Mike check: Vick's 4th-quarter performance

This section really reveals the most about how the Giants defended Vick, and how the Eagles came back.

The single biggest factor in the Eagles' struggling during the first three quarters was their failure to hit on any big plays against the blitz. And the biggest single factor in them coming back in the fourth was their effectiveness against the blitz.

The numbers really are staggering. Overall, the Giants blitzed Vick on 23 of 45 dropbacks (51.1 percent). Through three quarters, Vick had been blitzed 14 times. On those plays, he was 4-for-10 for 17 yards and an interception. Vick was also sacked three times on those blitzes and carried once for 1 yard for what was essentially another sack. The first 14 times the Giants blitzed, the Eagles' longest play went for 8 yards.

And then there was the fourth quarter.

The Giants kept blitzing - nine times in the final 15 minutes. On those plays, Vick was 3-for-6 for 88 yards and three touchdowns. Maybe more importantly, he carried three times for 90 yards.

In the fourth, the Eagles had four plays of 20 yards or more against the blitz. Three were runs by Vick, and the other was the touchdown to Celek. More than anything else, Vick's ability to burn the Giants with his legs when they blitzed him turned the game around.

Overall, he was 7-for-16 for 105 yards against the blitz. Maclin was Vick's go-to guy against the blitz. Seven of nine targets and five of seven completions to Maclin were against the blitz. Vick threw to Jackson four times against the blitz, and failed to complete a single pass.

It's worth noting that the previous week, the Cowboys blitzed Vick effectively. He completed just 6 of 11 passes for 16 yards in that one.

Vick was 12-for-17 for 113 yards under center and 9-for-18 for 129 yards from the shotgun.

For the second straight week, the Eagles were 4-for-11 on third downs. But, overall, they were even worse than the numbers indicate.

Vick completed just one pass all game on third down, finishing 1-for-5 for 18 yards. He was sacked three times on third down. Twice on designed runs, he successfully moved the chains.

But the one improvised run proved to be huge - Vick's 33-yard carry on 3rd-and-10 from the Eagles' 12 on their final scoring drive.

The Eagles were 3-for-4 in the red zone. And Vick was sharp. He completed 5 of 7 throws for 37 yards and a pair of touchdowns (both to Maclin). He also carried once for a 4-yard touchdown.

In the past three weeks, the Eagles are 9-for-13 in the red zone.

Interesting note: Vick did not attempt a Mid pass until the 15th time he dropped back. In other words, he was either going for big plays or throwing short. No intermediate attempts where Jackson and Maclin could make plays after the catch.

The only Bomb completion was the 65-yarder to Celek. The two incompletions were to Jackson and Maclin. The two deep completions were to Jackson and Avant.

I'm not too concerned about the pedestrian numbers on the Short throws. Teams are obviously game-planning well for the screens to McCoy, but the Eagles should still find success there in spots down the stretch.