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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Michael Vick unstoppable as Eagles crumple Redskins

(Reuters) - Michael Vick passed, ran and dazzled in an astonishing performance to propel the Philadelphia Eagles to a 59-28 rout of the Washington Redskins on Monday.

Mesmerizing despite steady rain, Vick became the first NFL player to throw for at least 300 yards and rush for 50 while tossing four scores and rushing for two more in one game.

Vick threw three of his four touchdown passes and ran for both scores in the first two quarters alone as the Eagles (6-3) exploded for a franchise record-tying 45 points in the first half and buried their NFC East Division opponents.



"I felt it would be different this time and I knew I would be here for the long haul," Vick told reporters, having sustained a rib injury in his previous game against the Redskins on October 3.

"That's what it's about, stepping up when you're on the big stage. We wanted to start fast and that's what we did."

Vick finished a magical night having completed 20 of 28 passes for 333 yards and running for 80 as Philadelphia moved into a tie with the New York Giants atop the division.

Philadelphia compiled nearly 600 yards of offense and took a 45-14 lead on Washington at halftime.

Vick tossed his final score in the third quarter where defensive back Dimitri Patterson also intercepted Donovan McNabb and ran it back 40 yards for the Eagles' final touchdown.

Playing in his first game since he was controversially benched toward the end of a loss to the Detroit Lions on Oct 31, McNabb threw two scores and three interceptions as the Redskins (4-5) lost for the third time in four games.

It was McNabb's second meeting against the franchise where he spent his first 11 years.

"It's embarrassing," said Washington coach Mike Shanahan, of his team's performance. "I should have had (the team) better prepared than I did."

Philadelphia wasted little time as Vick connected with DeSean Jackson for an 88-yard score on the first play from scrimmage.

Running back Jerome Harrison added a 50-yard TD run in the first quarter and the Eagles raced to a 35-0 advantage in the second.

Enjoying his first season as a starting quarterback since 2006, Vick is redefining his career after he spent 19 months in prison on a dog-fighting conviction.

He is the NFL's highest-rated quarterback and has yet to throw an interception or lose a fumble this season.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Alastair Himmer)

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