The Philly Special

The 2017 Philadelphia Eagles season was filled with some magical moments. Perhaps the most magical of all was the now famous play call, “Philly Special.” Leading only by three points on the biggest stage in sports, a timeout was called. Nick Foles, journeyman quarterback turned season savior, jogged over to his head coach and asked a simple question. “You want Philly Philly?” Pausing for a second to count the cost, head coach Doug Pederson looked back at him and said, “Let’s do it.” The moment is now captured forever, having been made into a statue by Bud Light and placed in front of Lincoln Financial Field for all to see. Everyone knows how the rest of the story goes. An undrafted rookie running back takes a direct snap, tosses the ball to a backup tight end, who throws a perfect pass to a backup quarterback leaking out of the backfield into the end zone, and a legend was born.

We all know that story. What we should all know that something like that doesn’t just accidentally happen. It takes preparation and study. Our Christian faith is no different. We don’t just happen to wake up one day and know everything or make good decisions in pressure filled moments. Getting to know God and drawing closer to him takes an intentional effort on our part. In 2 Timothy 2:15, the apostle Paul writes, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (ESV). How we go about preparing ourselves during the little moments will determine how we handle ourselves in the big ones. Foles had no time to explain the play to his teammates. All he had time to do was announce the play and set up the formation. Imagine if they had never prepared for that moment. We’d certainly not be talking about the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles right now.

The second thing we see in the Philly Special is the boldness it took to call the play. I think it is safe to say that most everyone in that moment expected the Eagles to kick. You can even listen to the radio broadcast as long time announcer Merrill Reese states “I’d feel better taking the three points in this situation.” He was expressing what most of us were feeling. Take the safe points. But this was a situation where safe meant missing out on the possibility of something more. Something great. How often do we take the safe route and miss out on something great? There was certainly a huge risk involved, but by counting the cost, the boldness of both Foles and Pederson allowed for something great to happen. We see the same kind of boldness encouraged in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (ESV). God wants us to approach Him boldly with our requests and petitions. It is in this boldness, this fearlessness that we can truly experience the freedom that God offers in Christ. Having a real relationship with God produces a clarity, a broader vision of reality in our lives and in the world and therefore, what’s important. This clarity, an understanding of who we are in Christ,  in turn drives out fear (the fear of failure/success, what others may/may not think of you, etc). This ultimately produces a greater capacity for boldness in life. First John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (ESV). When we realize that God’s love is eternal, unchangeable, and freely given without exception or stipulation, life’s greatest pleasure becomes serving Him however, wherever, and for as long as He allows. Whom or what then shall we fear?

Seeing the preparation, the boldness, the fearlessness all coming together to produce an unforgettable result is what made the 'Philly Philly' so very special.