Last week against New York, the Eagles offense never quite clicked the way it had in previous weeks. And yet when it mattered most, Michael Vick orchestrated a seven-play, 90-yard drive capped off by the game-winning 50-yard LeSean McCoy touchdown run to take the lead late in the fourth quarter.
Rather than the video game-like way they played against Washington, the Eagles offense grinded out 27 points against a tough Giants defense and secured a close win – something that's arguably more important than a 59-point outburst.
Next up for the Eagles' dynamic offense is a date in Chicago, and waiting with open arms is a Bears defense that is tied for first in the league in points allowed. And just like the rest of the NFL, Chicago is trying to find a way to stop No. 7.
"Now that he is throwing the ball so well, it adds a whole other element to it," Bears veteran linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa told the Bears' official website. "Before, you knew he was going to run and it was, 'All right, let's contain him.' Now that he is throwing the ball well, it is going to add a whole other piece to it."
Since arriving in Philadelphia, there's no doubt that Vick has developed into the league's ultimate dual-threat quarterback. His 375 yards rushing and five rushing touchdowns lead the NFL among quarterbacks, while his passer rating of 108.7 leads the league as well.
But Vick has struggled in his three career starts against Chicago. He lost each of those games by a combined score of 61-19, all with the Atlanta Falcons, and has only produced one touchdown lifetime against the Bears defense.
Chicago head coach Lovie Smith said he thinks his defense is built to contain players like Michael Vick.
"We've played Michael Vick before," Smith said. "He's a great player. But we normally do what we do with our defense. (We're) not going to change up what we do. We believe in our defense and it's set up to play guys like him."
What Vick has proved, however, is that his game has drastically changed since his days in Atlanta. Any game plan set up to contain *that *Michael Vick might as well head for the shredder.
The challenge for Chicago will be to attack a quarterback that makes big plays with his arm and his legs, and all the while try and contain the fastest group of receivers in the NFL. Oh, and by the way, running back LeSean McCoy is sixth in the NFC in rushing yards (726), second in rushing touchdowns (6) and first in yards per carry (5.0).
No wonder the Eagles have scored an average of 35 points in games that Vick has started and finished.
-- Posted by Josh Goldman, 2:35 p.m., November 25
