Relentless pressure

PHILADELPHIA -- By now, the Philadelphia Eagles should have learned nearly everything from the experience of postseason defeats. Their opponent in today's NFC Championship game, the Atlanta Falcons, are probably more innocent about the situation, having exceeded expectations and are currently "playing with house money," according to their coach, Jim Mora Jr.

But the focus of this game will not be much different than the last time the teams clashed in a playoff matchup. Back on Jan. 11, 2003, the Eagles earned a 20-6 victory, aggressively and effectively targeting Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. Jim Johnson is the Eagles defensive coordinator and his strategy now, as it probably was then, is to relentlessly pursue Vick. The Eagles' tactics were effective the first time around. The Falcons offense failed to score a touchdown, and Vick surrendered a score when the Eagles returned an interception for the first touchdown of the game. Vick also had a 20-yard scoring run negated by a holding penalty, affirming Johnson's belief that the longer Vick remains standing, the chances of negative occurrences increase for him and the Falcons, as well as the opposition.

After that game, Vick told a website he would be "running less and I'll stay away from guys like Brian Dawkins," who nearly knocked Vick out of the game with a tackle and later intercepted a pass.

Vick has been faithful only to the second part of that statement, because the Falcons and Eagles have not met since then.

The Falcons have been scrambling since 2003. They have improved dramatically since Vick returned to the starting lineup late last season, returning from a broken leg to lead the team to 15 wins in their last 21 regular- and postseason games.

Everything the Eagles have done since, though, has pointed to the NFC Championship game. Quarterback Donovan McNabb, who performed with an ankle injury in the 2003 meeting with the Falcons, is healthy.

Until this season, Vick's career alternated between spectacular success and injury. Vick's breakout game in 2001 against Miami reflected impressive numbers and highlight maneuvers but resulted in a 21-14 defeat. Vick led the Falcons into the playoffs in 2002, then missed most of the next season with a broken leg.

The health and welfare of McNabb and Vick will likely determine the result of this game.

"Don is looking to put the ball in the air and throw first, period," Dawkins said. "He's looking to get the ball to seven or eight different receivers in this offense. When the opportunity presents itself and everybody is covered, he'll tuck that thing and get 20 yards. With Mike, he goes through his first read and if that's not open he's tucking it and running it. Sometimes he will sit back in the pocket and go through all of his progressions but a lot of times he's going through that first and second progression and he's getting out of there and tucking it."

And, even should Vick gain yardage, the Eagles will be waiting.

"If the ball is thrown 10 yards, then everybody get to the ball," Dawkins said. "If [Vick] does go out and scramble, it just won't be a guy one on one trying to tackle him, it's going to be two and three guys. If you make that one guy miss you may have another guy running at you full speed to clean it up."

Dawkins has gained perspective as the Eagles have ended the last three seasons with losses in the NFC title game.

"When you go through some tough times like we've gone through you really appreciate it a lot more than guys who have just come in," Dawkins said. "I went into the last [NFC Championship game] and I could barely eat I was so anxious to play, so wound up. I am not like that this year. I have enjoyed every game we have played, except Pittsburgh [a 27-3 loss Nov. 7]."