Philadelphia Eagles Vs. Green Bay Packers: 10 Keys To a Vick and Eagles Victory
The Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers played the opening week of the season, and the Packers walked away with a 27-20 victory. But in defeat, the Eagles discovered their diamond in the rough—Michael Vick.
In one half, Vick passed for 175 yards and ran for 103, while becoming Philly's full-time starter. Kevin Kolb —the original starter—was out with a concussion and Vick was simply too good to be on the bench this season. Vick led the Eagles to a 10-6 record and a playoff berth.
This week, the Vick-led Eagles play host to the Packers in the NFC Wild-Card.
Let me tell you why the results will be a little different this time around, and what it's going to take for the Eagles to exact some revenge for their regular season loss.
10: Vick's Feet Can Take Him Far, and Fast
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Forest Gump's mother told him that he had magical legs, and that they could take him anywhere. I don't think Brenda Vick told her son that, but in his case it's true as well.
We have all seen what kind of threat Vick is on the ground. He is as fast as ever, and is even more of a weapon now, due to the fact that he has matured as a quarterback.
He isn't just taking off now after the first read isn't there. He looks for the pass first, looks off defenders, and in the blink of an eye he is 20 yards down field.
He is playing playing to his maximum potential this year, and it is awesome to watch.
9: Limit Contact on Vick
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All quarterbacks in the NFL are protected with the utmost care by their teams. Heck, even the league does its best to take care of the quarterbacks (see: Tom Brady jumping up and down like a seven year-old girl pointing at a guy three feet from his legs).
But it is no simple task for the Eagles due to Vick's dynamic running abilities. Once he is out of the pocket, he is not a quarterback anymore, and it is open season on him.
So it is more his responsibility to be aware of who is around him and to slide and get out of bounds to avoid those hits, and stay in the game.
Vick gives the Eagles the best chance to win.
8: Get Out To a Quick Start
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After that legendary comeback win over the Giants this year, nobody doubts the Eagles' ability to come back—they are never out of a game. But the Giants aren't the Packers. The Packers will not make the mistakes the Giants made.
Though the Eagles will need to jump out to a quick start, they don't need to take a commanding lead or anything. But just don't start out slow and fall behind, because they are going to have to put together two halves of solid football to beat the Green Bay.
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7: Vick Will Need to Stay Poised
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Michael Vick will need to stay poised in the pocket and make the smart decisions. He will have to make them under the duress of the blitzing 3-4 scheme the Packers are going to throw at them. Vick will have to look down the barrel of the blitz in a playoff game and make the right decision.
This will just be another test of how much he's matured this season. We will see if he can stay poised under the playoff pressure or buckle.
There is no in-between.
6: Vick Is Going To Need The Swag
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Part of staying poised is being confident and you are confident when you are prepared. Vick is going to need to be all of those things to perform at a playoff level and beat the Packers.
He needs to know that he is the man, and that when he is prepared to play, no defense in the league can stop him.
If Vick is prepared and confident, then the Packers have no chance.
5: Control Clay Matthews
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Packers linebacker Clay Matthews had seven solo tackles and three sacks the last time these two teams played. He has been a menace off the edge all season long and is headed to the Pro Bowl with 13.5 sacks on the year.
The Eagles will need to do whatever necessary to not let him get constant pressure on Vick. The Packers finished the regular season ranked fifth in total defense. B.J. Raji eats up the interior offensive line while those linebackers roam and make plays.
But if the Eagles can even slow Matthews, then they will have a much better shot at winning this game.
4: Eagles Pass Rush Can Be a Force
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This has everything to do with the Eagles defense. They can get a nice rush, and they know it. Still, their numbers have dropped off since starting the year hot.
The Eagles had 24 sacks in the first eight games (third), but only 15 since in the next eight (22nd).
So they have cooled off, but if they can turn it up for the postseason, the potential to get a solid pass rush is there. Trent Cole, the Eagle's most feared pass rusher told the CSNPhilly.com this week, "We know we can beat this team."
The Eagles will need to get a pass rush from their defensive front, because Aaron Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the league against the blitz.
3: Solid Special Teams
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The Eagles' special teams is dangerous due to the fact that they have some guy you might have heard of: DeSean Jackson. Jackson is a beast return man, and loves to showboat.
Clearly he can operate under pressure (see: Giants walk-off punt return), and has that attitude where he wants the ball in big-time situations.
Bigger the stage, more he wants it, and he has the ability to go out and take anything. Total beast.
And if the Packers choose to kick away from him, then they should get decent field position anyways.
2: LeSean McCoy Is The New Brian Westbrook
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LeSean McCoy is exactly what any quarterback wants. The guy can run the rock, and can catch the rock. Give him No. 36 and we would think he is the man he replaced, Brian Westbrook.
His versatility should be huge in the playoffs, but his ability to run is something the Eagles are going to need against the Packers, who have the league's 18th ranked rush defense.
McCoy will need to perform at a high level, and do more than just get carries—he will need to get yards, preferably a lot of them.
1: Can't Handle Two Halves of Vick
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The Packers won't be able to handle two halves of Michael Vick. I know they weren't prepared for him before, because he was the backup. But he put up a combined 278 yards in a half against them, and will do a lot more than that in this weekend's game.
They know what he can do, and experienced it first hand. Vick won the second half 17-14 when they played in week one, and I would take the new Michael Vick over the Packers offense.
Vick is going to do some improv. And how do you prepare for improv?
Well, it takes longer than a week.
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