Eagles Take Ugly 35-32 Win Over Lions, Vick and McCoy Lead Offense
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It may not have been the most confidence-inspiring performance by the Eagles against a Lions team that’s now won just three of its last 42 games, but head coach Andy Reid will take it. “Every wins a great win in the National Football League, we’re not graded on how pretty they look and that one down the stretch didn’t look too pretty,” Reid said.
His Eagles led 35-17 with 6:17 left in the fourth quarter, and yet saw the Lions have the ball with a chance to put together a game winning drive with 1:48 remaining. Philadelphia’s defense could best be described as fickle, dominating at times and looking outmatched at others. On Detroit’s first 28 plays from scrimmage over five drives, the Lions gained 202 yards and scored 17 points, including a 75-yard screen pass from Shaun Hill to Jahvid Best and a 14-yard run by Best.
The Lions then gained just 89 yards on their next 29 plays over a span of six drives, as the Eagles seemed to have them figured out. Philadelphia lapsed again though, giving up touchdowns on back-to-back fourth quarter drives as Detroit gained 140 yards on 13 plays. The Lions scored 15 points during that stretch, thanks to a two-point conversion from Hill to Calvin Johnson after a touchdown hookup between the two. Best had the other late touchdown on a 2-yard run.
Head coach Andy Reid said it had nothing to do with players backing off due to having a big lead. “Well there were a few things, we played a little bit of 2-man and they got us on a couple of those plays,” Reid said. “Initially running the quarterback on a big third down, and they got us a couple of times with matches, their running back is a pretty good receiver on linebackers and so on. Again, they’ve got a little talent on that offense there, they’ve got some pretty good players there.”
Offensively, the Eagles put together a balanced attack, throwing the ball 34 times and running it 28. “We were able to put some drives together, I thought the defense stepped up and made some big plays and I thought the offense put some things together,” Reid said. “It looked like we ran the football halfway decent in there, we had a nice mix going, keeping them off balance a bit.”
LeSean McCoy had his first 100-yard game in the NFL, gaining 120 yards on 16 carries, including three touchdowns. Michael Vick, making his first start since December 31, 2006, threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-34 passing. The backup came out of the gates firing, hitting DeSean Jackson for a 45-yard touchdown on the Eagles first possession. “The first drive set the tone, we were able to come out and get a big play,” Vick said. “DeSean was able to use his speed and break through a couple of defenders and get a touchdown.”
Jackson ended the day with four receptions for 135 yards and the touchdown. Despite Vick’s strong performance, Reid made it clear after the game that Kevin Kolb is still his starter. When asked about the status of Kolb and Stewart Bradley and whether or not Kolb would start next week, Reid responded quickly. “Both guys have been cleared and yes [Kevin will start next week],” Reid said.
That doesn’t mean Vick won’t get his chances, as Reid intimated that the Birds plan to use him more than the five to six plays a game he had last year.
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