Michael Vick didn’t take care of the ball (again) and the Eagles defense failed to come up with the big play, as the Steelers used a last-second field goal to beat the Birds 16-14 Sunday.
Let’s start with Vick. His passing numbers were actually quite respectable as he went 20-for-30 passing for 175 yards and two touchdowns -- good for a 104.2 passer rating. But he fumbled four times, once it was overturned, once his own team recovered the ball and twice he fumbled the ball away. Though none of the fumbles led to Steelers scores, they did cost the Eagles points especially Vick’s fumble into the end zone on a 1st and goal from the Eagles’ 3-yard line.
"I wish I could take the fumble back on the goal line but I can't," Vick said after the game. "I really had a problem fumbling the football."
That's an understatement since he has already lost five fumbles in as many games.
As for the defense, they managed zero -- that’s right none at all -- turnovers or sacks despite the Steelers fumbling three times and Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger being under pressure most of the afternoon. The Eagles D also allowed Big Ben (who posted only a 72.7 passer rating while completing 21 of 37 passes for 207 yards) to march the Steelers down the field for a 14-play, 64-yard drive -- including two third-down conversions -- that led to Shaun Suisham’s game-winning 34-yard kick through the rain.
On the other side of the ball, the rested Steelers defense -- coming in off a bye week -- not only forced Vick into the fumbles but they also managed to sack the Eagles signal-caller three times.
The Eagles took advantage of some Steelers penalties (Pittsburgh committed nine penalties for 106 yards) but didn't need them on the go-ahead scoring drive with 6:33 left in the game thanks to a 17-play, 79-yard touchdown drive that featured two 4th-and-1 conversions and ended with Vick finding Brent Celek for a 2-yard touchdown.
A week after the Eagles rode LeSean McCoy to a victory over the Giants, the Eagles didn’t feed Shady as much as the ran the ball only 23 times compared to 33 passing plays. On 16 of those carries McCoy averaged 3.3 yards for 53 yards total. He also added four catches for 27 yards including a 15-yard touchdown.
Sports
In partnership with NBC Sports Philadelphia
McCoy’s counterpart, Rashard Mendenhall averaged 5.8 yards a carry for 81 total yards and a touchdown on 14 carries for Pittsburgh. He added two grabs for 20 yards to go over the 100 total yards mark.
At least there is one positive tidbit to take from this Eagles’ loss. They at least covered the four-point Las Vegas spread.
The Eagles get another desperate and rested team next week as the Detroit Lions come to Lincoln Financial Field.
