Michael Vick led the Eagles to another comeback win. (Jeffrey G. Pittenger-US PRESSWIRE)
PHILADELPHIA – For the second straight week, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick played poorly for much of the game and then came through with the game on the line.
Vick led the Eagles on a long scoring drive in the final minutes of the game and Philadelphia rallied to beat the Baltimore Ravens 24-23 on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles, who trailed most of the day, scored the game-winner on Vick’s 1-yard run, but only after an official’s call was overturned. Initially the replacement crew ruled that Vick fumbled the ball away at the 1, but that was overruled and called an incomplete pass. Vick scored on a draw up the middle on the next play to cap an 80-yard, 10-play drive, and then the Eagles defense made it stand up.
“It sure wasn’t pretty, but we made the plays we needed to make on both sides of the ball,” Eagles tight end Brent Celek said. “There are plenty of things we can improve on, but when you pull out a game like this in the fourth quarter, against a quality opponent like Baltimore, it just gives you confidence the rest of the season.”
And the Eagles won despite turning the ball over four times, which gives them nine turnovers in their first two games, both victories.
“We know how good we can be, we see the progress and we see what we can do down after down,” Vick said. “And then it’s all negated by penalties and turnovers.
“So, the sky’s the limit for us,” Vick added, “and I’m just waiting for a game when it’s all clean.”
Ravens’ kicker Justin Tucker booted field goals of 56, 51 and 48 yards and the last one — the 48-yarder that split the uprights — had given Baltimore a 23-17 lead with 2:48 remaining. And the Ravens had one more chance after the Eagles took their final lead — Baltimore got the ball back with 1:48 left to play and the knowledge that their kicker had already made three long ones.
But after picking up one first down, quarterback Joe Flacco misfired on four straight passes, the last one a swing pass to running back Ray Rice that sailed wide to set up a celebration on the Eagles sideline and in the stands.
“I wish I had scrambled around a little bit and waited for somebody to get open,” Flacco said. “I was just trying to get something crazy to happen.”
The Eagles (2-0) took the opening kickoff and moved down to the Ravens’ 12-yard-line, but Vick was forced to his right and threw across his body into the end zone, where the pass intended for Celek was intercepted by safety Bernard Pollard.
But defensive end Trent Cole gave the Eagles another chance when he swatted the ball from Flacco’s hand and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins recovered on the 15. That led to LeSean McCoy’s 2-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 lead for the Eagles.
That lead didn’t last for long, as Deonte Thompson returned the ensuing kickoff 49 yards to set up the Ravens (1-1) on the Eagles’ 42. Baltimore mixed up the running and passing games until fullback Vonta Leach scored on a 1-yard run to tie the game 7-7.
The Ravens scored again after another turnover, a fumble by rookie running back Bryce Brown. Running back Ray Rice ripped off a 43-yard run on first down and then Flacco and wide receiver Jacoby Jones hooked up on a 21-yard touchdown play for a 14-7 lead. The Ravens made it 17-7 when Justin Tuck drilled a 56-yard field goal as the first half ended.
“We played well at times, but we didn’t put together four quarters,” Rice said. “And when you play a team like Philadelphia on the road, you have to play well for four quarters. We played hard the whole time, but we didn’t always play as good as we can.”
The Eagles got back in the game early in the third quarter and this time they took advantage of a Ravens’ turnover, as Flacco was intercepted by linebacker DeMeco Ryans. That set the stage for Vick’s 23-yard TD pass to Jeremy Maclin that made it 17-14 with 10:40 left in the third period.
The Eagles tied it on Alex Henery’s 23-yard field goal and Tucker answered with a 51-yarder to give the Ravens a 20-17 lead with 11:28 left to play.
NOTES: The 56-yard field goal by Justin Tucker at the end of the first half tied Wade Richey for the longest FG in Ravens history. Richey made his against the Browns in 2003. … Eagles DE Trent Cole recorded his 69th career sack in the first quarter and now trails Clyde Simmons by seven for second place on the Eagles’ all-time list. Reggie White is first, with 124 sacks. … Eagles RB LeSean McCoy has now lost two fumbles in two games this season after losing just one all of last year.
