The New York Giants roll into Week 4 coming off an impressive victory against the Carolina Panthers; one that left the Panthers’ golden boy quarterback Cam Newton disheveled and embarrassed at his post-game press conference. With the Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Michael Vick on deck, the Giants’ defensive players must be licking their chops.
In three games, Vick has completed just 55.2 percent of his passes while throwing six interceptions and losing three fumbles. One of his most costly turnovers occurred this past Sunday when the opponent – the now undefeated Arizona Cardinals – returned it for a touchdown heading into halftime. The Eagles subsequently lost the game 27-6. Vick has passed for 905 yards — third-best in the NFL — but his level of play is apparently a concern for the Eagles going forward; so much so that head coach Andy Reid was unwilling to give his quarterback an unqualified vote of confidence in his press conference.
“Right now, we’re with Michael and that’s what we’re doing,” Reid said, via the New York Daily News. “We’ll evaluate it as we go.”
It wasn’t a blatant criticism of the veteran quarterback by the 14-year head coach, but it certainly was not a statement of support either. Such an affirmation may have been something Vick could have used, especially considering the minimal amount of support he’s receiving from his pass blockers up front.
In three games, Vick has been sacked nine times and hit an NFL-leading 28 times. The latter number is more than double that of Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who has been hit just 10 times this season.
Vick has found himself under pressure on nearly every snap. This comes as a result of a battered offensive line that has essentially become a turnstile for opposing pass rushers en route to No. 7 in the pocket. Knowing how much Vick struggles under pressure, opposing defensive coordinators have been successful taking advantage of the Eagles’ weak offensive line and their quarterback’s vulnerability.
Giants defense end Justin Tuck isn’t ready to buy into all of the negative buzz surrounding Vick in Philadelphia just yet.
“I think he’s had some injuries on the O-Line and he’s getting some clean shots on him and obviously that’s going to take a toll on any player, not only him,” Tuck said, via Giants.com. “I think he’s still one of the most dangerous people on the football field.”
It’s hard to believe Tuck isn’t salivating at the idea of having as much ease as others have had getting to Vick in the first three weeks of the NFL season, however. With a secondary that has looked as inept as the Giants’ has, frazzling the Eagles quarterback will be the key to a big win for New York on the road at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Giants have had success against Vick in the past, but they have also faced some devastating hardships. They saw both in that unforgettable game in Week 15 of the 2010 season, which ultimately culminated in DeSean Jackson’s 65-yard punt return to seal a 28-point come-from-behind victory. That game alone is the reason Tuck and his Giants teammates are wary to get overly excited about playing Vick while he’s in such a slump.
Fortunately, the Giants are coming off a dominant defensive performance in Week 3 against the Panthers. Though they recorded just two sacks of Newton — a similarly-gifted but larger version of Vick — the defending Super Bowl champions brought nonstop pressure which forced Newton to make foolish decisions, resulting in three interceptions for the Giants. Even if New York is unable to sack Vick as much as the Eagles’ previous opponents have – simply placing him under duress and forcing him to make decisions on the fly as he has in recent weeks – the game should go in their favor.
Boasting a dismal 7-11 win-loss record against the Eagles since Tom Coughlin took over as the Giants’ head coach in 2004, including seven of the last eight, Big Blue could use another big win against Vick and Company. With the Eagles currently looking a bit sluggish, this Week 4 match-up could be a big opportunity for the Giants to deliver a knockout blow and leave Philadelphia reeling very early in this 2012 season.