Eagles vs. Steelers: Michael Vick's Early Turnovers Doom Philly in Pittsburgh

This time the kick was good, and the Philadelphia Eagles lost.

Shaun Suisham did what Lawrence Tynes couldn't.

The kicker's last-second field goal was true, giving the Pittsburgh Steelers a hard-fought 16-14 home victory. The Eagles defense simply couldn't stop the Steelers on their final 14-play, 64-yard drive. 

Though they slowed down the passing game for most of the day, the defensive line was exposed by Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman, who combined for 122 yards rushing.

But allowing just 16 points away from home in Pittsburgh? That should have been a recipe for victory.

Instead, Michael Vick's turnover troubles returned a week after he played almost mistake-free football against the Giants. Two of Vick's three fumbles were recovered by the Steelers in the game's first half.  Another lost fumble was overturned upon further review.

Vick's carelessness and lack of awareness are unacceptable. 

Local Philadelphia airwaves were filled with talk of Vick transforming himself into a "game manager" following his uncharacteristically clean performance against New York.

But just a game later, the old Vick is back.

This is who he is. He's not going to change, and he's never going to consistently read defenses pre-snap and deftly alter the play-call.

Vick is never going into a baseball slide—he's going to recklessly vault head first.

He's never going to protect the ball on a consistent basis. This Sunday afternoon it wasn't the interception, but the fumble that did the Eagles in.

The interceptions? They'll return.

If the Birds had pulled off the victory today, it would not have been because of Vick—the win would have been earned in spite of him.

Sure, Vick made some big plays late. With the assistance of the under-utilized LeSean McCoy, he led the Eagles down the field for the go-ahead touchdown with eight minutes remaining in the game. No one can take that away from him.

But the football? Defenses have taken that away from Vick far too often this year.