Vick barely survives horrorshow
Eagles 17, Browns 16
Vick barely survives horrorshow
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
CLEVELAND -- On a day where pretty much everything the Eagles did on offense was disconcerting, except for the final score, the Eagles beat the Browns in their 2012 season opener, 17-16. And with that, the hand-wringing will understandably begin in earnest.
Why? Mostly because quarterback Michael Vick threw four interceptions, and because the Eagles forgot to run the ball for long stretches of the afternoon, and because the offensive line struggled (early in the game, especially) to get the Browns' pass rush blocked. Other than that, things were fine.
The Vick business will linger, though -- because, after a training camp that really wasn't much of a training camp at all because of injuries, the quarterback really did look bad at times. He is their most important player and he almost lost a game to Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden, who threw four interceptions himself and had a quarterback rating of 5.1.
The Eagles held a 10-3 lead at the half. Their touchdown came with 17 seconds remaining in the second quarter, on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Vick to Jeremy Maclin. Up until that point, the half had been a tragicomedy of penalties by the Eagles and missed blocks. But they pulled it together on that last drive. They got it blocked. They executed. It appeared as if things had stabilized.
But then Vick just kept throwing the ball away. His pick in the first half was a clasically poor decision -- rolling left, throwing back across his body to his right, just a recipe for disaster. And as the second half wound down, it just kept getting worse and worse. Vick was locking on his receivers with a laser and never seemed to see a sea of white jerseys and orange helmets.
One interception was into triple coverage -- yes, triple. He had all day on another one and still failed to see two defenders. The absolute disaster came in the fourth quarter, when he locked on to Maclin and threw another interception when D'Qwell Jackson stepped in and returned the pick for the touchdown that gave the Browns a 16-10 lead.
On the Eagles' next series, offensive coordinator Marty Morninweg finally remembered that he had a running attack -- or so feared what Vick might do that he fed the ball steadily to LeSean McCoy and also to rookie Bryce Brown. They moved the ball decently, but then the drive stalled -- and kicker Alex Henery missed a 45-yard field goal attempt, wide left.
On the Eagles' next drive, with the clock inside of 4 minutes, Vick was forced to run on third and 10 from the Browns' 32-yard line. He was hit, fumbled, recovered and came up a couple of feet short of a first down. Then Browns coach Pat Shurmur challenged the ruling on the field of a fumble and recovery by Vick. The challenge was denied. It was fourth-and-1 with 3:01 remaining.
McCoy ran over the right side for 3 yards and the first down. On first down, Vick just missed a diving Maclin in the back of the end zone. On second down, Vick hit tight end Brent Celek -- and Celek bulled his way to the 3-yard line. There were 2 minutes remaining.
First-and-goal at the 3. McCoy and Brown both in the backfield. The give was to Brown for a loss of 1 yard.
Second-and-goal. Vick was throwing to Maclin and somehow, Browns linebacker LJ Fort failed to intercept.
Third-and-goal. Good time.
TD pass to Clay Harbor.
With 1:18 remaining, the Eagles had a 17-16 lead.
What follows will be the recriminations.
schewwww. Again, thank the heavens the Browns were the Week 1 opponent...but all the credit in the world to them. The Browns played hard.
Man, a LOT of work to do...— Reality Speaks- This team will go no where with Vick. 4 interceptions (2 which a high school QB would have known NOT to throw) and vitually NO audibles its clear Foles will be QBing this team before mid-season. Vick simply cannot read defenses and has no field vision. Reid is also to blame...not running the ball to take advantage of a glaring weakness is unexcusable.
— Professor1982 - I rarely if ever comment on the Birds.
This was pathetic. And for all the bluster and SB talk and 30-3 Bird/Brown rout. Shut up.
When this team is finally 10-1 and have run through a schedule and the division once beating nearly everyone then talk may begin. Until then, Bird fandom should simply stay silent. There is nothing to talk about. Nothing to crow about. Nothing to complain about because it is all BS. Where is Kafka? This win was KAFKA-esque. A riddle wrapped in a mystery surrounded by enigma.— 24sDad - Spoken like a person who needs to touch the kettle to know its hot, LoL.
Hello Philadelphia.....this is mediocrity again knocking on your door with Vick and Reid!— Professor1982 - First my disclaimer: Haven't actually seen the game yet, but from what I've read:
Vick sucks, Reid sucks and all of the "fans" who criticized the naysayers, you need to recognize that this was against what was predicted to be the worst team in the NFL. A last minute win? For the "Dream Team II?"
Here's what's funny: Castillo, in only his second season ever, may well be a better defensive coordinator than Reid is a head coach.
You can blame Vick, McNabb, Joe Banner, Sean McDermott, the offensive line, the linebackers, the kick-returner, or whomever you please, but after 14 friggin' years, this is Reid's team top to bottom. The outcome rests, and I'm sure Lurie now agrees, with Reid and he SUCKS!
The fans cried for a No. 1 receiver for 5 years and when McNabbb FINALLY got one, he broke records and went to the SB. Then Reid went BACK to mediocre receivers for two more years, before drafting Jackson. To make matters worse, we traded out of the first round while in SB contention to draft Kevin-benched-for-John-Skelton-Kolb.
MOST CERTAINLY, we are BACK in SB contention, right?
Lurie's eyes have been opened by the prospect of additional dollars signs. I really don't care, as long as they were opened.
He didn't really understand how "fan"atic this city is over sports. After all, we grew up "in" friggin' FAIRMOUNT PARK!
We played football, basketball and baseball day in and day out. THIS IS A SPORTS TOWN! WE CAN FIGHT TOO! When boxing was in it hey day, we were even the boxing capital of the world. We will not only "pay" our champions, but they will live in our hearts forever.
Fire Reid, win a championship and become, the greatest owner of all time, Lurie. DO IT!
- I've had enough of the Michael Vick experience. He was never good.
— Sidewinder7 - I had enough of the Andy Reid experience!!! Some coaches make their players good. Alex Smith and Tim Tebow stink, but their coaches last year designed a game plan that matched their strengths. After your qb throws 2 ints, why would you keep throwing the ball, when you have the best rb in the game and the lead? I remember one time in the game the announcer said Mccoy was averaging nearly 9yds a carry. Why would you throw the ball 56 times when your qb is struggling. Especially against the Browns. Reid makes a defensive coordinator's job so easy. I bet Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and co can't wait to come to town. — LetTheTruthBeTold!
- I love Vick, but Vick has been asked to mold his game around Reids system and Morningwigs calls the play with a terrible run pass ratio. Their formattion is terrible, how many times did Shady take the ball lined up by Vick side rather than putting a full back or lead blocker in front of this talented man? What a waste. Reid's will live and die by his system, which doesnt fit Vicks capabilities. Vick is trying to mold his game around this system and will fail, as He is no Brady, or Rogers. Get rid of Reid and Morningwig, balance the attack, feature Shady and we wont have 4 turnovers. LURIE, you are a day late my friend, get some balls, fire him now! while you still have time ......... — RAM1162
- @sidewinder, Vick is a very quality starting QB in this league. AR called 60 pass plays in this game, if there was a better balance of run to pass plays both areas will improve. I can accept your dislike for Vick but keep it real, the blame for this game goes to the the coaching staff. — eagles-fan-in-texas
- Yea!! Another season opens with a win the Eagles don't deserve!! Maybe the opponent will pull out the victory next week!! Go Ravens!!— kmon
- 4 interceptions, 1 fumble he was lucky to recover and at least 2 more picks that should have been...including the one in the end zone that should have ended the game. Keep on believing in the smoke and mirrors that is Vick. Last year it was because of the short pre-season, this year because he was injured in pre-season. This is what this guy is and you can't change it. Please start the rookie already!— RU95
- I'd take McNabb at this point over Vick. He's just TERRIBLE — Eagle GREEN Mt State
- For all you Vick Haters....Kevin Baby Arm Kolb may be available. Oh thats right, he back to being a back-up in Airzona to a no name QB! Vick stunk today. But he is still better than most options, especially with that offensive offensive line! — Minnesota VICKings
