A little bit of Michael Vick was almost too much for the Houston Texans.
Even though he showed some rust in his first game of the season, Vick came off the bench late in the third quarter and directed the Atlanta Falcons to two field goals Sunday before the Texans held on for a 17-13 victory.
Vick, who broke his right leg in the preseason, returned to the field with 2 minutes 14 seconds left in the third quarter and completed his first pass, a 9-yarder to Justin Griffith.
A few plays later, he took his first hard hit on a 2-yard sack and popped up unscathed.
“It felt good to take a couple of hits,” Vick said. “It puts me back on track and lets me know that my body’s still able to absorb those hits. It gives me some confidence going into next week.”
“He looked good, really good especially considering how long he’s been out,” wide receiver Peerless Price said. “He’s pure excitement. He’s excitement out there. His timing was good and he improvised and used his feet to make plays.”
Vick was on schedule to start against the Texans but had a setback 11 days ago when he turned his right ankle in practice.
Doug Johnson, starting his eighth game for the Falcons, was just 12-of-27 for 116 yards and had a costly interception that allowed the Texans to take a 17-7 lead early in the third quarter.
“I just felt like we were struggling right at that point and [Vick] might give us a spark, so I sent him in,” coach Dan Reeves said.
Texans cornerback Marcus Coleman said the defense was just waiting for Vick.
“Everybody knew he was coming in,” Coleman said. “Then all of a sudden, the crowd got real excited. We knew we had to turn it up, and we did.”
Vick even got cheers from the Reliant Stadium crowd.
“It was nice to know I have love and support all across the world, even in Houston,” Vick said. “I take my hat off to them. It’s exciting to me to know that people appreciate what I’ve been able to do.”
Brothers in arms
Tim Hasselbeck started for the Redskins, and his brother Matt started for the Seahawks. The only other time two brothers started at quarterback on the same day was Nov. 26, 2000, when Brock Huard started for the Seahawks against the Broncos and lost 38-31, while Damon Huard started for Miami against the Colts and won 17-14.
Customer care
If New York Giants fans were trying to send a message to the team by walking out in droves during an embarrassing loss to Buffalo, co-owner Wellington Mara wants them to know he heard them.
Clearly.
Mara was in the locker room after the Giants’ fourth straight loss and fifth in six home games.
“The crowd is our customers,” the 87-year-old Mara said. “When they leave, it’s the same as someone calling up or writing and saying you’re not doing what it is I want you to do.
“I’m very dissatisfied. The message comes across loud and clear. All it tells me is that we need to improve the product.”
Mara refused to discuss coach Jim Fassel’s future, saving evaluation for after the season. Fassel has a year left on his contract, when he is to earn $2.7 million.
Poor Kasay at the kick
The Panthers refused to place all the blame on kicker John Kasay, the only player left from Carolina’s inaugural 1995 team, for their 25-16 loss to the Eagles. Kasay made a 20-yard field goal but missed on attempts of 32, 38 and 49 yards.
“John is a guy who has been very reliable for us, and for whatever reason didn’t get it done today,” coach John Fox said. “I don’t think that is the entire reason we lost.”
David Akers, who made field goals of 35, 48, 38 and 29 yards for the Eagles, empathized with Kasay after the game. The two battled in 1999 for a spot on Carolina’s roster.
“Nobody taught me more than John Kasay,” Akers said. “I would have taken him over any kicker in the league coming into today.”
Retired to replay
The Steelers were in position to score just before the end of the first half of their loss to the Bengals, but backup quarterback Charlie Batch fumbled on the 10.
Batch, playing because starter Tommy Maddox left for three plays with an injury, attempted to throw a screen pass when the ball slipped out of his hand and Cincinnati recovered. Referee Bernie Kukar ruled Batch’s arm was not going forward, making it a lateral that could be recovered, not a pass.
Steelers coach Bill Cowher couldn’t challenge the call because less than two minutes remained in the half.
“You would think they would at least look at the play,” Cowher said.
Told the replay official was Dale Hamer, formerly the head linesman on Kukar’s crew, Cowher said, “I guess that’s why he’s retired.”
