Inside the Iggles
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Doug Pederson isn’t worried about resting players right now

By Geoffrey Knox

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Doug Pederson of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on before a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lincoln Financial Field on October 8, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Doug Pederson of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on before a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lincoln Financial Field on October 8, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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Don’t worry about seeing Nick Sudfeld yet. Doug Pederson is taking things one game at a time.

When Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz went down with an injury, much of what head coach Doug Pederson said was to be expected. We knew we’d be told that the team would rally around backup quarterback Nick Foles and that the team was confident. It was what Foles had to say that stood out though.

Foles, without wavering, said two things. One, the team wouldn’t look any different with him behind center. Secondly, he said if the team took a “one game at a time approach”, everything would work out fine.

His head coach echoed some of that following a narrow victory over the rival New York Giants that assured the Eagles would have a first round bye.

Is it time to rest players?

With an 11-2 record and the NFC East already locked up, the Eagles still have work to do. No one, especially the head coach, is thinking about resting players yet. Right now, there’s only one goal. The Eagles want to lock up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Right now, the Eagles are focused on the Oakland Raiders.

Head coach Doug Pederson said it best.

"My focus is winning the game on Monday night, because that to me is the most important thing. Once we get to next week, we’ll figure out next week, but my mind-set this week is all about the Oakland Raiders, Monday Night Football, and if we win that one… And like I’ve said pretty much these last few weeks, we control our destiny right now. So that’s the focus for me."

Perhaps the other side of the “resting players” coin is the question as to whether or not this Eagles team is sharp enough for a playoff push. Pederson’s team, for most of their Week 15 game, looked like a team that wouldn’t stand a chance against stiffer competition. If ‘The Birds’ had that much trouble against a lowly Giants team, couldn’t we argue that they’re not ready and need as many reps as possible? Coach Pederson isn’t quite ready to answer that question yet.

Here’s more from the coach.

"You just make the best decisions for your football team. And if that means resting a guy, you rest a guy or two or three, but you also have to maintain the edge with these players, and you’ve got to maintain that confidence and that dominating swagger, and you’ve got to keep that alive."

The goals are clear. The next step is clear. The Eagles want to beat the Raiders on Monday Night Football.

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