Quarterback Michael Vick, one of the unquestioned leaders of this team, is without a doubt disappointed by his team's 1-4 record. But the 10-year veteran remains confident that his team can turn its fortunes around. He believes in all of his teammates and knows that each and every one of them is as distraught as he is about the way the season has unfolded thus far.

History has shown that teams that begin the season 1-4 typically do not make the playoffs, despite the fact that there is still over two-thirds of a season left to be played. In fact, just five teams that have started the season with that mark since the current playoff format in 1990 have made the postseason. Vick and the players are not letting history get in the way of what they think they can still accomplish. Sitting just two wins behind the division-leading Redskins, a win this week would put Philadelphia one win behind with 10 weeks and four division games remaining.

Here's another note: the five teams to have started 1-4 and make the playoffs since 1990 all won their respective divisions.

"Absolutely we can turn things around and make the playoffs," Vick said. "Every guy in this locker room has to have that mindset. We have to keep taking it one game at a time, and each guy has to go out there and try to be the best player at his position. That's how you build a winning football team.

Of course, the Eagles need to start winning games. Priority number one in doing so is limiting turnovers on offense and forcing more of them on defense. The Eagles have given the ball away a staggering 14 times in the last four games while only notching four takeaways. 

"In terms of the turnovers, it's not that we keep committing the same mistakes over and over again. I think everyone's just trying their hardest to go out and make plays," Vick said. "The reason we're being aggressive on offense is that we know how good we can be as a team. We've been very productive offensively, but we've just been shooting ourselves in the foot. This is a very confident group. We want to be the best."

The offense's confident nature can largely be attributed to the trickle-down effect that Vick has on his teammates. The 31-year-old quarterback knows that his example will set the tone for the Eagles moving forward.

"I just have to continue to be a leader," he said. "The moment that I stop believing and start pointing fingers, that's when the rest of the guys start to do the same. It's all about standing tall. That's what I'm all about.

Vick knows that this week's game, while not mathematically a "must-win", is one that the Eagles cannot afford to lose, noting that "a win this week would be huge." He's hoping that a deciding victory over Washington can give them the momentum swing they need going into the bye week.

"We have to go out and play the game to win," Vick said. "We can't worry too much about not turning the ball over, because when you do that, you end up not playing to your strengths. We're an aggressive team, so we need to stay that way."

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