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Eagles-Lions Preview

Sep 17, 2010 - 8:34 PM By NOEY KUPCHAN STATS Writer

Michael Vick nearly rallied the Philadelphia Eagles to a season-opening victory replacing an injured Kevin Kolb last week.

He now gets his first start in nearly four years as the Eagles try to bounce back Sunday against a Detroit Lions team also without its starting quarterback.

Kolb suffered a concussion in the second quarter of Philadelphia's 27-20 home defeat to Green Bay in Week 1, and coach Andy Reid said Friday that Vick, who completed 16-of-24 passes for 175 yards with a touchdown while also running for 103 yards, will be the starter since Kolb hasn't recovered enough to play.

"Michael is excited to step in and play," Reid said. "As we all know, he was one of the great quarterbacks in the league before he was incarcerated.

"He did a great job of getting back into shape, that's number one. Then, the speed of the game - you're talking about a guy who was one of the fastest players in the game and he was stumbling a little last preseason. Then you look last Sunday and he was as fast as he was. He not only ran for 100 yards, but he also threw the ball well."

It will be Vick's first start at quarterback since the Atlanta Falcons' season finale in 2006. He was out of football from 2007-08 after going to prison for his involvement in a dog-fighting ring. Vick did appear in 12 games for the Eagles last year, used mainly as an option in the wildcat formation.

"It would be gratifying," Vick said of leading the Eagles to a win. "This team took a chance on me when not many others would."

Philadelphia sustained three other significant injures to middle linebacker Stewart Bradley, center Jamaal Jackson and fullback Leonard Weaver. Bradley's status is unknown after suffering a concussion, while Jackson and Weaver were placed on injured reserve.

"Those are two good football players," Reid said regarding Jackson and Weaver. "... It breaks your heart to see either one of them (go down)."

Stafford suffered a shoulder injury in Detroit's controversial loss to Chicago. While Stafford doesn't need surgery, his unavailability comes as another huge blow for the Lions, who thought they had beaten the Bears last Sunday.

With Detroit trailing 19-14 and 31 seconds left in the game, Shaun Hill threw the ball up to Calvin Johnson, who grabbed it and got two feet down in the end zone for what seemed to be the winning touchdown.

However, it was ruled that Johnson failed to maintain possession of the ball throughout the entire process of the catch.

"I found out after I sprinted halfway across the field that it didn't count," Johnson said. "It is what it is, and now it's over."

Despite the loss, the Lions are confident with Hill under center. He went 9 for 19 for 88 yards with an interception last weekend.

"He's a veteran quarterback - he's been around a long time, he knows how to prepare, he knows how to be ready for those situations, he's been in that role before," coach Jim Schwartz said.

Hill was 10-6 as a starter for San Fransisco from 2007-2009 and is eager to show that he can get the job done.

"Everybody plays this game to actually play it, not just to practice," Hill said. "So I'm very excited for the opportunity."

Jahvid Best made his NFL debut last week after the Lions selected him with the No. 30 overall pick in April. He carried the ball 14 times for 20 yards with two touchdowns and caught five passes for 16 yards.

Including playoffs, the Eagles have won five straight against the Lions, with four of the meetings coming in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 30-13 in their last visit to Detroit in 2004.