Lokapele blog

Vick gives Eagles 13-3 lead after 1st half

PHILADELPHIA – Quarterback Michael Vick scored on a 4-yard touchdown run and the Philadelphia Eagles took a 13-3 lead at halftime over the New York Giants in a matchup for first place in the NFC East on Sunday night.

Vick's touchdown capped a 14-play, 68-yard drive. He took the snap, rolled right, made Giants defensive lineman Justin Tuck and linebacker Michael Boley miss, and then outran safety Kenny Phillips to the end zone as the Eagles took a 7-0 lead.

During the drive, Vick found DeSean Jackson for a 23-yard gain on second-and-18 to the 47, and converted the only third down on the drive when he went to Jackson for 13 yards to the Giants 15 on third-and-9 from the 28.

Vick was 6 for 8 for 59 yards on the drive.

The Giants closed to 7-3 early in the second quarter on a 24-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes. On the drive, the Giants converted three third-and-short opportunities. Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 2 yards on third-and-2 from the 43. Bradshaw ran for 17 yards on third-and-1 from Eagles 46; and Eli Manning found Hakeem Nicks for 10 yards on third-and-1 from the 20.

On third-and-goal from the 6, Manning threw incomplete in the end zone for tight end Kevin Boss, who was covered by safety Nate Allen.

Two Giants turnovers led to two David Akers field goals and a 13-3 lead that could have been more.

Eagles rookie first-round pick Brandon Graham forced a fumble by Bradshaw that Asante Samuel recovered at the Giants 23.

The Eagles were forced to settle for Akers' 38-yard field goal when on third-and-7 from the 20, Jackson dropped a pass in the end zone from Vick.

On the Giants' next possession, Samuel intercepted his sixth pass of the season when he picked off a pass intended for Nicks at the Giants 23.

Again, the Eagles' offense stalled and Akers made a 24-yarder for a 13-3 lead.

The Eagles had a third-and-3 from the 6 when Vick found a wide open Jason Avant in the middle of the end zone, but Avant dropped the ball forcing the Eagles to settle for Akers' second field goal.

Akers' third field-goal attempt on the final play of the first half was blocked by Terrell Thomas, and picked up by Corey Webster who returned it 27 yards before punter Sav Rocca forced him out of bounds.

On their first possession of the game, the Eagles wasted great field position. Starting at the Giants 45 after a 25-yard punt by Matt Dodge, the Eagles failed to move the ball and punted from midfield.

Vick scrambled for a yard on first down, a false start cost them 5 yards, LeSean McCoy lost 2 yards and Vick's pass on third down was dropped by Jeremy Maclin.

The Giants went three-and-out on their first two possessions of the first quarter, gaining just a total of 7 yards.

Samuel was called for unnecessary roughness for a helmet-to-helmet hit when he was called for a 15-yard penalty for a hit on Giants wide receiver Derek Hagen in the second quarter.

The Eagles have won four straight against the Giants, including a playoff win at the Meadowlands in January 2009.

Manning made his 97th consecutive regular season start, the third-longest streak in the league behind Brett Favre and his brother Peyton.

Sunday night was the first time Vick was introduced with the starters at Lincoln Financial Field, and he received the loudest ovation.