National Football League

Vick's Atlanta return successful as Eagles win big

Published Dec. 6, 2009 11:57 p.m. ET

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When Michael Vick finally made it back to the end zone, a place he hadn't been in more than three years, he was torn about what to do.

A Lambeau Leap? Nah, that would've taken too much effort.

Instead, he wanted to reward one of those fans who cheered his return to Atlanta. Only one problem — when he flipped the ball toward the stands, it got caught up in the net going up for the extra point.

Not to worry. Everything else went right for Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.


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Back in the city he once ruled, Vick put up a pair of touchdowns — one running, the other passing, both of them his first since 2006 — and basked in the cheers of the Georgia Dome crowd as the Eagles dominated the short-handed Falcons 34-7.

"It was as loud as it gets in the Dome," said Vick, who teared up on the bus ride over to the stadium. "I heard the chants all through the stadium and it sent chills down my spine. They were just letting me know that people still appreciate what I've done."

He was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Falcons and one of the most dynamic players in the NFL before his stunning downfall for dogfighting. After serving prison time and losing two seasons in the prime of his career, he's trying to rebuild it all as a backup in Philadelphia.

Vick ran for a 5-yard touchdown in the third quarter, his first since Oct. 15, 2006. With the game out of hand, he slipped a 5-yard scoring pass to Brent Celek early in the fourth, his first TD throw since that final season with the Falcons.

"It couldn't have happened at a better time," Vick said. "I want to become one of the top quarterbacks in this league again."

The Eagles (8-4) pulled two games ahead of the reeling Falcons (6-6) in the NFC wild-card standings, bringing a little more clarity to the playoff race. But most of the attention was on Vick's first game in Atlanta since he left the city in disgrace.

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