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Vick kick-starts Eagles to 35-32 win over Lions

DETROIT - The Eagles' offense showed its potential Sunday. Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, and LeSean McCoy blazed through the Motor City like drag racers, sprinting away from a Detroit Lions defense that could not keep up.

With legs as lively his arm, Michael Vick escapes the Lions' Alphonso Smith before hitting wide receiver Riley Cooper for 20 yards in the second quarter.
With legs as lively his arm, Michael Vick escapes the Lions' Alphonso Smith before hitting wide receiver Riley Cooper for 20 yards in the second quarter.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer

DETROIT - The Eagles' offense showed its potential Sunday.

Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, and LeSean McCoy blazed through the Motor City like drag racers, sprinting away from a Detroit Lions defense that could not keep up.

The Eagles' defense and special teams, though, let the Lions back into the game, giving up two late scores and bobbling away an onside kick before holding firm on a final Detroit drive to preserve a 35-32 win.

Vick has led the offense to 52 points in six quarters at quarterback, but coach Andy Reid shut down any potential quarterback controversy - at least internally - saying Kevin Kolb will start Sunday against Jacksonville. Kolb and linebacker Stewart Bradley, each suffering a concussion last week, were cleared to return to play late Friday by team doctors and an independent physician.

Kolb was never in danger of losing his job. The Eagles have invested heavily in seeing what he can do this year. But Vick set a high bar for this offense, showing how explosive it can be, at least against a weak secondary.

Throwing sharply, running effectively, and avoiding big mistakes, Vick led an attack that turned in passing plays of 45 yards (a Jackson touchdown) and 53 yards (to Jackson to set up another touchdown) and added a 46-yard scoring run by McCoy.

Vick threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 37 yards. Jackson was his favorite target, catching four passes for 135 yards and a touchdown. McCoy balanced out the attack, with 120 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

For Vick, it was a significant step back into the playing spotlight after two years in prison and one season in a bit role.

"I think about it all the time," he said of his changing fate. "I thought about it this morning on the bus ride over. It's been a long road for me. It's been tough, and throughout it all . . . I had to overcome a lot of adversity, a lot of self-inflicted wounds, things that I caused for myself. You've just got to keep fighting. That's just the game of life."

Jackson made the first of numerous big plays by both teams, taking an 11-yard pass on the Eagles' first drive and outrunning several Lions to the end zone for his 45-yard score.

"That's my role here, to create big plays and spark the energy on our team," Jackson said.

Vick completed 62 percent of his passes in his first regular-season start since Dec. 31, 2006. He often needed to be at his elusive best, spinning away from pressure, dancing around blitzes, and once even releasing a completion as he fell toward the turf.

For the second consecutive week, the Eagles struggled against the pass rush. Despite Vick's mobility, the Eagles gave up six sacks, the same amount they allowed to the Packers in Week 1.

"We had some breakdowns there," Reid said. "I think it's a matter of the guys playing and getting reps."

With backup Shaun Hill at quarterback, the Lions leaned heavily on running back Jahvid Best, who finished the game with 232 total yards and scored three touchdowns. He often ran through the middle of the Eagles' defense, where Omar Gaither filled in for Bradley.

The Eagles adjusted and held the Lions scoreless for 34 minutes while building a 35-17 lead. But they nearly relinquished the advantage with a worrying late lull.

Tall receiver Calvin Johnson and tight end Brandon Pettigrew caused much of the trouble, re-creating some of the Eagles' 2009 problems against those kinds of players.

"We've got to go back and readdress some of the underneath passing game and some of the running backs and tight ends," defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said.

The Eagles grabbed control of the game late in the first half when, trailing by 17-14, Vick drove the Eagles 89 yards in 59 seconds. Most of the damage came on the seemingly effortless 53-yard strike to Jackson.

Vick's arm and legs helped an offense stocked with talent show the form many expected. Next week, though, he will go back to his role as a change-of-pace quarterback.

"It's not going to be difficult at all. I've just got to continue to prepare the way I've been preparing and make sure that I'm ready to go within my package of what we're doing," he said.

Kolb won't have to be Vick. But the Eagles will be hoping - and many fans demanding - that he keep the offense rolling in a similar fashion.

As if he didn't have pressure before.