Michael Vick turned the ball over three times, the defense failed to record a sack (again), rookie Fletcher Cox got ejected, the Eagles defense failed to get off the field needing a late stop (for the second-straight week) and the Eagles had nine penalties Sunday against the Lions.
In the end it was Vick's inability to do anything with the ball late in the game (sacked twice during a negative-21-yard 3-and-out after the Eagles won the overtime coin toss) while the defense was torched for 13 unanswered points -- including Jason Hanson's 45-yard game-winning field goal -- that cost the Eagles a win at the Linc as the Lions won 26-23.
"They wanted it more. We blew it," cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said.
With the loss the Eagles head into the Bye Week at 3-3.
Vick threw for 311 yards on 28-for-46 passing and two touchdowns to go with two interceptions (a 77.4 passer rating). He also ran nine times for 59 yards to lead the team.
His biggest strike came in the fourth quarter with the Eagles clinging to a three-point lead when Vick connected with Jeremy Maclin for a 70-yard score. Maclin caught six balls on the day for 130 yards and that score that put the Eagles up 10.
"This is going to hurt for a long time," Vick said. "We put ourselves in position to win and didn't finish."
Sports
In partnership with NBC Sports Philadelphia
Lions QB Matthew Stafford matched Vick as he threw for 311 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 22-for-45 passing (a 69.8 passer rating). Many of Stafford's biggest completions came late in the game as he led the Lions on a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive and 12-play, 67-yard field goal drive in the last 5:18 of the game.
Last week against the Steelers, the Eagles allowed Pittsburgh to go on a 14-play, 64-yard drive that set up the game-winning field goal as time expired.
The Lions failed to turn any of Vick's turnovers (one fumble, two interceptions) into points. But the Eagles forced only one turnover -- an interception -- and failed to cover the ball when Lions punt returner Stefan Logan fumbled a punt in overtime.
The Eagles also got tagged for nine penalties for 60 yards including a 15-yard personal foul that got Cox ejected for the game. The only reason the penalties didn't hurt the Birds more was that the Lions put up an NFL-high 16 penalties for an astonishing 132 yards.
Losing a game that should have been won raises plenty of questions:
- With Vick getting hit again and again, why did head coach Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Morhinweg call for 49 passing plays (including three sacks)?
- Should Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo abandon the Wide-9 scheme after the third-straight game without a sack by the vaunted defensive line?
- Will the Eagles make any roster adjustments over the Bye Week to address shortcomings on either line?
"I don't know what to tell you other than we have to do better," coach Andy Reid said. "We've got to learn how to win football games. You have a 10-point lead with 10 minutes left, you have to learn how to finish."
