NOTES FROM THE NOSEBLEEDS: "It was a very catchable ball"

Homecoming for Vick cut short | Phils clinch playoffs | Temple Owls vs. Penn State Nittany Lions | Chris Pronger announced Flyers captain

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NOTES FROM THE NOSEBLEEDS: "It was a very catchable ball"

POSTED: Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 2:00 PM

Sports nut Massimo Pulcini rounds up a week of everything Philly sports. Go long!

HOMECOMING FOR VICK CUT SHORT, ENDS IN DISAPPOINTMENT

Vick and the Eagles entered the Georgia Dome in a highly anticipated, nationally televised matchup with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night. The game was written up to be Vick’s triumphant return to the city that drafted him in 2001 and as a statement game for the Birds who were trying to solidify themselves as a true contender. The Falcons, on the other hand, were looking to bounce back from an embarrassing week-one loss to Chicago and, for quarterback Matt Ryan, the game was a chance to show that it's him — not Vick — who's the most beloved passer in Atlanta. He would get his in front of the huge number of Falcons fans that donned throwback Vick Atlanta jerseys to the game.

Hello Despite three Vick turnovers earlier in the contest, the Eagles held a lead into the third quarter due to the quarterback’s 242 yards passing and his two touchdown throws to receiver Jeremy Maclin, who hauled in a whopping 13 catches for 171 yards. Philly also benefited from a strong first-half performance by the secondary and pass rush, who contributed two interceptions and four sacks respectively.

However, in a serious turn of events, Vick was hit after a pass and twisted into his own lineman, Todd Herremans. The blow jerked Vick’s head and neck, and he left the field for the locker room in a blood-spitting daze. In relief of No. 7 entered second-year quarterback, Mike Kafka (no relation to the novelist, much to the dismay of Twitter users everywhere. Check #Kafka.), who handed the ball off to Shady McCoy (18 carries for 95 yards and two scores) to make it 31-21 entering the fourth quarter.

Despite the lead, the Eagles hadn’t finished off “Matty Ice,” running back Michael Turner and the Falcons, who fought back with two fourth-quarter scores. Turner busted off a 61-yard scamper and then a three-yard scoring run to put the Falcons ahead 34-31 with 4:48 left to play.

This put all the pressure on Kafka who had to lead the rally due to Vick’s injury. Despite good numbers (seven of nine passing for 72 yards), Kafka couldn’t conjure up the same magic that a Vick-led squad is known to have. The game was over after Maclin dropped a pass on fourth down that hit him in the hands. If caught, the catch would have kept the drive alive.

"I'm better than that," Maclin said. "It was a very catchable ball."

He later tweeted, “Can't believe it....I apologize.”

After the game, Coach Andy Reid revealed that Vick had suffered a concussion and that further testing would be required before a timetable of recovery could be set.

Next week, the Eagles host their home opener against the rival New York Giants in a divisional showdown. You may remember what happened last time we faced the Giants …

PHILS CLINCH PLAYOFFS / UTLEY CONSIDERED “MEAN” BY PLAYERS

The Phillies were very busy this past week, having to play seven games in six days (thanks, Irene).

The league-leading Fightins’ clinched a playoff spot after Roy Halladay (18-6) tossed a complete game shutout on Wednesday against the Astros. The shutout was Doc’s eighth complete game of the year and the 20th shutout of his dominating career in the majors. The win guaranteed a playoff spot, but it wasn’t until Saturday night’s matchup against the Cardinals that Philly won its fifth straight division title, led by pitcher Roy Oswalt’s seven scoreless innings and a booming Raul Ibanez grand slam in the eighth.

With the division wrapped up, fans can expect to see a lot more from backups like Pete Orr, Michael Martinez, Kyle Kendrick, Ross Gload, and Wilson Valdez, as manager Charlie Manuel may elect to rest some of his starters in preparation for the playoffs.

In other Phillies news, a recent Sports Illustrated players poll asked 215 pro baseball players who “the meanest” player in the league was. Much to this author’s surprise, Philly’s own second baseman, Chase Utley (pictured left), was named number two on the list, falling behind Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynsk. While I don’t know Chase personally, I would know better than to mess with a guy who uses as much hair grease as Utley does.

IN OTHER PHILLY SPORTS NEWS

➤ The Temple Owls faced off against the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field. The Owls, who hadn’t defeated State in football since 1941, came out strong and fought hard against the favored Lions, but finished short as PSU ended on the winning side of the 14-10 defensive showdown. Despite the loss, it was an impressive showing by the Temple football team, who has made terrific strides the past three seasons. It was also an impressive showing by the Owl’s fan base, as over 10,000 Temple students (and 57,323 fans overall, the third-largest crowd in team history) in attendance helped fill the Linc with Cherry and White ➤ On Sept. 16 the Flyers announced defenseman Chris Pronger as the team's 18th captain. Pronger replaces the traded Mike Richards in the leadership role, a role that Richards received early and mishandled during his tenure with the Bullies. This move is the latest in several off-season decisions that sends a message to the young emerging stars Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk to handle themselves as professionals, unlike Richards and Jeff Carter — also sent away this summer.

(massimo.pulcini@citypaper.net)

(@massimopulcini)

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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