One more game, and whether it means anything or not in the standings or playoff possibilities, Michael Vick is going to approach it like he approaches every other game.
Full bore.
Our objective every week is to win the game, however we can do it, he said. Theres no reason to go out there and play with a different mindset if youre going to step on the field because youll get yourself hurt.
I love playing the game of football and I love playing with the guys in the locker room. This is what I was born to do. If Im out there, Im out there, and Im giving it everything Ive got, 110 percent, and that will never change.
Vick struggled much of this lost 2011 season, but hes played very well since returning after missing three games with three broken ribs, leading the Eagles to lopsided wins over the Dolphins, Jets and Cowboys.
After winning just three of 12 starts from late 2010 through the Arizona game in November, when he got hurt, Vick has won his last three starts, giving the Eagles a chance to finish the season with a .500 record.
Vick was at his best Saturday, throwing for 293 yards with touchdownsto Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celekand for just the third time this year and the first time since October not throwing an interception.
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Vick has actually won five of his last seven starts since opening the season 1-4. The Eagles, 7-8 and out of the playoff race, finish the season Sunday at the Linc against the Redskins. A win will give the Eagles their fourth straight non-losing season and a 5-1 slate against the NFC East.
More importantly, Vick said, it will continue to build a young teams confidence going into 2012.
Ive watched this team grow as the weeks have went on, he said. The last three or four weeks, weve come together as a team. Its a family environment, a family atmosphere and that translates to winning. Thats why you see a different team. I think we are well put together and well fit.
Were playing together and thats what its all about. But it takes time to build that chemistry, build that unity, that togetherness. Doing it now, its exciting for me and theres not a place that Id rather be each and every day.
The objective was to finish strong. I know that every guy in that locker room is proud of themselves and proud of how far weve come as a team.
Theres a strong belief in the Eagles locker room that it just took too long for all the off-season changesnew coaches, new schemes, new playersto take hold. By the time everybody figured out what to do, they were 4-8 and it was too late.
Since then, theyre 3-0, and Vick believes the strong finish augurs well for next year, when the Eagles wont be starting from scratch.
In the game of football, you look at all the teams that have won the Super Bowls the past couple of years, those teams have been together for a long time, he said. Thats how leaders are born. Thats how guys learn to step up and accept the challenge of their roll.
Its got to be a balance and certain things have to happen. Youve got to have veteran guys and leaders and guys who have been together for a long time who learn to become a voice in the locker room. These guys are doing that now ... Thats big for us. Thats paramount.
You dont want to get too carried away with the last three weeks, since it was only Matt Moore, Mark Sanchez and Stephen McGee that the Eagles shut down.
But the Dolphins, Jets and Cowboys were all playing very well before the Eagles toppled them. The Dolphins had won four of five, the Jets had won six of eight, the Cowboys had won five of seven.
The Eagles outgained those three teams by a total of 1,045-683 and outscored them 91-36.
Maybe the strong finish means nothing, but it sure beats a bad finish.
Ive watched this offense and defense jell, Vick said. The last four or five weeks, the (defense has) been able to put it all together and thats what its all about. Thats believing in the system, believing in one and other, believing in themselves.
You see a totally different football team and probably one of the top five defenses in the league the last three weeks. Sometimes thats what it takes. Everything happens for a reason in life, I think, and well see what happens as time moves forward.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com