2011 Philadelphia Eagles: Welcome to My Nightmare

A season that began with Super Bowl aspirations has quickly devolved into a calamity in four weeks, and the reasons for failure thus far are plentiful. The Eagles find themselves in a 1-3 hole with two tough road games coming up. It's make or break time for this team, and the season is hanging in the balance. Here's a quick look at Sunday's gut-wrenching loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Michael Vick: 'Do I Really Have To Explain How I Feel?'

The Eagles were believed to be one of the NFL’s elite contenders heading into this season, but thus far, they’ve proven to be anything but. After handily defeating the Rams in Week 1, the Birds have dropped games to the Falcons, Giants, and 49ers, with each of the three losses coming as a result of blown leads. Arguably faced with a must-win scenario vs. San Francisco on Sunday, quarterback Michael Vick put on a show and set a personal record for passing yards, but his team faltered yet again, slumping to 1-3 after four games. What does Vick have to say?

“Do I really have to explain how I feel?” he said after Week 4’s loss. Clearly irritated with the Eagles’ lack of success in recent games, Vick stared at the media member who posed him the question, displaying his emotions without speaking. “Do I really have to explain how I feel at 1-3? Do I really have to explain that to everyone here? It’s frustrating. I can’t put that into words."

Vick threw for 416 yards and ran for another 75 on Sunday, but the Eagles failed to hang on to a 20-point lead, allowing the Niners to come back and drop the Birds to the cellar of the NFC East. “It’s shocking,” Vick said. “It’s frustrating. Other than that, I don’t know what to say…We have to take into consideration ourselves and go out and make it happen. That’s about it. They can’t go on the field and play for us. We have to go out and make it work. We have to get it done. We have to get it done.”

Eagles Blow Another Late Lead As 49ers Rally For 24-23 Win

This one has to go down as one of the worst regular season losses in the Andy Reid era. The 49ers, who brought the worst offense in the NFL into this game, scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter as the Eagles choked away their third straight fourth quarter lead and dropped to 1-3 on the season. It’s easily the ugliest loss in an already ugly season.

"Absolutely terrible job by myself and my football team today." said head coach Andy Reid ."When you have the lead in the National Football League, you build on it and you continue to score points when given the opportunity. In all areas we were terrible today. We had a lot of yards, but we didn't punch it in, and we were just 2-for-7 in the red zone. Defensively, we gave up three scoring drives in the second half. Our young kicker [Alex Henery] has got to figure it out too, just like everybody else on our football team. When you have opportunities to score points, you score points."

The question is where do the Eagles go from here? We know Andy Reid isn’t going to be fired (not during the season anyway), but clearly there has to be some kind of accountability from the top. They can’t be happy after spending all that money to see their team play like this against the 49ers of all teams. It’s just not acceptable.

It was another game, like last week where there’s plenty of blame to spread around. Rookie Alex Henery missed 2 FGs from inside 40 yards, which in a 1 point game is obviously huge. The offense was horrendous in the end zone and was held to three points in the second half. Jeremy Maclin for the second time this year makes a huge mistake on a potential game winning drive to cost the team a game. The defense…. oh the defense.

Say what you will about the Eagles offense. Certainly they didn’t get the job done in the second half. However, they did hand the defense a 20-3 lead at the half against a team that had the 32nd ranked offense in the NFL prior to this game. Even if they never scored another point (which was almost the case), that should still be more than enough to win a game. And yet, as we’ve seen all year the Eagles defense can not get a stop in the second half when they need one. This defense has now given up 57 points in the second half of the last three games.

Here’s the important thing to take away about this defense. The problem with the Eagles D is not that they can’t stop the run. It’s that they can’t stop the run or the pass.

The Eagles fall to 1-3 and now face a road trip to the surprising Buffalo Bills, who did seem to come back down to earth today, but have a high scoring offense that the Eagles should be petrified of right now.

Video: DeSean Jackson's 45 Yard Catch

Eagles Vs 49ers; Michael Vick Having A Big Day As Eagles Lead 20-3 At The Half

Michael Vick has thrown for 214 yards, two TDs and rushed for another 62 yards as the Eagles have opened up a big 20-3 lead over the 49ers at the half. As big of a blowout as it looks, the score actually flatters the Niners, who have struggled to get anything going on offense and have benefited from Eagles mistakes on defense.

The one glaring mistake was on the goal line, when Ronnie Brown inexplicably tried to throw or lateral the ball as he was being tackled. It was called a fumble that the 49ers recovered and cost the Eagles at least a FG. Honestly, it was maybe the worst decision I’ve seen a veteran football player make ever.

The highlight play of the afternoon anywhere in the NFL this afternoon had to Michael Vick’s 16 yard TD pass to Clay Harbor. Vick probably should have been sacked twice on the play, but he wriggled out of a tackle by 49ers DE Ray McDonald, who had two arms around him, before finding Clay Harbor wide open for the first TD of the day. Check out the play here, it has to be seen to be believed.

Video: Michael Vick's Crazy Escape + TD Throw

Eagles Vs 49ers Week 4 Inactives

Eagles inactives: Brandon Hughes, Curtis Marsh, Darryl Tapp, Danny Watkins, Julian Vandervelde, Winston Justice, and Juqua Parker. Rookie Jaiquawn Jarrett makes his NFL debut today.

Brian Rolle starts at WILL for Casey Matthews and Nate Allen starts at FS for Kurt Coleman.

For the 49ers, Frank Gore is active, but will not start.

Eagles Vs 49ers: Game Time, TV Info And More

The Eagles host the 49ers in what now has to be seen as a must win game today at 1pm. The game will be shown on FOX, but only locally and they're not sending their A or B or probably even C crew for the game either. Ron Pitts and Jim Mora Jr will have the call and the game will only be shown in the Philadelphia market and in a large part of California. Merrill Reese and Mike Quick will have the radio call on 94.1 FM and 610-AM.

San Francisco does hold the edge in the historical series between these two (17-12-1), but the Eagles have dominated the matchup in recent years with five straight wins. Interestingly enough, the Eagles defense has been making the big plays against the 49ers in recent years having scored TDs in a three of the last four meetings between these two. Despite that, RB LeSean McCoy says the Eagles aren't taking the Niners lightly.

"They're a good defense [and] it starts off with that front. They play a 3-4 and their front plays very well. And the beast in the middle, [LB] Patrick Willis, which is everywhere, in the middle, outside, coverage. So he kind of makes that defense go. You have to kind of know where he's at [and] have a hat on him the entire game. And the secondary's pretty good. So with the speed we have we have to go out there, sort of run around a little bit, making some plays throwing and running the ball. And have them guessing. I think we can get back to that, having guys guessing, and I think we should be fine."

McCoy is currently leading the NFL in first downs (26), rushing TDs (4) and leads the NFC in rushing yards (345). He's a huge part of the reason the Eagles are leading the NFC in rushing by a fairly large margin. The 49ers are third most stingy team against the run so far this season, so this certainly looks like a strength vs strength matchup in that area.

A loss would put the Eagles at 1-3 with three defeats coming at the hands of NFC teams, putting a huge dent in their playoff hopes. A win evens them at 2-2, with the potential to be tied atop the NFC East.

Eagles Vs 49ers: Michael Vick On His Injury, 49ers Defense

Michael Vick met the media today and not surprisingly the main topic of conversation was his ailing hand. He says that it still hurts, but he’s played through worse

“I mean, it’s sore, it’s real sore.” Vick said, “But you know what, I feel like I’ve played through worse and I think the most important thing is to just go out and play and be conscience of protecting it but at the same time just letting it all go. And if it’s too much that I can’t bear and something’s really wrong, then I’ll probably come out of the game but hopefully not. I keep saying my prayers and hopefully things will work out.”

Vick says that more than anything, he’s going to make he can be out there for his teammates.

“Just like last week, I had a concussion, you know, all week last week it was a rough week, but I want to hold myself accountable. I feel like every Sunday is a time for me to go out and display what I’ve been put on this earth to do and I won’t do it selfishly. If I can’t be out there, then I won’t be out there, but I want to show my teammates that they can count on me in times of need. And you know, I just love playing this game and I love playing with them.”

Finally, he understands the threat posed by a good 49ers defense.

“It’s a good defense, man. That’s all I can say about the San Francisco 49ers when you watch them on film. You watch most of the game they play and this is a really good defense; they’re strong, they’re stout with some really good players and we’re going to have to be aware of what’s going on out there and we definitely have to attack these guys.”

Fantasy Football Start or Sit: Michael Vick, Jeremy Maclin Will Play

The Eagles have released their Friday injury report and the news is good for Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin. We more or less knew Vick was good to go when he declared that there was a "100% chance" he'd play this weekend, but there was some mystery over Maclin, who had suffered a hamstring injury against the Giants. But today Maclin said he's ready to go.

"I feel good. They monitored me pretty good this week and eased me back into it. And I got out there and went today, everything felt fine so I'll be playing on Sunday."

Today, Maclin was limited in practice today but, along with Vick, has been listed as probable for this weekend. Riley Cooper is also listed as probable after suffering a concussion last week. Darryl Tapp is doubtful, while both Juqua Parker and Brandon Hughes are out. Hughes' absence will make way for either Curtis Marsh or Jaiquawn Jarrett to get their first NFL action. Reid did mention that Jarrett got most of the snaps this week.

Eagles vs 49ers: Michael Vick Focused On Ball Security With Injured Hand

There was a sigh of relief around the Eagles world when it was revealed that Michael Vick only had a contusion, rather than a fracture in his hand. However, that’s not to say that a contusion isn’t a big deal, especially when it’s on bone and causes significant swelling. When that swelling is in the hand and prevents you from gripping a ball… you’ve got serious problems.

Vick said this week that while he can grip the ball, he’s still going to play through a significant amount of pain.

“I tested it in the walk-through and it’s pretty painful, but I have to do what I have to do. I have to get out there and support my teammates, and try to get back into it.”

But he says the key is simply to block it out.

“Just blocking it out. Like offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg always tells me, it’s all in your mind. I’m trying to take that kind of approach and hopefully it’ll work. I think it will. I’m just going to try and go out there and not think about it, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Of course, the biggest issue with having an injured hand is ball security. Whether he’s able to play through pain or not, it’s simply a fact that the hand is not going to be as strong as it would be if he was healthy. So he says he’ll have to be extra focused on securing the ball this week.

“I was thinking in my meeting today that the most important thing this week will be to protect the ball. The good thing is I don’t put the ball in my right hand and I’m predominantly left handed when I’m running the ball. I just have to take care of the football and even if I have two hands that are 100 percent, I still can’t turn the ball over. It’s just something I have to mentally prepare for, and I think I’m strong enough to do that. I have to go out there and be mentally conscious of everything going on around me.”

That’s certainly my biggest concern because he’s already somewhat dubious in the fumbling department given the way he plays anyway. A beat up hands certainly won’t help. Obviously getting rid of the ball quicker and actually tucking it away when he runs would both certainly help in that area.

Eagles Vs 49ers Injury Report: Frank Gore Limited, Michael Vick A Full Go

The big news on the injury front this week is that Michael Vick was a full participant in practice today and declared himself ready to play this weekend.

“I think there’s 100 percent chance that I’ll be out on the field this week." Vick said, "I just want to be out there for my teammates and hold myself accountable for my responsibilities and what I have to do as a quarterback. Regardless of what I have to go through, I just want to be there.”

There is a chance however that Vick could be without one of his major weapons as Jeremy Maclin did not practice as he continues to get treatment for a hamstring strain he picked up against the Giants. His situation will certainly bear watching as the week goes on. Juqua Parker also did not practice, but DE Darryl Tapp did return in a limited capacity after missing the previous two weeks with a torn pectoral.

For the 49ers, Frank Gore was a limited participant and they’re still being mum on whether he will be able to play with his ankle injury. Also limited were starters Michael Crabtree (foot) and Donte Whitner (hip).

Michael Vick Says "There's A 100% Chance I'm Playing" Sunday

Michael Vick left little doubt that he would be on the field this Sunday against the 49ers when he told reporters "I will be out there on Sunday, regardless. There is a 100% chance I'm playing."

Eagles Shake Up Defense Ahead Of 49ers Matchup

Kurt Coleman and Nate Allen have been benched with Brian Rolle and Nate Allen replacing them in the starting lineup.