Things have gotten so ugly in Philly that former Pro-Bowl quarterback Michael Vick did not even dress for the team's last game. However, that's going to change on Sunday against the Giants, as Vick will replace an injured Nick Foles.
Foles broke his hand in the Eagles' loss to the Washington Redskins last weekend. Head coach Andy Reid decided to pass over Trent Edwards, who has been listed as the team's backup quarterback for the last several games. Vick sees the opportunity to start as a good way to showcase his ability to other teams seeking a free agent quarterback this offseason.
"I'm elated to be back out there on the football field," Vick said. ""It's a situation where I want to go out there and seize the moment. It's the end of the season, we need to win. We haven't won consistently in a long time, so we want to finish the season with a win."The Giants' defense has been pathetic as of late. They have given up 67 points in their last two games, along with 897 yards of total offense. The defensive play calls have been deplorable, the front four can't stop the run and the secondary gets beat deep with consistency. It's been a train wreck of epic proportions over the last two weeks.
Vick won't say it publicly, but he knows he's facing a wounded beast on Sunday. The Giants are a demoralized group fighting to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. It probably wouldn't bother him in the least to leave Philadelphia after sticking it to Big Blue at MetLife Stadium one last time. In fact, Vick acknowledged that this will like be his last game in an Eagles uniform.
"That's more of the reason why I think I should go out there and try to finish with a win," Vick said. "Go out with a bang, go out there give it everything I got. I've been out for the last [seven] weeks. It's a good opportunity for me to go out there and grow as a player. You never know what could come out of this game. You never know what I could learn. You never know what I could accomplish. I could go out there and break a record. There's tremendous upside."Vick wants to break a record. Perhaps his focus on individual accomplishments is why the Eagles had a limit on the success they had under Vick. However, the last time Vick played on the road against Big Blue, he orchestrated one of the most crushing defeats in Giants history. It's going to be hard for him to play with consistency after sitting out the last seven weeks, and it may be difficult for him to be mentally invested into winning the football game. He's capable of coming out and dominating the game, as well as putting forth an uninspiring effort.
The Giants need to win on Sunday, and it's hard to say whether having Vick on the field increases or decreases those chances. His name and star power far surpass his skill level at this point in his career. But he's still an experienced veteran with a considerable amount of athleticism. Big Blue's going to be testes this weekend, and it's going to be interesting to see how they respond.
Dan Benton
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