Vick almost leads Eagles back vs. Pack
PHILADELPHIA - Michael Vick is all the way back - daring runs, dynamic throws and a bittersweet defeat to show for it.
Aaron Rodgers threw a pair of touchdown passes, Mason Crosby kicked a team-record 56-yard field goal and the Green Bay Packers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-20 on Sunday.
Not even a vintage performance from Vick - of all people - could stop the Packers.
In their first game since trading Donovan McNabb to Washington, the Eagles (0-1) started with Kevin Kolb and finished with Vick. Kolb left with a concussion at halftime, so Vick played meaningful snaps for an extended period for the first time in nearly four years.
"I feel like if I had been out there for four quarters, maybe we would've had a chance to win the game," Vick said.
Vick, a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback during six seasons in Atlanta, invigorated an offense that was awful in the first half. He finished with 175 yards passing and ran for 103, reminiscent of his "Superman" days with the Falcons.
"I thought Michael was phenomenal," coach Andy Reid said. "He brought the team back, he kept his poise."
But there is no quarterback controversy in Philadelphia. Reid said Kolb will be the starter when he's healthy to play again.
After a slow start, the Packers got going late in the second quarter and scored on three straight possessions.
Ryan Grant ran 13, 8 and 18 yards to spark an 86-yard drive. Greg Jennings kept it going with a leaping, one-handed catch for a 16-yard gain on third-and-9. Rodgers then tossed a 6-yard TD pass to Donald Driver to give the Packers a 10-3 lead.
After the Eagles went three-and-out, the Packers got the ball at their own 23 in the final minute. Rodgers quickly drove them past midfield to set up Crosby's 56-yarder before the clock expired, and Green Bay took a 13-3 lead into halftime.
Rodgers connected with Jennings on a 32-yard TD pass to give the Packers a 27-10 lead late in the third. Vick brought the Eagles back, but it wasn't enough.
Rodgers made Packers fans forget about Brett Favre last year when he passed for 4,434 yards and 30 TDs, made the Pro Bowl and led Green Bay to 11 wins.
He started slow, bounced a couple passes and threw an interception before finding his rhythm on Green Bay's third possession. He drove the Packers to the Eagles 24 before consecutive sacks pushed them back. Crosby nailed a 49-yard field goal to tie it at 3.
Rodgers finished with 188 yards passing and threw 2 interceptions.
"I played terrible. It was as bad as I can play. I've got to be better," Rodgers said. "I missed a lot of throws. The defense played good. We made enough plays to win. I personally made too many dumb mistakes."