Last Sunday, Michael Vick went through the hardships of losing the first game that he started and finished in. But the Philadelphia Eagles don’t have much time to relax or recover.
Their Thursday match up against the Houston Texans will prove to be not-so-tough one.
Even though Texans star offensive player Andre Johnson didn’t play in the latter of last week’s game, he must be glad that he avoided suspension from a publicised fist fight with Tennessee Titans’ Cortland Finnegan. He will be starting in the game against
the Eagles.
Johnson threw two punches to Finnegan after ripping his helmet off, after Finnegan started the fight. Surprisingly, the NFL fined both players only $25,000 each with no suspensions. Johnson, a four time Pro Bowl selection and a league leader in receptions,
was ejected in the fourth quarter and is relieved to know that he will be playing in Thursday’s game.
"That's something I have been thinking about ever since the incident happened," Johnson said.
"I'm happy that I'm not suspended. At the same time, I'm not happy about my actions."
However, the Eagles were hoping for a one game suspension at least. Johnson might present a problem to the Eagles’ defence, especially if cornerback Asante Samuel isn’t able to play because of a knee injury.
"We have to get ourselves right in a short period of time, so that's what we're going to do," coach Andy Reid said.
"We have to toughen up, and we have to roll. We have to get ourselves in the right frame of mind."
Vick had a season-high-matching 333 passing yards on Sunday, along with two TDs. However, Vick was sacked four times and also threw his first interception of this season, and the first of 238 passes.
However, the Eagles are not too worried about the Texans. They have the second-worst defence in the NFL, allowing 286.2 passing yards per game, with Vick averaging about 308 yards per game. It could mean a performance like the one against the Washington
Redskins, which the Eagles won, 59-28. Against the Redskins, Vick threw for 333 yards, ran for 80 yards, threw no interceptions, had four passing TDs and two rushing TDs, the first person in NFL history to do so.
However, the three-time Pro Bowler had six fumbles in his last two games and knows that the Eagles need to show more effort to get the division title and play well in the playoffs.
While the Eagles lost the NFC East lead and now has to sit next to the New York Giants, Houston is one win away from the AFC South crown. However, home field advantage might be a major factor in the game, since Philly has won three successive games at home
and the Texans have lost their last three away games.
"It's going to be a big test for us, big game on the road for us," Johnson said.
It will be much more difficult against Vick, who is the NFL's highest-rated passer, and the Eagles offence, which is tied as the league’s second highest scoring team with 28.2 points per game.
Their last record goes in Philly’s favour, as they have won the only two games they have had against the Texans.
The game will start at 8:30 PM on Thursday 2 December at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
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