia Eagles were officially eliminated from postseason contention this weekend after losing 27-24 to the Washington Redskins, the Eagles' third straight loss.
Chip Kelly says it'll be Mark Sanchez at quarterback for Sunday's meaningless Week 17 game at the New York Giants. Not Nick Foles, who continues to recover from a broken collarbone, and not second-year QB Matt Barkley.
"Mark's our quarterback," Kelly told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show on Monday morning. "Again, I thought Mark played a really good game. He goes 37 of 50. He was 37 of 49 before that last pass. I'm sure he wants that pass back, everybody wants that pass back, but I think Mark played a good game and we'll continue to go with Mark. "
Listen to Chip Kelly on the 94WIP Morning Show:
Sanchez took over for starter Nick Foles on November 2nd, when Foles injured his clavicle in the first quarter of the Eagles-Texans Week 9 game. Sanchez is 3-4 as the Eagles starting quarterback.
"There was no decision," Kelly said, when asked if Michael Vick may have been a better backup option. "Michael left and wanted to go to a team to start. So, Mike wasn't coming back here to be the backup to Nick Foles. So, we were going and looking actively for a backup quarterback. I know Mike was headed in the direction where he was going somewhere where he hoped he was going to be the starting quarterback. So, that was never a consideration to bring Michael back."
For the second week in a row, the Eagles secondary was exposed, particularly Bradley Fletcher. Fletcher, who will be a free agent after the season, allowed three touchdowns to Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant in Week 15. On Saturday, Fletch struggled again, giving up two deep catches to ex-Eagle DeSean Jackson.
"I just think Fletch has lost a little confidence in himself," Kelly said. "I think he's played well at times this year and in the last two weeks, hasn't played as well as he could have played and I think maybe his confidence is a little bit lacking right now."
The Eagles became just the third team in the Super Bowl era to miss the postseason after winning nine of their first 12 games. Kelly says, you can blame him.
I mean, that's what this deal is all about," Kelly said. "When you win, I mean, you share it with everybody. When you lose, everybody takes their own responsibility. I take ownership for this and that's what this deal is about. If you're going to sit there and say it's not me, it's not this, then you're in the wrong business. I think everybody can contribute and everybody can do a better job and we gotta do a better job coaching."
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