Stephen Jones compares having Andy Dalton to Nick Foles with Eagles

The Dallas Cowboys should have one of the most reliable backup quarterbacks in football this season, and they saw how important that can be when the division rival Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl two years ago. From the sound of it, the success Nick Foles had in Philly may have factored into the Cowboys’ decision to sign Andy Dalton.

Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones spoke about the Dalton signing on Wednesday, and he likened it to when Foles was the backup behind Carson Wentz with the Eagles.

“To have a guy like Andy Dalton come in here – not unlike what Philly had with Nick Foles when Carson Wentz went down – to be able to take control and win games, win huge games for you if that’s what you need is really important,” Jones said, via ESPN’s Todd Archer. “Certainly you can lay your head on the pillow better at night knowing you have someone like Andy Dalton.”

The success Foles had with the Eagles is the best-case scenario for a backup quarterback, as he led the team to a title and was named Super Bowl MVP. It would be a leap to say Dalton could do the same, but that season in Philly certainly highlighted the importance of having a reliable backup quarterback.

While the Cowboys’ decision to sign Dalton reportedly had nothing to do with Dak Prescott’s contract situation, Dalton is more than just injury insurance with Prescott negotiating a new deal. He has a ton of starting experience and should be able to keep Dallas afloat in the event of an injury or — though highly unlikely — a holdout.