Michael Vick and the 2010 Eagles' High-Flying Offense: Best in Team History?

Heading into the fourth quarter of the 2010 season, the Philadelphia Eagles offense is one of the most potent in the NFL. Two questions: Is it the league's best? Is it the best offense in Eagles team history?

There is no single objective metric that will tell the tale. Does one rely on points per game (a good indicator, if imperfect), yards per game (although used in rankings, I'm not a big fan of this stat) or something intangible like "wow" factor (well, since this is subjective, maybe)?

As of now, the Eagles rank second in points per game (28.7) with 344 in 13 games. This counts all points, whether Michael Vick or Kevin Kolb was under center, and whether any points were scored by the defense or special teams. It's a pretty impressive number that is a couple points ahead of the 2009 Eagles (429 points in 16 games, for an average of 26.8.)

League-wide, the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots have scored 334 in 11 games (30.3 ppg) heading into their showdown with the stingy New York Jets defense. In third place are the San Diego Chargers (led by Philip Rivers), who are averaging 28.2.

While I am not a huge fan of the passer rating stat, not so coincidentally Brady, Vick and Rivers are the three highest-rated passers in the NFL. When you add rushing yards to the mix, it makes Vick look even better. Then again, Vick has (and this is subjective, but hard to argue with) a much better stable of receivers and running backs to throw to. But, that's a whole  'nuther discussion.

By any measure, the Eagles are getting exceptional quarterback play this year, as are the Patriots and Chargers—and a few other teams this year.

Offenses revolve around their quarterbacks, and by any objective standard Michael Vick is having a terrific season that has put him up in the MVP discussion. The Eagles are more potent than ever before, in large part due to Vick's accuracy (63.8 percent), efficiency (8.4 yards per attempt, which is second to Rivers) and ball control (19 touchdowns to only two interceptions).

Vick enhances these numbers by rushing for a quarterback-leading 467 yards and six touchdowns on 74 carries, for an average of 6.3 yards per carry. One downside: He has fumbled nine times, but the Eagles have pounced on eight of them.

Let's look at the 2009 offensive stats. What is lost in the ominous shadow cast by the back-to-back humiliating defeats in Dallas to end the year was how well the Eagles offense performed last year. Going into the last regular-season game, they were actually the second-highest scoring team in the NFL, but dropped to fifth (behind the Saints, Vikings, Packers and Chargers) after their shutout loss.

Donovan McNabb's stats were in the same ballpark as Vick's, if not as gaudy: a 60.3 completion percentage, 8.0 yards per attempt (seventh in the league) and 22 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions.

McNabb also kept countless plays alive behind an arguably worse offensive line in 2009, showing the same kind of determination as Vick while not having his younger successor's speed and agility. He rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries, which ranked him 10th among quarterbacks. He also fumbled 10 times, three of which went to the opposition.

What seems to be clear is this: The Eagles received a high level of quarterback play from McNabb last year, and an even higher level of play so far from Vick. Whether Reid envisioned this type of season from Vick or not (after all, the keys to Andy and Marty's kingdom were ostensibly turned over to Kevin Kolb) is unclear, but they are all making it work.

And this may be water under the bridge, but who knows what McNabb would have produced with this offense in 2010. Remember that the Eagles offense was powerful with even more unrest on the O-line (you do recall the preseason depth chart with the Andrews Brothers on it) and rookies in LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin.

It takes nothing away from Vick's return to the top to suggest that the Eagles may have had similar production from a McNabb-led offense (if not the quarterback rushing yards) in 2010. After all, they were 10-4 with him under center—the Birds are 6-2 with Vick this year—and the points per game are close.

Still, the edge goes to the 2010 Eagles offense over last year’s edition, but is this the best Eagles offense of the modern era?

The best offensive unit in my decades of following this team was undoubtedly the 2004-05 team that lost to the Patriots, 24-21, in Super Bowl XXXIX. While there is much left to be written for the 2010 chapter, most everyone would agree that the 2004 NFC champs were the better overall team. But what of their offense?

Those runner-up Eagles—who also featured one of the better defenses in the league—got off to a 7-0 start and cruised to the NFC's No. 1 seed on the strength of a 13-1 record. They essentially played backups in their last two meaningless games, which were lost to the toothless Rams and Bengals.

In the 14 games that mattered, the Eagles averaged 26.4 points per game, a little less than the last two years’ teams. Of course, they did not need as many points to win games, as their defense was much stronger.

McNabb’s 2004 numbers were very similar to Vick’s of this year: 64 percent completion rate (to Vick’s 63.8), 8.3 yards/attempt (to Vick’s 8.4) and a TD/INT ratio of 31-8 (Vick is at 19-2). McNabb’s QB rating was also very similar—104.7 to Vick’s 105.7.

Which team had the better offensive weapons? This is subjective, but who would you take?

Terrell Owens or DeSean Jackson? I would take (not as a locker room presence) TO, but only by a razor-thin margin. Jackson is speedier, but TO had the best year of his career, and brought good speed, along with great size and strength. If TO merits a slight edge over Jackson, he and the offensive line (by a bigger margin) are the only advantages that the 2004 unit possessed. 

I will give a push to the quarterbacks, if Vick maintains his very high level.

The other receivers are much better on this year’s team. Jeremy Maclin (who has the game of a No. 1) is already 10 times the player Todd Pinkston ever was, and I would take Jason Avant 11 out of 10 times over Freddie Mitchell, the legend in his own mind.

Tight ends? Give me Brent Celek, even in a down year, over LJ (still waiting for his breakout year) Smith.

Featured running backs? While we don’t know yet if LeSean McCoy will have the career of a Brian Westbrook, he’s matching Westbrook’s 2004 season. Call it a push—Shady has been that good!

In 13 games, Westbrook ran the ball 177 times for 812 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and three touchdowns; McCoy, in 12 games, has rushed 168 times for 823 yards (4.9 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns. Advantage: Shady.

As a receiver, Westbrook had an edge, but not an overwhelming one. B-West caught 73 passes for 703 yards (9.6 yards per catch) and found the end zone six times; Shady has hauled in 67 for 534 (8.0 yards per catch) for two scores.

The two versatile backs average almost an identical amount of yards per play from scrimmage, as well.

In the final analysis, it would be fair to say that this year’s Eagles are on pace to be the highest-flying offense in team history. With the talented youth that surrounds Vick, the offense may even get more potent provided the key pieces (including Vick, of course) stay healthy, and the quarterback stays out of trouble and remains an Eagle.

Cliché though it may be, the sky is the only limit for these majestic birds of prey.

ONE GOLD NOTE

Do Eagles fans become McNabb fans once again—if only for a few hours tomorrow—as he leads the Redskins (5-5) into the Meadowlands to take on the Giants (7-4)? The Redskins—a long shot at best to earn a wild-card slot—will also host the Giants this year.

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