ARLINGTON, Texas --On his first play since the Week 15 win over the 49ers, quarterback Michael Vick provided an instant spark. Vick connected with Jeremy Maclin for a 76-yard touchdown pass, the longest pass play in Eagles postseason history.
Problem is, the Eagles couldn't sustain drives offensively and the team's 2009 season ended with a 34-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round of the NFC playoffs.
"The defense thought we were going to do something totally different," Vick said. "It was a great play call. It was called at the right time."
Vick missed the previous two games with a quad contusion he suffered in the first quarter of the 49ers game. Even though he was not in action for a few weeks, the Eagles were not afraid to let him pass the ball. Facing a second-and-3 early in the second quarter, Vick came in and took the snap out of the shotgun. He faked the handoff to LeSean McCoy. He looked down the left side of the field and Maclin was wide open. Vick connected with the rookie and Maclin turned up the field and ran the rest of the way for the touchdown.
It tied the game and provided the struggling offense something to build on.
However, it didn't happen. Instead, the Eagles surrendered a touchdown on the Cowboys' next drive.
On Vick's next play later in the half, he took the ball out of the shotgun and tried to hand off to fullback Leonard Weaver. However, the handoff wasn't clean and the ball fell on the turf only to be recovered by linebacker Bobby Carpenter. The Cowboys cashed in with another score and took a 27-7 lead into halftime.
"I totally take responsibility for that," Vick said. "It was a read. I put it on his hip and I tried to pull it back. I take full responsibility for that fumble. He thought I was doing one thing and I was doing another. The bottom line is we didn't execute the play."
Vick would throw another pass in his typical red-zone role, but the fourth-quarter attempt to Weaver on a roll out to the left side was incomplete.
In the regular season, Vick threw for 86 yards and a touchdown on 6-of-13 passing. As a rusher, Vick had 95 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns.
What does the future hold for Vick? The Eagles hold a team option for the quarterback's services in 2010.
"Whatever God has in store for me remains to be seen. My faith lies in Him," Vick said. "Whatever happens, happens ... I'll be in football shape. I'll be in tip-top condition ... I'm confident in my skills. I'm confident in myself."
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 1:55 a.m., January 10
