NFL Week 10: Vick vaporises Washington

This weekend saw a number of intriguing quarterback battles, with a rejuvenated Michael Vick delivering a starring performance in the Eagles’ victory over the Redskins.

By Sean Nolan

Sometimes it’s easy to frame NFL games as a battle between the quarterbacks. Despite the fact they are never on the field directly facing each other, the guy taking the snaps is the most important man on the team and if you beat your opposite number, you will usually win.

Monday Night Football this week was a classic head-to-head, with the reformed Michael Vick facing his old friend and former teammate Donovan McNabb as the Eagles travelled to Washington.

Unfortunately for Boomer and the guys, the game was over after 14 seconds as Vick connected with DeSean Jackson for an 88-yard TD on the very first play.

McNabb won when the teams played earlier in the season and another win for Washington would have made Eagles coach Andy Reid look very foolish for letting him go this summer, but the longest-tenured coach in the NFL would have a very enjoyable night watching Vick play out of his skin.

It was certainly the best QB performance all year, probably the best of Vick’s two-part career and a sign that when he is in this sort of form, he is unbeatable.

Vick ended the game with four passing TDs, and he rushed for two others as the Eagles battered the Redskins 59-28. Four of those TDs were in the first quarter and the Eagles ran up any number of records by hitting 45 by the half. Vick finished with 333 yards passing, 80 yards rushing and he was resting long before the end.

McNabb, celebrating a new contract signed on Monday afternoon, was eclipsed and he looked like a man whose best days are behind him but in fairness, he was up against a player on scintillating form.

But Vick’s performance was exceptional in every sense of the word, as no matter what personal numbers a QB runs up, they are usually reliant on their teammates to perform to a decent level to turn their efforts into wins.

Brady v Roethlisbeger

Take Sunday night’s game between the Patriots and the Steelers. Tom Brady v Ben Roethlisbeger. Winners of five of the last nine Super Bowls, they are both in the elite group of players in the league. But one was helped by his teammates, the other was not and the guy who got help won the game.

Brady threw 43 times, with 30 completions, for 350 yards and landed three TDs. Roethlisberger threw 49 times, with 30 completions, for 387 yards and landed three TDs. Yet the Patriots won 39-26 and the result was never in doubt from the end of the third quarter, when Brady (below) sneaked in for a personal TD to make the score 23-3.

Tom Brady's New England Patriots were victorious against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The real difference then? The help they got. Big Ben was sacked five times, as the Steelers makeshift offensive line was pierced repeatedly. It forced Roethlisberger to scramble, something he is the best in the business at, but then he failed to get help from his receivers.

The Steelers lost Hines Ward early with concussion and the other players just couldn’t make the ball stick. Antwaan Randall El and Emmanuel Sanders dropped passes in the endzone and other receivers simply ran the wrong routes.

It all added up to a comprehensive win for the Patriots, and for Brady, that puts Bill Belichick’s team level with the Jets – winners this week 26-20 in OT over the plucky Browns - at the top of the AFC East. The Steelers will be fine, but they need Ward back quickly if they are to wrest top spot from the Ravens in the AFC North.

Smith v Bradford

Another intriguing QB battle was the meeting of two Heisman winners, Troy Smith of the 49ers (2006 winner) and Sam Bradford (2008) of the Rams. With a different set of pressures and expectations than those endured by Brady and Roethlisberger, both players showed that they may be the real deal in pro football.

Their teams are not going to be playing in late January but the way Smith performed in a game where he saw three touchdowns overturned for penalties was impressive. His final drive to tie the game was a majestic 76 yards and he did it again in OT with a 55-yard drive that set up the winning field goal for a 23-20 win.

Smith has now earned the starting job at San Fran and offers them a chink of hope after a grim season. If you get the QB right, you have a chance, regardless of what your opponent does. Just ask Andy Reid.

Week 10 results:

Baltimore Ravens 21 Atlanta Falcons 26

Detroit Lions 12 Buffalo Bills 14

Minnesota Vikings 13 Chicago Bears 27

New York Jets 26 Cleveland Browns 20 (OT)

Cincinnati Bengals 17 Indianapolis Colts 23

Tennessee Titans 17 Miami Dolphins 29

Carolina Panthers 16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31

Houston Texans 24 Jacksonville Jaguars 31

Kansas City Chiefs 29 Denver Broncos 49

Dallas Cowboys 33 New York Giants 20

Seattle Seahawks 36 Arizona Cardinals 18

St Louis Rams 20 San Francisco 49ers 23 (OT)

New England Patriots 39 Pittsburgh Steelers 26

Philadelphia Eagles 59 Washington Redskins 28