ST. LOUIS -- Even when he's not 100 percent on his game, Michael Vick can still do things that few, if any, players in the league can. In his first Week 1 start at quarterback since 2006, Vick led the Eagles to a 31-13 victory, throwing for 187 yards on 14-of-32 passing for a quarterback rating of 83.7. Of course, that doesn't take into account Vick's contributions as a rusher, where he put up 100 yards on eight carries before two kneel-downs at the end of the game dropped his total to 98.
But after the game, Vick wasn't as ecstatic as you might expect from a player who led the team to a win in their first game of the season. Rather, Vick was focused on what he can do better next time out, namely recognizing the opposition's blitz, which allowed the Eagles' quarterback to be sacked three times, including one lost fumble.
"The only thing I can dwell on right now is the things that we didn't do so well," said Vick. "I felt like I could have done better. I'm thankful for the victory, don't get me wrong, but I could have been a little cleaner and I told Andy (Reid) that."
Perhaps the most important drive Vick led came on the team's second offensive series, following Steven Jackson's 47-yard touchdown run on the Rams' first play from scrimmage. After punting on their first series, the offense lined up against a hot defense with a pumped-up crowd with the threat of falling far behind early.
On the second play of the drive, Vick got help from DeSean Jackson, who hauled in a 41-yard pass down field over two defenders. After a nice 20-yard completion to Jason Avant on third-and-long, Vick put the Eagles on the scoreboard with a well-called 7-yard screen pass to LeSean McCoy. They would never trail again.
"I think after they got the first touchdown, it was important to weather the first-quarter storm, stay in rhythm," said Vick. "I knew it was going to be a tough one coming in.
"You just have to fight through certain situations. We were able to that, and that's the sign of a good football team, staying poised, understanding the situation and not getting too out of whack."
Even though Vick completed less than 50 percent of his passes, his ability to hurt a defense with his legs was once again on display. Combined with LeSean McCoy, who ran for 122 yards on 15 carries, Vick and the Eagles were able to ice away the game on the ground.
"I think at some point, (defenses)have to be cognizant of the fact that we do have great backs in the backfield and I can break the pocket sometimes myself, depending on what blitzes come," said Vick. "So they have to be precise on their end. You can't do it every play, so I think they have to pick and choose their spots."
In the end, Vick best summed up an Eagles' afternoon that saw the team struggle at times to an 18-point game-one victory.
"We have a long way to go," he said, "but I'm excited about where we're at right now."
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