Maybe this the way it was supposed to be.
Andy Reid and the Eagles stunned the NFL a few years back when they signed prodigal quarterback Michael Vick, fresh out of the federal pen after doing time for running a brutal dog-fighting operation.
On Sunday, at the scene of arguably their highest moment, they will make their last stand together.
Vick will be the starting quarterback, with Nick Foles sidelines with a broken bone in his hand. Reid will patrol the sidelines, very likely for the last time as Eagles head coach.
It’s hard to believe it was just two years ago that Vick led the Eagles to one of the most dramatic comeback wins in the team’s history, scoring 21 unanswered points punctuated by a DeSean Jackson punt return for a TD to stun the Giants.
Last year the team stumbled to an 8-8 mark. This year, with an edict from owner Jeff Lurie that a repeat would not be nearly good enough, the Birds instead imploded. Vick suffered a concussion and lost his grip on the starting job. Ironically, it was a concussion to starter Kevin Kolb that opened the door to him to take over the Birds’ offense two years ago.
They limp up the Jersey Turnpike with a lamentable 4-11 record, dead last in the NFC East. The Giants are clinging to a slim playoff hope, but the odds are they also will be outside looking in when the NFL kicks off the post-season as well.
Two years ago, for about six weeks, Vick may have been the best quarterback in the NFL. Then the Birds stumbled in that snow-delayed game against the Vikings. They lost to the Packers in the playoffs, and things have not been the same since.
On Sunday, it will be Michael and Andy making a last stand in the swamps of Jersey.
No one saw that miraculous comeback against the Giants coming two years ago.
And no one likely saw what happened in the two years since.
This chapter in Eagles history will likely end on Sunday. It has something in common with ever other Eagles era, something that will define Andy Reid’s time as coach.
Fans are still waiting for a Super Bowl trophy to make its way down Broad Street.
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