QB Kafka shows he can play in loss to Falcons

ATLANTAMike Kafka showed he can play.On his first play in place of Michael Vickand first regular-season snap of his careerin Sunday nights rollercoaster loss to Atlanta, Kafka handed the ball to LeSean McCoy. On the second snap, Kafka tossed the ball to McCoy, who lost two yards and fumbled. McCoy recovered it, Falcons defensive end John Abraham was called for roughing the passer, and on the next play McCoy ran for a two-yard touchdown that put the Eagles up 31-21.Yeah, it was great to get the score, Kafka said after the 35-31 loss.But that was McCoys score. Kafka hadnt shown much yet.The Falcons drove 80 yards to pull within 31-28. Back came Kafka. Four plays laterhis seven-yard pass to Jeremy Maclin came up a yard short of a first downKafka was back on the sideline.The Falcons again drove 80 yards and again scored a touchdown. Falcons 35, Eagles 31. Less than five minutes to go. Vick in the locker room. Kafka was coming back. This was the first NFL game for the fourth-round pick in his second year in the league. Whats more, he was supposed to be the third-string quarterback. The Eagles brought in Vince Young to be Vicks backup, but Young was inactive for the second straight game with a hamstring injury suffered in the preseason.Game over? Not for Kafka it wasnt.After hitting Maclin for nine yards, Kafka let one go. He threw a perfect strike across the field, again to Maclin, for 43 yards. But it did much more than gain 43 yards and put the Eagles on the Falcons 39. It showed the game was far from over.When you get a big play and you move the ball down the field, its always big, Kafka said. Its always a big confidence booster.And, so long as Maclin was still on the field, the Eagles had a chance. Maclin, at that point, had caught 11 of 12 passes thrown his way for 167 yards. On second-and-eight, Kafka hit Maclin for five more. Then he went to Maclin again, but the play lost a yard. On fourth-and-four, Maclin ran a quick slant and was open. Kafka threw it, and Maclin dropped it.Jeremys done a great job for us all year, Kafka said. I know I can help him out by getting it to him a little quicker, getting the ball up a little bit. Its an 11-man operation on offense, so well all take responsibility for that.But Maclin accepted all of it.Yeah, we were moving the ball, man, Maclin said. They made a great play on that third down. Fourth down came, and it was a very catchable ball. Its off my body a little bit, but Ive still got to catch that ball.Im better than that.It was just one of two balls intended for him that he didnt catch. The third-year pro finished with 13 receptions for 171 yardsboth career highs - as well as a pair of touchdowns. Brian Westbrook (14 catches vs. Dallas in 2007) and Don Looney (14 vs. Washington in 1940) are the only Eagles to catch more passes in a single game. Whats more, it was Maclin's fifth multi-touchdown performance in just 33 career games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only 10 receivers in league history have had more such games in the same spanwith Randy Moss (seven) being the most recent.None of that really matters if you dont come up with the W, Maclin said.But what does matter is the Eaglesif neither Vick nor Young are readyappear to have a QB who is capable of leading them to a victory over the Giants in next Sundays home opener.Sure, it was only one game. One play, really. But Kafka showed, in hostile conditions, that he can handle a big stage. And who knows, maybe the second-year quarterback will get another chance next week.
Were very confident, Maclin said. Well be confident, well get a week in of practice, and if Vick cant go, well go out there and put on a show next Sunday.E-mail Andy Schwartz at aschwartz@comcastsportsnet.com