Brandishing a disappointing 2-4 record with the division-rival Cowboys in town, Eagles quarterback Michael Vick knew that his team needed not only a win, but also a fresh start. The Eagles got just that Sunday night when they routed Dallas, 34-7. The 27-point differential was the sixth-largest ever for the Eagles in a win over the Cowboys and the biggest since 2008's 44-6 season-ending romp.
Vick was spectacular in prime time, completing 21 of his 28 pass attempts for 279 yards and two touchdowns. The 10-year veteran also added 50 yards on the ground.
As a team, the Eagles dominated in every facet of the game, limiting the Cowboys to 12 first downs on the day, seven of which came in the fourth quarter, after the game was out of hand. Offensively, the Eagles nearly doubled their opponent's yardage output, posting 495 total yards, 239 of which came on the ground, to 267 for Dallas. The Eagles also finished with 31 first downs, the eighth most in team history.
The offense was hot early, scoring on an opening drive for the first time this season. Vick capped of the eight-play, 79-yard drive with a bubble screen to receiver Jeremy Maclin for a 12-yard touchdown. After the game, Vick noted that he audibled into the play.
"I checked that play," he said. "I saw that they were bringing the blitz. We had a pretty good play called, but I just didn't feel great about it and was able to check into the bubble screen at the last moment. It was great communication and I give a lot of credit to the guys for executing so well.
"Learning how to make those adjustments has been a process for me. It was tough in the beginning. You have to watch a lot of film and try to get into a defensive mindset; really think like a defensive coordinator. It's been fun. I enjoy playing the quarterback position more now than I ever have before."
The dynamic playmaker believes that the Eagles have turned a corner. The underachieving team that lost four straight games early in the season, he says, is gone.
"We wanted to start out fast, today. That was our mindset," said the 2010 Comeback Player of the Year. "We knew we had to come out and set a tone. We still have a lot of work to do, but this is a win to be proud of and there should be jubilation throughout the locker room. We're going to keep pushing, though. This was the start of our new season. We've got game two of it next week."
Indeed, the Eagles' season is very much alive. With Sunday night's win over the Dallas, the Eagles moved into second place in the NFC East, just two games behind the Giants with nine games remaining on the schedule. If Vick has anything to do with it, the Eagles' new season will extend past their regular season finale on New Year's Day.
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