ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – The stat sheet showed some of the best of Michael Vick, and, in a 31-24 defeat to the Bills, the worst.
He completed 26 of 40 passes for 315 and two touchdowns and added 90 rushing yards on 5 attempts for a staggering total of 405 yards generated. But Vick also threw four interceptions and the giveaways – the Eagles had 5 on the day – proved to be the undoing of an Eagles offense that gained 489 yards.
"An interception is an interception. That's how you know the world is going to judge you," said Vick, who has turned the ball over 13 times (seven interceptions) in five games this season.
"Some of them were tipped. Some of them were straight shots. ... You can't have them in this game.
"Guys are trying so hard to make plays. We know what we're capable of. We know we can do it. We move the ball up and down the field. In the moment, guys are just trying to make a play. They want to be the game changer, want to be the guy who makes the contribution. I totally understand it, totally understand it. We're desperate for a win, so you can't fault guys for it."
In the span of four possessions in the first half, Vick threw three interceptions, one which was returned for a touchdown.
The first drive of the game, on which the Eagles drove from their 20 to the Buffalo 31-yard line, ended when a Vick screen pass intended for LeSean McCoy was tipped by linebacker Alex Carrington and intercepted by cornerback Reggie Corner. The next time the Eagles had the ball, Vick was drilled from behind and his pass fluttered into the hands of George Wilson on a third-and-11 play.
Vick tossed a touchdown pass on the next drive, but Buffalo came right back with a touchdown drive to take a 14-7 lead, and the offense turned it over again when Vick's pass – in the face of a heavy blitz – went over the middle intended for DeSean Jackson, who was caught up in traffic, was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by linebacker Nick Barnett.
Then, on the final offensive drive of the game for the Eagles his pass to Jason Avant was tipped, juggled and then intercepted by Barnett at Buffalo's 26-yard line.
Game over.
Season over? The Eagles say no, despite their 1-4 mark.
"I think at this point it's out of the coaches' hands because we're the ones that are out there. We have to put it all together, take control," said Vick, who became the NFL's all-time leader among quarterbacks in career rushing yardage.
"Coaches can stress ball security all they want, protect the ball ... But when you're in the moment, you're in the moment. They're not in the moment, so there's not too much that they can do. We've got control of it as players.
"I think we're a better football team (than 1-4). Sitting at 1-4, I don't know if I can actually say whether we are a good team or a bad team. I know I have confidence in those guys and we have to keep fighting."
