Dale Zanine-US Presswire
The turmoil and hard-feelings between Philadelphia Eagles’ QB Michael Vick and his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, has been no secret to anybody.
From the legal battles to the personal feuds between Vick and the Falcons’ management, it has been a well-documented bitter divorce on both sides. At the same time, Vick still has great respect for the fans in Atlanta, and rarely do either Vick or the Falcons still publicly vent about their failed relationship.
But as always in the NFL, the real revenge against any adversary comes on the gridiron itself.
In Vick’s first match-up against his former squad in 2009, the quarterback thrived while he was still the backup to Eagles’ QB Donovan McNabb.
Vick was typically used as a change-of-pace quarterback and also saw action in “wild-cat” packages throughout his first season with the Eagles. But in Week 13, when he played against the Falcons for the first time since his prison sentence and their eventual break-up, Vick went off big in the Georgia Dome.
Vick scored his first touchdown since returning to the NFL with a five-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He then followed that up with a five-yard touchdown pass to TE Brent Celek later in the game.
Vick also tacked on a 43-yard pass to WR Reggie Brown, and finished with a beautiful stat line of two-for-two passing for 48 yards and a touchdown, with 17 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground as well.
And remember, all of this production came as a backup quarterback with limited snaps. The Eagles would go on to win the game in a blowout of 34-7.
In 2010 Vick missed his grudge-match with the Falcons due to injury, but the Eagles still won in his honor (31-17).
Last year in 2011, Vick did not fare so well against his former team as the Eagles lost 31-35, while Vick committed three turnovers (one interception, two lost fumbles). He did not have a terrible game, going 19-for-28 for 242 yards passing and 2 touchdowns, while also tacking on 25 yards on the ground.
A respectable stat line for sure, but it was definitely not the day Vick was hoping for as his first time as a starting quarterback against the Falcons.
The question is, what will Sunday bring for Vick and the Eagles when the undefeated Falcons waltz into the Linc as the NFL’s best team, sitting at 6-0?
Vick must come out with a vengeance on Sunday with a desire to put the hurt on his old team to even have a chance at taking down the almighty 2012 Falcons.
Please follow Joe on Twitter @Joe_RantNFL for all Eagles/NFL insight.
