Michael Vick: Teammates' Miscues Will Destroy Dream Season for the Eagles

Mike Vick came to play and prove a point on Sunday. Only one problem: The Philadelphia Eagles run defense and Jeremy Maclin didn't eat the same breakfast of champion their star QB ate.

This is starting to look like the theme for this entire year. A team stacked with talent at nearly every position isn't able to rise to the expectations and intensity level of their opponents.

The moment the term "Dream Team" was bantered around, you knew every team that played the Eagles in 2011 would be playing as though they were playing the defending Super Bowl champions.

Many were concerned if Vick would even play against the San Francisco 49ers. Boy, did he ever play. His stat line is one that will draw cheers from his fantasy owners but disgust from hardcore Eagles fans. 

Digest this: 30-of-46 for 416 yards, 2 TDs, INT and 9 carries for 70 yards. That type of play from your QB in a loss is unacceptable.

So who is to blame? As has been the case all year, the Eagles' run defense failed them, but before we even get to that, let's talk about the aspect of the team that has plagued Eagles QBs for over a decade: the receivers.

Now, DeSean Jackson had a tremendous game, with six catches for 171 yards. The culprit in this unit is Jeremy Maclin, and he isn't a first time offender. In the loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Maclin dropped a third down conversion that would have extended the drive and put the Eagles in field goal range. That pass was from Matt Kafka after Vick was concussed.

This time, Maclin victimized Vick. After Vick rolled to his left, he found Maclin for a first down and more. Maclin was stripped from behind, ball recovered by San Fran. The catch and run was almost enough for a field goal.

Maclin has proven he is not a prime time player. Let's face it, all of the Eagles games will have that feel. The moment is too big for him. What was worse, stud OT Jason Peters injured his knee on the play.

Then, with the Eagles still holding on to an outside shot to get the ball back, they needed to force the Niners into a three and out. That means the run defense has to show up. Well, that's like throwing an alley-oop to Kevin Hart. Good luck getting that done.

Frank Gore gashed the Eagles run defense and the Niners salted it away. The theme is the same and will be the same all year. Vick's teammates are not capable of competing on the stage their union has created.

Only one team has ever reached the Super Bowl after starting 1-3: the 2002 New England Patriots.

Well, so much for the dream season.