Monday, November 15, 2010

Monday Night Massacre: Eagles demolish Redskins

Where to begin with this one?

The Eagles exploded right out of the gate and never looked back, riding a nearly perfect effort by Michael Vick to a 59-28 beatdown of Donovan McNabb and the Redskins. From the opening 88 yard touchdown bomb to the defense shutting down the Redskins on every 3rd down opportunity, the Eagles drubbing was historic on a number of levels. Of the many team and NFL records the Eagles set in the game, perhaps the most impressive was the team record 593 yards of total offense the Birds piled up.

Vick was the story of the game by far as he put together possibly the best performance by a quarterback I've ever seen. Vick was sharp with his arm, completing 20 of 28 passes for 333 yards and 4 touchdowns, and with his feet, rushing for 80 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Not only was Vick the best player in this game, he also made a case for being the MVP of the entire league with how he dominated the game from start to finish. You can't say enough about the transformation that Vick has undergone in the last year from simply a running back who occasionally throws to a quarterback with tremendous speed. Now that Vick is a legitimate pocket passer, he has become even more dangerous when he can't find an open man and decides to make things happen with his legs. He has truly turned himself into a dual threat as the most dangerous weapon in the game. Now, about that contract that ends following the season....

As for the rest of the Eagles team, there were plenty of other offensive players who stood out for the Eagles as they racked up the second most points in team history. From DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, who were really only needed on one play each, to LeSean McCoy, who had nearly 100 yards of total offense, the Eagles once again proved they are loaded with playmakers. Add in the recently acquired Jerome Harrison, who rushed for 109 yards on just 11 carries, and the Eagles offense is an embarrassment of riches.

Making the beatdown even sweeter was the fact that Donovan McNabb was standing on the opposite sideline. Fresh off his huge contract extension, McNabb had a miserable night, throwing 3 interceptions while getting sacked twice. Sure, the Redskins defense is to blame for not even attempting to slow down the Eagles offense, but McNabb didn't do himself any favors with his usually array of questionable decisions and erratic throws and his inability to convert a single 3rd down in the entire game.

With the win against the Colts last week and this nearly perfect effort, the Eagles have made their case for being the best team in the NFC. With a huge NFC East showdown against the Giants next week, the Birds will have their chance to make another statement. If Michael Vick continues to play like he did tonight, that statement could be that they are the best team in the league.
(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)