In the city where the modern "Dream Team" failed to bring home an NBA championship -- sorry LeBron -- the Eagles kept their "Dream Team" season alive Sunday.
Michael Vick returned to the Eagles lineup in Miami as he led the Eagles to 24 first half points as the Birds held on for a 26-10 win over the Dolphins.
Vick looked rusty while completing just 15-of-30 passes for 208 yards, a score and an interception -- good for a 69.9 passer rating. He also had seven balls batted down.
He struggled as the game went on -- having been sacked four times -- and managed to complete only 4-of-11 passes for 41 yards and an interception in the second half.
"I'm in a lot of pain, but I just wanted to finish and get through the game," Vick said. "I got hit a lot, and it kind of wore me down. I tried to hang in there."
His favorite targets were TE Brent Celek and WR DeSean Jackson who each had four grabs. DeSean also caught his first TD -- a 34-yard bomb -- since Oct. 9 in Buffalo.
RB LeSean McCoy ran 27 times for 38 yards and two scores to get within one touchdown of Steve Van Buren’s team record (15) for rushing TDs in a season and total TDs (18).
But the Eagles beat the Fins because of their defense rather than the offense. They held Miami to just one TD in three trips into the red zone, sacked Miami QBs an incredible season-high nine times, got a safety on a Phillip Hunt sack and forced Miami QB Matt Moore out of the game with an injury.
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Jason Babin and fellow DE Trent Cole each had three sacks becoming the first pair of Eagles to get 3 or more sacks since 1992 when Reggie White and Clyde Simmons did it against the Giants.
"We played like men today," Babin said. "Do we have a chance for the playoffs? Maybe. We were kind of out of it, but guys in this locker room decided, 'We're going to play and have fun and show you guys we love the game.' I think that really rang true the whole day."
The defensive effort included a Kurt Coleman interception and fumble recoveries by Asante Samuel and Mike Patterson. And they held Miami to get 3 for 15 on third downs and three times stopped Miami on fourth down.
Miami (4-9) did get out to a 7-0 lead after a blocked punt led to a 16-yard TD pass from Miami starter Matt Moore to WR Brandon Marshall. J.P. Losman managed to go 6-of-10 passing for 60 yards and no score in relief of Moore.
The Dolphins actually outscored the Birds 3-2 in the second half but it didn't matter in the end. The Eagles won the turnover battle by the reverse 3-2 margin despite a terrible fumble by Curtis Marsh on a trick punt return.
The win kept the Eagles (5-8) alive -- just barely -- for a possible division crown. The Giants can help Philly out by beating the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football to put the Eagles two games back of both teams.
