Michael Vick had to quickly shift his focus after his latest dominant performance thrust him into the national spotlight.
With the New York Giants (6-3) coming in for a first-place showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles (6-3), Vick had little time to reflect on a record-setting effort that had people talking about him being an MVP candidate.
“After the game was over, we just realized we had to go on to the next one,” Vick said. “You can enjoy the win for a day or two but after that, you’ve got to refocus and you’ve got to understand what’s most important and that’s the next game.”
Vick had perhaps the best all-around game by a quarterback in Philadelphia’s 59-28 win at Washington on Monday night. He became the first player to record 300 yards passing (333), 50 yards rushing (80), four TDs passing and two rushing in the same game.
Everyone was watching in awe, including the Giants.
“We’re trying to get the 12th man out there,” New York coach Tom Coughlin joked. “No, you have to obviously try to contain and keep him inside and not let him outside and there’s all kinds of strategic things that you say you can do and you must do, but you have to time it up with the right circumstances, the right play, the right situation.”
This will be Vick’s first start with Philadelphia against New York, and he’ll have another national audience Sunday night.
Coach Andy Reid didn’t have to caution Vick about letting his success affect him. Vick’s comeback story is a remarkable one, reviving his career after missing two seasons because he spent 18 months in federal prison for his role in a dogfighting operation.
“Listen, Michael knows this better than anybody and I don’t have to really say a word to him,” Reid said. “You could be on the top of the mountain one day in the National Football League and at the bottom of the well the next day. That’s how this thing works. Michael has been in this league a long time, so he understands it.”
The Eagles scored touchdowns on each of their first five possessions against the Redskins, and finished with eight. They set multiple team records, including total yards (592).
But the Giants have the top-ranked defense in the league, so Vick and Co. have a difficult task against the Big Blue.
“Nothing comes easy,” Vick said. “It’s not going to be easy against New York. It wasn’t easy against Washington. It may have looked easy, but it wasn’t.”
The Eagles have won the last four meetings against the Giants, including a playoff victory at the Meadowlands in January 2009. They outscored New York 85-55 in a pair of impressive wins last year.
Donovan McNabb was Philadelphia’s quarterback then. Vick has the same weapons, and one more — backup running back Jerome Harrison rushed for 109 yards against the Redskins.
In the last meeting against the Giants, DeSean Jackson had 178 yards receiving, including a 60-yard TD catch, and he had a 72-yard punt return for a score. Wideout Jeremy Maclin and running back LeSean McCoy also had big games against New York last year.
“They’re an excellent screen team, they’re a big personnel team, they rush the ball, they rush the ball with (Vick), they run the nakeds, they break perimeter,” Coughlin said. “They do a lot of things that if you think you have a handle on how you’re going to be able to have some containment on him, they find a way — he finds a way — to break it down.”
The Giants aren’t all about defense, either. They’re ranked No. 2 in offense with a balanced attack. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw is tied for third in the league in yards rushing. Eli Manning is tied for first with 19 touchdown passes. He also has 13 interceptions, second only to Brett Favre.
Manning will be making his 97th consecutive regular-season start, third-longest behind Favre and his brother, Peyton. He’s 6-7 against the Eagles, including a pair of playoff losses.
“You have to take care of the ball. You can’t give their offense easy field position and momentum,” Manning said. “Obviously they’re very talented and do a good job mixing blitz with coverage and disguising. Everybody has to be on the same page and everybody has to know exactly what’s going on, when you’re protected, when you’re hot, and everyone knowing who their responsible for in their protections. We have to run the ball and be effective, don’t go backwards, and be consistent. Take what they give you.”
The Giants are coming off a stunning 33-20 loss at home to the lowly Dallas Cowboys. Before that game, they were widely considered the top team in a wide-open conference. Now, the Eagles are gaining momentum after beating Indianapolis and destroying Washington.
“It never amazes you or maybe it always amazes you in the sense that in one week that everyone is talking about the way they’re talking about Philly this week,” Manning said. “They were talking about us last week. Either way, it can’t go to your head, whether they’re talking good or talking bad about you. It’s what you do in your own preparation and getting ready to play, go out there, compete, and try to make the plays that are there.”
By ROB MAADDI,AP Pro Football Writer
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.