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Falcons-Eagles Preview

Oct 15, 2010 - 6:02 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

The injury-riddled Philadelphia Eagles will start Kevin Kolb again at quarterback as Michael Vick continues to heal.

The NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons are ready to make things difficult for him.

Kolb leads the Eagles against a Falcons team looking for their longest winning streak in 12 years Sunday.

Philadelphia coach Andy Reid decided Friday that Kolb will make his second straight start after determining Vick has not sufficiently healed from a rib injury suffered in Week 4. Vick did practice Friday, but it is uncertain if he will be healthy enough to be Kolb's backup.

Vick's injury is one of several for the Eagles, who could be without defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley (elbow), left tackle Jason Peters (knee), cornerback Asante Samuel (concussion) and wide receiver Riley Cooper (concussion). Left guard Todd Herremans (knee) may return.

"Crazy, isn't it?" defensive tackle Mike Patterson said. "Maybe they'll rethink that extension (of 18 games) to the season."

Vick got hurt during the first quarter of the Eagles' 17-12 loss to Washington on Oct. 3, and Kolb was a shaky replacement. He completed 22 of 35 passes for 201 yards with one touchdown and was intercepted on a Hail Mary pass in the end zone on the game's final play.

Kolb was better last week, connecting on 21 of 31 passes for 253 yards and a score in a 27-24 win at San Francisco. He showed the ability that led the Eagles to name him the starter after longtime star Donovan McNabb was dealt to Washington during the offseason.

Kolb lost the top job when he suffered a concussion in a season-opening loss to Green Bay, and Reid insists there's not controversy.

"Michael is still (the) starting quarterback, so we won't get that controversy going there. That's what it is," Reid said.

Kolb starting means Vick will not make his first start against his former team. He saw limited action in his first meeting versus Atlanta (4-1) last December, as the Eagles won 34-7 on the road. Despite only throwing two passes for 48 yards, Vick tossed a TD pass and ran for another score.

Kolb will have to deal with a Falcons' defense that leads the NFL with 10 interceptions while collecting three fumbles and holding opposing QBs to a 72.5 rating.

Atlanta is trying to win five straight for the first time since tying a franchise record with a nine-game run to close out 1998. The defense sealed last week's 20-10 win at Cleveland, as defensive end Kroy Biermann returned an interception 31 yards for a score with 4:01 to play.

The unit held the Browns to 269 total yards while forcing three turnovers.

The Falcons have allowed a league-low six fourth-quarter points.

"The biggest thing about this team is we've won a bunch of different ways," center Todd McClure said. "It hasn't been one phase of our team carrying the team. It's been a bunch of different ways by a bunch of different guys.

"If you can do that and win the turnover game, you're gonna be pretty successful in this league."

The offense has leaned on a running game that leads the conference with 148.8 yards per game, and Michael Turner is a big reason for that. He leads the team with 421 yards while gaining 4.5 per carry after totaling 140 yards on 19 chances last week.

Quarterback Matt Ryan has been efficient, completing 61.6 percent of passes while ranking 13th with 1,165 yards. He's tossed seven touchdowns with three interceptions after posting career highs of 22 and 14, respectively, last season.

Ryan has relied heavily on Roddy White, whose 37 catches are tied for second in the league while his 463 yards are seventh. White also has three touchdowns, including a 45-yard catch against the Browns.

The Falcons' balanced play has them gaining confidence.

"I feel like every game we can win," defensive end John Abraham said.

Philadelphia acquired Jerome Harrison from Cleveland for fellow running back Mike Bell on Wednesday in a move to add depth behind LeSean McCoy, who is nursing a rib injury.

Harrison ran for 91 yards on 31 carries in four games with the Browns after leading them with a career-high 862 rushing yards and five touchdowns last year.

The Eagles have won five of the last six meetings with the Falcons, including three in a row at home since losing Oct. 30, 1988.