Hold “The Fat Lady” back for at least one more week; the team that I wrote off back in week five, and then again in week nine, is still alive and praying for a playoff berth.
Sunday afternoon’s 45-19 convincing victory over the New York Jets was another reminder of the talent and potential that the Eagles posses.
Leading the offensive attack on Sunday was a seemingly healthy Michael Vick. The Eagles franchise quarterback put together his best passing performance since a week eight home victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
In Sunday’s win, the former Virginia Tech star threw for 274-yards and a touchdown. Vick also ran for a touchdown and finished the game with a passer rating of 107, his second highest total of the season and a rating greater than the sum from his last two outings.
“I thought he did some good things”, Andy Reid said about the play of his quarterback. “It looked like he knocked the rust off last week, and he came back and had some beautiful throws today. I thought he managed everything well. He did a good job.”
Most notably the Newport News native seemed confident in the pocket, making clutch plays when the team needed it most. Perhaps this is due to the offensive line, which recovered from a poor performance against the Dolphins.
Vick took advantage of the Jets linebackers by targeting starting tight end Brent Celek and his backup Clay Harbor. Celek finished the contest with a career-high 156 yards receiving which contributed to three first downs and his 3rd touchdown catch of the season.
The development of the connection of Vick and Celek could be huge in the advancement of the Eagles passing game. Throwing to the tight end is like a going into the post in basketball so that you get a short and easily makeable shot. Celek was targeted six times and connected with five of them. If Vick and Celek continue to connect it will drive up the quarterback’s completion percentage as well as the offense’s effectiveness in the red zone.
Darrelle Revis and the Jets secondary did a good job on Eagles wide receivers DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant but Vick had a big day any way by going to Celek and Harbor.
On the other side of the field, Jets’ quarterback Mark Sanchez did not fare so well. The Birds defense kept him off balance all day long by sacking him four times and picking him off twice.
The Southern Cal grad threw for just 150 yards while completing 15-26 passes for two touchdowns along with the two picks. It took Sanchez a long-time to get things going.
In fairness to Sanchez, he didn’t get much help from his number wide receiver Santonio Holmes. In the first quarter, the former Super Bowl MVP had his fumble returned for a touchdown and a pass which went through his hands picked off with the Jets offense in the red zone. For much of the first half the Jets had negative passing yards.
It was the third-year quarterback’s third worst statistical performance of the season. He was pulled from the game in the fourth quarter and finished with a passer rating of 67.8.
Next up on the docket for the Eagles is a must win week 16 trip to Dallas.
Vick outplayed Mark Sanchez?
Well, good that we’re setting the bar high.
This is why people have trouble reading through all of you posts Vin. You hate Vick so much that you can’t even give him credit for playing a good game.
I’m just bustin’ chops. Get you guys all riled up.
He played a decent, though I’d be hesitant to say good, game. Congrats Mike.
I just hope the Eagles aren’t playing meaningless football on Saturday night against the Cowboys. Can the Jets pull it out against the Giants? Anyone know what the line is?
Vinnie
I really miss you touting Kevin Kolb. Last year, during the entire season, that’s all you posted. Now, you won’t even type his name. What happened?
Kolb has taken a major step backwards in his development..
He has shown that he cannot take a hit and also has not been very clutch with games on the line as his leadership qualities have come into question.. I think the Cardinals may give him 1 more year, but with his crazy Salary level, I would not be surprised if he’s flat out released either as he has been outplayed by 2nd Year QB John Skleton who appears to have more upside than Kolb has displayed..
Oh Drummer…..
1 – I thought the Eagles’ should have kept Kolb over Vick. I still do. The Vick contract will hold this team back for at least one more season. The Birds could have recieved mucho compensation for Vick which would have helped the team in the future as they’re going to be drafting a new QB this upcoming draft or next anyway.
2 – Kolb’s struggles still don’t change the fact that Vick is not a good QB. (and don’t get too hyped over this last game – he still scrambles away several times when he could have just stepped up. Was innacurate early, but did very well on several of his throws – especially when he had 6 steamboats)
3 – Looks like Kolb is going to be heading the way of Sydney Crosby and Eric Lindross. Concusions going to be sending him from the game, so exactly what would be the point of bringing him up?
You want me to say the Birds would be better off with Kolb over Vick? They would. We’d have at least 2 first rounders and not be handcuffed by the $80 million…and the W/L record would be….well who knows what the record would be……but would it be much wors2 than the scintilating 6-8 we are with the Spaceship at the helm?
I might argue that John Skelton has “outplayed” Kolb. (or anyone) In fact, I was very impressed with Arizona’s ability to win with this guy at the helm. Over his first 4 games he was under 50% passing with 2x picks to tds….is that “outplayed??” He had QB ratings of 10 and 30. That’s near impossible to accomplish! He has gotten better his last 2 outings…so who knows. He might end up being good.
I’ll take Rex Ryan’s opinion over VinnieTheHaters anyday.
“Mike Vick has never looked like that in a game against one of my teams. He’s a complete quarterback now.”
Have to shoot you down Vinnie
#1) Vick was a Free-Agent last Off-Season so how do the Eagles get a lot in return since they wouldn’t be able to trade him without signing him to a Contract first… (similar to D-Jax’s sitaution this Off-Season)
#2) Vick’s struggle’s earlier this Season does not change the fact the Kolb is not a Starting NFL Caliber QB
#3) Kolb is Soft and afraid of contact, I am sorry he has Concussion issues but he plays scared from the get go and you cannot “Un-Coach” that..
I call this the “David Carr Syndrome”
Skelton is 5-1 as the Cardinals Starter while Kolb is 2-6.. and believe me, I am no Skelton Fan, but the bottom line is that Kolb has failed for 2 Seasons in a row now to seize the opportunity to be a #1 Starter for an NFL Team and to be honest, you don’t get too many chances in the NFL to prove you belong and to be a #1 QB and right now, Kolb is not the guy…
I was a big Kolb supporter and really wanted him to succeed but he is flat out terrible and I will admit I was wrong about him. I thought he was going to be a lot better than he was. However, I knew Arizona was giving up way too much for him when we dealt him this offseason.
I have been critical of the Eagle brass on several occasions, but we must give credit for the robbery given to the Cardinails! To get a second round pick and a starting caliber CB for Kolb was masterful! Kolb may be a likeable guy but he is not a starter in the NFL!
Vick was under contract. Birds owned his rights and he had signed the franchise tender. Both he and Kolb were under contract for the year and either could have easily been traded. New team then works out a new contract…..we all know these things are all arranged pre-trade…
This is not the same case as Desean. The Birds’ will never sign Desean to a franchise tag for fear of not being able to then move him. (I don’t think they’ll be offered anything more than a 4th) Then they’d be left stuck paying him top 5 $$. They were willing to do that with Vick, but they won’t with Desean.
So he’ll be leaving via free agency.
Rex Ryan. You know why he was able to say that? Vick faced the Ryan 2 times in his career (2002 and 2006) and went 23 of 50 for 252 yrds 0tds and 4ints. Cade McNown would look “complete” compared to that shite.
Vinnie- down this same road again. I boxed you into a corner with this crap not long ago and here is what i learned.
You think the eagles should have kept Kolb and traded Vick because of money.
+ I pointed out to you that the birds would have had to pay Kolb for him to stay.
You have come to terms with the fact that your poster boy sucks but yet you think we should have traded Vick and grabbed draft picks later after our team blows.
+ Clearly your playing for 5 years down the road. You think we should have stockpiled draft picks in hopes that we land a star pocket passer in the 2012, 2012, 2013 draft.
This kind of thinkinking does not win championships. The eagles made the right call when they traded McNabb… i was pissed but it was the right call. The eagles gave your boy a shot and he blew it by running from GB and getting smashed by GB. I know he had a good game back in 2009 or whatever but….. clearly they got goood value for a 3rd string qb.
Its time to admit that you were full blown wrong on every level. I know Vick is not amazing but he has been the best qb on our roster for years. Its ok to be wrong. I was very very very wrong about Babbin. I blew it. Thought i knew.
The birds were 3rd in total O early this season. as bad as they were… they were 3rd. The main issue on this eagles O is turnovers. Vick has LOTS to do with that but so does….
Avant- 2 dropped passes snagged for int’s IN THE SAME GAME!!
Djax- how many times have we called his name out for wide open DROPPED TD grabbs(he had another one last night in my madden game but thats a diff story).
Maklin- didnt he fumble to end the game when the birds were driving for a chance at a game winning score?
Stevo – good points – lots of mistakes by lots of folks early on – still not happy about 3 fumbles (that pick didn’t matter) – but kudos to the D for covering a couple (pick and FG) – eliminate mistakes and this is a decent team –
No comments on the Red Zone for the O or the D – when was the last time you just new the team was going to score when in the RZ? three weeks ago if Celek got tackled ont he one I would have thought SHIT – now – run McCoy behind Peters – didn’t work – send him behind Hermanns –
thanks Navy- BTW- its your turn watch vincent… i got to go. I fed him though and he went potty.
songs, you have to come clean here, the offensive line is probably the strength of this team, and looks like Watkins can play
Jake you are correct. I am wondering tho….. why does shady have to dance so much right now. Is it that there are not lanes to run through or is it him not reading them? he’s making lots of cuts and moves. Not a north south runner.
Stevo – to your question – why ask the question – you seem to be in serach of a solution to a non-existent problem. Shady is an elusive type of back, so his style includes a bunch of dancing. It’s working like a charm for him right now. So why question it? you know what I mean? The Jets have some good LBs and an overall good front 7, so they’re not going to give a lot of ‘north south’ holes.
my question is about the line Cap Shill. Not about Shady. I understand the kind of back he is. What im trying to figure out is how our line is doing. It seems like when they are hot they are hot and when they are not.. they are NOT. they did not play very well against Miami.
Hey Vinnie:
The Cards are 7-7, and they beat the Eagles with their former back-up (Skelton), who is now their starter, because their old starter (Kolb), who is now their back-up and who is also the Eagles’ former back-up and former starter until he was unseated by the Eagles’ other former back-up and present starter (Vick), who then forced the former back-up to become the back-up again (Kolb) and who also forced the new and former back-up (Kolb) to be traded to the Cards as a starter until he was unseated by the Cards’ former back-up and present starter, John Skelton. Does Kolb know who he is anymore? He’s like a ping-pong ball – making me dizzy.