After building a team filled with Pro Bowlers before last season, the Philadelphia Eagles were dubbed the “The Dream Team” and the team to beat in the NFC. The odds were definitely in favor of Andy Reid’s squad heading into the 2011 NFL season with Philadelphia stacked on both sides of the football as a result of all the moves made.
There were a lot of questions surrounding superstar quarterback Michael Vick after being released from prison, but he put those to rest after becoming the starter under center in Philadelphia and torching opposing defenses with a vastly improved passing ability and the same dominance on the ground.
Unfortunately, the Eagles failed to live up to expectations last season finishing the regular season with a mediocre record of 8-8 and missing the NFL playoffs altogether. The result of the disappointing season immediately put Reid on the hot seat and Vick under the microscope.
In 2012, things haven’t changed much for the Eagles after seven games in the books. Philadelphia will head into Week 9 with a losing record of 3-4 and Vick on the verge of losing his starting job.
According to ESPN.com, Vick is focused on making the playoffs rather than losing his job under center:
Michael Vick, whose status as the Eagles’ starting quarterback is secure for this week at least, said Thursday he’s ready to lead Philadelphia’s “playoff run.”
Vick also sent a text to ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio about his renewed focus:
“Ready to make a playoff run. One play at a time. One game at a time,” he wrote in the text.
In Week 9, the Eagles will go head-to-head against the very desperate New Orleans Saints hungry for a win to get back on track after only two wins in six games thus far.
Although Philadelphia’s defense will be tested on Monday Night Football against perennial Pro Bowler Drew Brees, Vick will have an opportunity to put on a show to save his job against the lowly defense of the Saints.
New Orleans will come into this game with arguably the worst defense in the league. The Saints’ defense gives up an average of 304.6 passing yards (30th in NFL) and 170.1 rushing yards (31st in NFL) per game in six games played thus far.
With that being, Vick will have an opportunity to fill up the stat sheet on Monday. If the four-time Pro Bowler fails to do so, it won’t be much of a surprise to see the Eagles announce a quarterback change next week.
