• November 5, 2024

With Game On The Line, Vick Took Over By Running With The Football

This was without a doubt the greatest comeback victory the Philadelphia Eagles have ever had.  Nothing even comes close to the importance of the game and how far the team was trailing by at the latest point in the game.

It had been an awful day for the Birds with only 7:28 minutes to play in the game and they were down by three touchdowns to one of the best defenses in the NFL.

I had given up hope of them winning the game.  I was thinking about what their chances would be of getting to the playoffs after losing the game.

The Giants defensive line had been pounding Michael Vick all day long.  He had thrown an interception near the beginning of the game and didn’t seem to have any of his magic.  DeSean Jackson hadn’t been much of a factor for most of the game.

He admitted after the game, that he thought the contest was over because the beating they were taking was humiliating.

“I honestly didn’t think it was going to be possible,” Jackson said. “When it was 3-to-24, it was really unbelievable for a team to come back and win. In my mind, I thought there was no way we could come back.”
His quarterback tried to get him going.  Jackson sat on the bench next to his quarterback in the fourth quarter and was very disappointed after he had fumbled.  Vick refused to give up and tried to keep up the hopes of Jackson and his teammates.
“We just said to ourselves, ‘Listen, we’re just going to go out there and play for pride above anything else,’ ” Vick said. “They might beat us 49-25, but we’re going to play with pride and they’re going to know we were here.”
The New York cornerbacks were doing a good job of rolling up into face-to-position against the Eagles wide receivers and jamming them when they come off the line.   The jams were throwing off the rhythm of the routes.

The Birds had only gained 74 yards of total offense in the first half.  They were trailing 24-3 when they went in the locker room at halftime.

Eagles players say that cornerback Asante Samuel stood up at halftime and demanded that every player find their heart.  He challenged his teammates to fight back.

They had scored a touchdown finally in the third quarter, but they had given the points back when Eli Manning connected with Kevin Boss for a score.  They were in a 31-10 hole against a ferocious defense in their home with only about 7:30 seconds to play.

The two-play drive which took the Birds 75 yards for a score was the key.  Vick hit tight end Brent Celek down the seam for a 65 yard touchdown.  It was a great throw as Vick was able to get the ball to Celek before safety Kenny Phillips could get to him.  Phillips was indecisive about whether to focus on the ball or Celek.  He didn’t come down with either.

New York’s decision to put Justin Tuck on Celek wasn’t very smart.  Putting Tuck out there removed him from their pass rush and had him doing something he has no chance of being successful at, covering Celek.

It seemed that after that Vick thought about the way he was being pounded with the Zero blitzes, so he decided to tuck the ball under his arm and run with it, when he had the chance.

What were the Giants thinking by not alerting their blockers on the kick off return unit, that the Birds might try an onside kick? New York’s blockers were immediately running back to block for the kick, so that the Eagles had no problem recovering the onside kick.

Vick hit DeSean Jackson with a 13 yard pass, before he took off on a 35-yard scramble.  The Giants were coming on a blitz, but cornerback Aaron Ross made the mistake of coming inside and it allowed Vick outside to his left which proved to be lethal.

The run seemed to force the Giants defense to stop playing aggressively.  There were back on their heels as Vick scrambled into the end zone from 4 yards out to make the score 31-24.

The Giants and their fans were starting to sweat when Vick took it into the end zone without being touched.

New York put together a drive on the next series but they had a key illegal procedure penalty on a second down which ultimately put them  in a third and long situation.  The Birds defense stopped the Giants on third down and forced the punt.

The Eagles got the football on the 12 yard line.  Here’s where Vick did what only he could do.  With the Eagles in a 3rd and 10 hole, Vick took off on a 33-yard scramble to put a dagger into the hearts of the Giants.

The speedy quarterback seemed to dropping into the pocket while expecting New York to come at them with the Zero blitzes.

Later in the drive he went for another 22 yards, to put the Eagles on the New York 20 yard line at the two-minute warning.

Before you knew it, Vick found Jeremy Maclin out in the left flat.  He got the ball to him and Maclin made one of the defenders miss and they had their touchdown and a tied game.

With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, Vick made huge gains with his legs to frustrate the Giants, tire them out and ultimately spring the greatest comeback in Eagles history on them.

“Once we made a couple of plays downfield, I saw the momentum shift and they started playing off, real deep,” Vick said. “We started changing plays, and then down at the goal line got a touchdown out of it. I think that was deflating.”
Vick downplayed his role after it was over.
“We were able to make plays when we needed to, and those are characteristics of a good football team,” Vick said. “I’m just proud to be a part of it.”

Part of it, you were it.

Of course DeSean Jackson finished the Giants off, but Vick was again the catalyst.

When it was all over, Vick threw for 242 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception.  He ran for 130 yards and a touchdown on only ten carries.  Those carries were huge plays and cut the Giants hearts our of their chests.

I think that was ultimately the difference in the game because the Giants defense had no answer for his speed and quickness.

GCOBB

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Eagles Shock The Giants With 4th Quarter Comeback

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Special Teams Shine In Eagles Comeback Win

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runtheball09
runtheball09
December 19, 2010 7:23 pm

Lurie and Banner better dig deep in their pocket books for these two players or there is going to be a revolt like the one against Obama!!

xHorusx
xHorusx
December 19, 2010 7:45 pm

MVP!

Stats are not everything. But nobody puts up a stats line like VICK!

wmonell
wmonell
December 19, 2010 7:59 pm

Honestly, Vick is having a special season. He is the MVP.
No other QB could have brought us back today.
I love and respect Tom Brady, but he isnt posting up the best QB stats, Rivers and Peyton are.
Brady is the leader of the best team in football at the moment, the best “team.”
Coach B out in NE is hands down coach of the year, followed by Mike Smith in the ATL. VICK=MVP

I am so proud of our team. Of course I celebrated with yelling and runnign around like a mad man!!!
Sometiems a good team makes a comeback and gets the victory.
But today, we were matched with a rival that happened to be as talented or as good as us.
Todays comeback was pure will, it was just meant to be and I truly believe that.

The Bears should lose at least 1 out of their final 3 games and we should win out for the 2 seed.
im going to enjoy this all week while watching nfl network, espn, and first take.
here comes the attention again fellas…get used to it cuz were going to the ship!

Tech Triumph
Tech Triumph
December 19, 2010 8:01 pm

Loved McCoy’s blitz pickup on Maclin’s tying TD.

Baghdaddy
Baghdaddy
December 19, 2010 8:10 pm

:
I agree with the first part of your statement but that last part was totally uncalled for. Making reference to Obama totally takes the conversation in direction it does not need to go….Why go there!!! If you are truly an eagles fan? Lets enjoy this win and keep the conversation about our beloved eagles. As for the team and the fans….Congratulations!!! I’ve been in Iraq for the last 3 years and have taken a lot of crap for being an eagles fan(Who represents every chance I get) and it feels good to see our team do so well. Enjoy this win everyone and keep the faith. E.A.G.L.E.S EAGLES!!!!!!

Monolith
Monolith
December 19, 2010 8:30 pm

@runtheball, hey brother that was a funny comment though, very whimsical. It is what it is. Bag has a point though, still…….

@Bag I feel you brother, but you took that one personal. Anyway you said it best partner it is time to rejoice about our Eagles not politics.

as always LONG LIVE THE EAGLES

MaybeTheyCan
MaybeTheyCan
December 19, 2010 8:34 pm

I’ll be the first to tell you that I wasn’t in the least bit happy about the Birds signing Vick. I also tell you that it’s taking me a bit of time to put what he’s capable off of the field in it’s place but, keeping my opinion strictly regarding what’s on the field, Vick is AMAZING. He is the most exciting player in the NFL bar none. He’s turned into an amazing QB by any measure and quite possibly an even better team leader! IF the team can keep up with what Vick can bring every Sunday, they are capable of winning it all. Whether they will or not, well, time will tell and that’s the fun part. Like the team needs to, let’s just keep it game to game so, here’s to beating the Vikings!

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
December 19, 2010 8:45 pm

There’s nothing to see here…Based on Paulman Ryan for Atlanta could have easily scored 3 touchdowns in 8 minutes, throwing 3 TD’s on the day rushing for 140 who passing for nearly 300 yards.

Maybe Brady could have? Not,

Michael Vick the clear MVP of the league.

Where’s Paulman? I hope that loser pick against the Eagles for the rest of the season. He’s batting 1,000 in the wrong department.

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
December 19, 2010 8:48 pm

Paulman…think the Vikings will beat the Eagles by three?

By the way…What happened to the Packers?

Remember you had their DE and Rodgers ahead of Vick for MVP?

I do.

Baghdaddy
Baghdaddy
December 19, 2010 9:02 pm

, having reread my responce I can totally see how it could be viewed as something personal. However, that was not my aim. I just wanted the conversation to stay on football before it got out of hand. You know as well as I do, we (Eagles fan on GCOBB) have a tendacy to take posts in directions that go way beyond the original subject. Whether it be politics, race, or Vicks dog fighting. Given the significants of todays win I just wanted to nip in the bud before it got started. C’mon man our team just stole one from the Giants, and to hint at anything else would be counter productive and invite the type of pessimism that has plagued us for years. Given the significants of todays win I just wanted to nip in the bud before it got started. @Run, I apologize if you took it personally. I meant no harm and I hope you are indeed celebrating this win along with the rest of us. @Mono thanks for the chin check bro(For real).

paulman
paulman
December 19, 2010 9:03 pm

No doubt after watching today’s game, that Vick is MVP, He willed this team to Victory.
What I liked about this win the most is that players who made mistakes earlier in the game came back to redeem themselves and were part of the greatest Eagle comeback in my lifetime..
Vick,Maclin & D-Jax all turned the ball over in the to put them team behind the 8-Ball, but they all kept their focus and their will to win and then went ape in 4th Quarter in front of a mesmerized Giant team and TV audience.. This is no time to critique the team,it’s play or players, let’s enjoy it and then we can breakdown the good and the bad come tommorrow

Baghdaddy
Baghdaddy
December 19, 2010 9:11 pm

@Maybe….:
Way to go!!!!

keep 7
keep 7
December 19, 2010 9:13 pm

Most Valuable Player hands down

MaybeTheyCan
MaybeTheyCan
December 19, 2010 9:23 pm

@Baghdaddy….
Nice comeback to Mono and agree with wanting to keep it football and postive. We stole one so, lets have a laugh and walk away shaking our heads and being thankful.

lewdoggie20
lewdoggie20
December 19, 2010 9:27 pm

looks like vick will be going to atlanta to stick it to them…irony

MaybeTheyCan
MaybeTheyCan
December 19, 2010 9:34 pm

@Baghdaddy… btw.. I don’t want to let this opportunity to slide by…

Thanks for your efforts for all of us in Iraq man. It means a lot and we can’t express enough gratitude!

Stevo
Stevo
December 19, 2010 9:41 pm

Try this one on for size boys. I swam in 3 foot of snow after the return. and yea I did it BAREFOOT. Its -5 out here in MN and I was swimming in the white stuff. PROUD of our team. GO BIRDS!!!

Godson
Godson
December 19, 2010 9:43 pm

Runtheball09…………………………
Lurie and Banner better dig deep in their pocket books for these two players or there is going to be a revolt like the one against Obama!!
Grea quote! LOL. Obama is depleating our military. But that is another subject.
EAGLES!!!!!!! I have to admitt I was with G Cobb and trying to figure out what teams need to lose for us to be a wild card and 45 minutes later I was going crazy. Desean is amazing!!!!!!!!!!! Our sytem didnt do anything today… our talent won this one.
But our D needs to get off the field on 3rd and long. That was killing us!

Godson
Godson
December 19, 2010 9:45 pm

Throw a challenge flag!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Baghdaddy
Baghdaddy
December 19, 2010 9:48 pm

@lewdoggie
I think MV may be the only QB who could go into ATL and literally divide their fan base in half. Most falcons fans I know genuinely want to see MV win it all. However, with that said they don’t want it to come at the expense of their team. Here in lies the conflict that a lot of falcons fans will have on the hearts should it come down to that. My prediction: MV leads us to a trip to the SB with ATL cheering for him and adding another chapter to one of the greatest comeback stories in the history of the NFL. Now let’s go make it happen.

Baghdaddy
Baghdaddy
December 19, 2010 9:49 pm


It’s my honor.

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
December 19, 2010 9:57 pm

what they’re saying…New York Times

Tuck said Vick should be the league’s most valuable player. By the time he spoke, the Giants’ locker room was quiet and empty, the floor covered in used athletic tape and dirty clothes. A victory could have helped bring the Giants a playoff bye and at least one postseason home game to their new stadium. Now they may miss the playoffs entirely.

paulydak
paulydak
December 20, 2010 12:20 am

Did Vick break Donovan’s QB rushing record today? I think McNabb had 126 against the Skins, the game where he threw his okey doke juke down the left sideline then ran over Washington’s safety for a TD. Then again maybe Randall had the record? Looking at Vick’s rushing yards, I was just wondering about that and realized that we have probably had the three best running QBs in NFL history in Philly. Just an observation. To steal a line from Chase the Great. Greatest comeback in Eagles history….Greatest f@*king comeback in Eagles history!!!

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
December 20, 2010 3:35 am

Best post from another site:

He has Welker, since joining the Patriots prior to the 2007 season, Welker leads the NFL with a total of 346 receptions (112 in 2007, 111 in 2008 and 123 in 2009) and leads the NFL with 7.5 receptions per game.

Branch was awarded the Pete Rozelle Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXIX. His 11 receptions in the game tied the Super Bowl record, also achieved by Jerry Rice and Dan Ross.

Just let Moss go – HOF

Even Woodhead has an impressive resume
Won two consecutive Harlon Hill Trophies honoring the best player in Division II.
Finished his college career with 7,962 yards, which was the most in NCAA history at the time and 9,749 all-purpose yards, which was second all-time.
He rushed for 200 yards in 19 games and scored 654 points with 109 touchdowns.
His 2,756 rushing yards in 2006 is an all-time NCAA record.

Not to mention one of the nicest offensive lines!

Any NFL qb can pick you apart if given time, I’m not questioning the greatness – but what would he do when faced with the Giants front four breathing down his throat – Oh I forgot we did see what happened – a Super Bowl loss

— despy22nd

greenfan
greenfan
December 20, 2010 8:27 am

@Baghdaddy…while not original, I echo Maybe sentiments. This is a GREAT morning in Eagleland, but we are able to enjoy it because of the sacrifices of those who have protected us in the past and those who are actively protecting us all. Thank you.

greenfan
greenfan
December 20, 2010 8:31 am

@ Godson…..lol, THROW THE RED FLAG…..at least he admitted his mistake up front, but ComeOn MAN…that could have cost us the game without a doubt….when that next play started and Big Red didn’t throw the challange flag it got real bad in my house….let’s just say that my youngest son and I are now watching the game on the 12″ TV in his bedroom from now on…..DOESN”T MATTER, he now has a memory that will last until he is an old man…..GO BIRDS!!!

phillywill
phillywill
December 20, 2010 9:12 am

i’ve read every1’s post and im still trying to think of what to say and i cant
im speechless
i will just not say anything

greenfan
greenfan
December 20, 2010 9:22 am

PW….your chest puffed out this morning?? Go search out your G-man friends, you earned it man!!!

phillywill
phillywill
December 20, 2010 9:45 am

what green they wont answer phone
thank God for texxting and email hahahahahaahhaha u will hear me
let it snow

paulydak
paulydak
December 20, 2010 10:57 am

This offense needs a nickname, how about the “Shock and Awe” offense because they are the most explosive,quick strike group in the NFL since The Greatest Show on Turf? Do you guys think the Eagles offense is better than the Saints offense from last year or the Patriots 07 unit? I think the best offenses in the last decade or so have been the Rams 99-01, the Pats 07 and last year’s Saints. Where do we rank with those offenses?

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
December 20, 2010 11:16 am

That 07 Pats offense was the best in history. I would have to see where we end the season. We are certainly one of the most explosive offenses ever and largely due to Vick being able to do whatever he wants when he feels like it. But between the 07 Pats, greatest show on turf, 98 Vikings, 09 Saints and I’m sure we can throw at least one of the Colt’s seasons in there, we are about as dangerous.

rcp1936
rcp1936
December 20, 2010 12:20 pm

Vick is MVP at this point but can you really base a SB winner on expectations that your QB is going to continually pull games out with his running in the 4th quarter

One of the disadvantages to a blitz is if your QB picks it up you have man on man coverage and receivers have a good chance of being open especially if you have the speed the Eagles do

Yet the Giants were able to play man to man even when not blitzing

The Giants have one of the best Ds in the league so let’s hope the teams the Eagles meet in the playoffs can’t do what the Giants did –miracles can’t be dialed up as a matter of course

Wonder what happens if we meet the Giants again in the playoffs –they are the only team I really think can handle the Eagles O

paulydak
paulydak
December 20, 2010 2:58 pm

The Eagles averaged 32.5 pts in 2 games against that Giants D. However and whenever we got the pts doesn’t matter. I hope we do see them again. We have to be in their heads now. It must seem like no matter what they do, they can’t do enough to beat us. They have to feel snakebitten right about now, wouldn’t you say? I’m more worried about the Saints vs the beat up Eagle D. If the Saints are on their game, they could put up 30 plus easily on us. That will be a shootout to end all shootouts.

paulydak
paulydak
December 20, 2010 3:02 pm

Scorp, with Vick starting and ending the game, the Eagles average 33.6 pts a game. That’s right in line with those other great offenses. The overall numbers come down when you factor the Kolb games in there to just under 30ppg. I want to get that number 1 total and scoring offense double dip but those damn Patriots are up on us in scoring, damnit.

anderson silva
anderson silva
December 20, 2010 6:01 pm

Vick just has grit. He goes out there and blows up and does whatever he thinks he needs to do to win. We would not have had a chance with the old qb in yesterday’s situation. Thats just a fact. I still have concerns that one of these games he will not be able to cover up for the Oline’s deficiencies, but at least the knife will be in my chest where I can see it coming, as opposed to in the center of my back where the old qb used to stab us with the McMope attitude and refusal to go all out.