ARLINGTON, Texas -- Of course there is disappointment that, for the first time in four seasons, the Eagles will not be going to the playoffs. But for Michael Vick, the Eagles' three-game winning streak that has, not coincidentally, coincided with his return to the lineup has offered a glimpse at what the team can be when at full strength, under Vick's command.
Saturday afternoon at Cowboys Stadium, Vick and the Eagles put on a dominating 20-7 performance that was not as close as the final score would indicate (the Cowboys didn't score until seven seconds left in the game). And, as a team leader, Vick stewarded the well-oiled offense even though the team found out during the first half that they had been eliminated from the playoffs as a result of the New York Giants' win over the New York Jets.
"I found out around the second quarter," Vick said following the game. "I played the whole first quarter still motivated, not to say that changed once I found out the outcome, but I admit it was a bit of a letdown and that's because I'm human and have emotions. The objective was just to finish strong and that's the goal. I know every guy in the locker room is proud of themselves and proud of how far we've come as a team.
"I've watched this team grow as the weeks went on. The last three or four weeks, we've come together as a team. It's a family environment, a family atmosphere, and that translates to winning. That's why you see a different team, well put-together, well fit and we're playing together. That's what it's all about, but it takes time to build that chemistry and that togetherness. What we're doing now, it's exciting for me. There's not another place I'd rather be every day than the NovaCare Complex with the Philadelphia Eagles."
Vick's two most impressive drives bookended the first half. On the team's opening possession, Vick led the Eagles on an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that eclipsed 3:30 on the clock. The drive included an early third-down conversion and a heads up play in which Vick, knowing Cowboys outside linebacker Anthony Spencer had already been flagged for a facemask penalty, scrambled outside the pocket and lofted a pass downfield to Riley Cooper who was in double coverage. Cooper rewarded Vick's decision, leaping high into the air for a spectacular 28-yard reception. Two plays later, Vick hit tight end Brent Celek down the middle for a 13-yard touchdown to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead.
But as impressive as the Eagles offense had been in the first half, they found themselves only leading 7-0 with 55 seconds remaining in the second quarter after an apparent Jason Avant touchdown had been reviewed and ruled a touchback because he was deemed to have lost the ball out of bounds in the end zone prior to crossing the line of scrimmage. So Vick and the Eagles, starting on their own 13-yard-line, produced the kind of drive that provides a snapshot of just how dangerous the offense can be. The drive began with consecutive completions of 22 yards (to Jeremy Maclin), 33 yards (to DeSean Jackson) and 27 yards (to Avant). After a spike and a throwaway, Vick found Maclin in the back of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown, capping an 87-yard drive that took only six plays and 50 seconds.
Vick's total numbers for the first half were extremely impressive; 13-of-20 passing for 221 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a quarterback rating of 135.6. The second half didn't produce quite the same fireworks as the Eagles were content to hold onto the lead and Vick finished the game with 293 yards passing and a quarterback rating of 107.9.
Though the season has ended in ultimate disappointment, Vick said that he believes the future is bright for this group of Eagles.
"We had a lot of new guys, a new system, a new coach on defense, new players and you might not believe it because some of you guys aren't in the locker room and you've never had a chance to play at this level, but I've been around a lot of teams and I know what it takes to win football games and I know what type of team and personality and character that you have to have," Vick said. "And we just lacked that early, and that's the truth. I wouldn't sit here and say something at this point that I didn't believe in or didn't know. I think we all know that. I'm just happy that we won the game today. I want to say Merry Christmas to everybody out there in the world, the Philadelphia Eagles organization, the Philadelphia Eagles fans, my fans out there and everybody just have a Merry Christmas."
