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Vick faces Palmer for first time on Sunday

Oct 24, 2006 - 8:14 PM Atlanta (4-2) at Cincinnati (4-2) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Michael Vick duels Carson Palmer for the first time when the Atlanta Falcons visit the Cincinnati Bengals in an interconference game on Sunday.

Both quarterbacks were No. 1 overall picks in the draft - Vick in 2001 and Palmer in 2003.

Just two weeks ago, Vick faced Eli Manning, the No. 1 pick in the 2004 draft, in a 27-14 loss to the New York Giants. Last week, Vick went up against Ben Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, and threw for a career-high four touchdown passes in a 41-38 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Vick had never thrown for more than two touchdowns in a game in his first 56 starts before the win over the Steelers.

Palmer has passed for 59 touchdowns in 35 career starts. That's far more impressive than Vick's total of 58 TD passes in 57 starts.

But as the fastest quarterback in the NFL, Vick provides a running dimension that Palmer can't match. This season, Vick has rushed for 441 yards and two touchdowns. In his career, Vick has rushed for 3,261 yards and 21 scores.

The prototype pocket quarterback, Palmer led the Bengals to their first playoff berth in 15 years last season, passing for 3,836 yards and 32 touchdowns with 12 interceptions for a rating of 101.1.

This season, Palmer has completed 62 percent of his passes (122-of-196) for 1,418 yards and nine touchdowns with four interceptions for a rating of 90.9.

Last week, Palmer was shaky in a 17-14 win over Carolina before completing 8-of-9 passes for 93 yards on the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. Palmer kept alive the drive with a 32-yard pass down the right sideline to Chad Johnson on a 4th-and-1 play and then capped it with a one-yard scoring toss to T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Safety Kevin Kaesviharn preserved the win when he intercepted a pass by Jake Delhomme in the end zone with 3:50 left in the fourth quarter. It was the third interception in four games for Kaesviharn.

On Sunday, the Bengals will have to stop the potent combination of Vick to tight end Alge Crumpler, who caught six passes for 117 yards, including three touchdowns, in the win over Pittsburgh.

But the first priority will be to stop the NFL's No. 1 running game led by Warrick Dunn, rookie Jerious Norwood and Vick.

Atlanta's priority on defense will be to contain Johnson and Houshmandzadeh. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall will likely shadow Johnson and Jason Webster will line up against Houshmandzadeh.

Last week, the Falcons had fits against Hines Ward, who had eight catches for 171 yards and three touchdowns.

And the Falcons again will be without pass-rushing defensive end John Abraham, who will be sidelined for at least three more weeks with an abdominal injury.

Acquired from the New York Jets in the offseason for a first-round pick, Abraham has missed four of Atlanta's six games. In the two games he played, Abraham produced three sacks and two forced fumbles.

Vick passed for two touchdowns and rushed for 54 yards in the last meeting between the teams - a 30-3 rout for the Falcons in September 2002.