The Philadelphia Eagles gambled and lost. They played quarterback roulette, put everything on Michael Vick, and for the moment, have come up empty handed.

After being rattled with concussion-like symptoms in a Week Two loss to Atlanta, Vick was knocked out of last weekend's game with a severely bruised hand. It was another loss - to bitter division rival the Giants - and leaves the so-called "Dream Team" at 1-2 and in last place in the competitive NFC East.

How did it come to this?

Let's go back a few years to a time when the Eagles had an embarrassment of riches at quarterback. Donovan McNabb was still among the NFL's elite, but was getting older, so head coach Andy Reid drafted highly regarded Kevin Kolb out of the University of Houston.

Then Vick emerged from 23 months behind bars and the Eagles couldn't resist adding one of the league's most exciting talents, just in case he got his mojo back.

And he did. McNabb was considered expendable and sent packing to Washington, while Vick was given the starting job and led the Eagles to within a late interception of beating the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. Kolb was the backup, but at season's end a decision had to be made, since the salary cap would not allow the Eagles to keep both quarterbacks.

Kolb headed west to Arizona, signing a six-year, $65 million contract and the Eagles put all of their faith in Vick. Never mind that his scrambling, gambling style puts him in jeopardy on nearly every play or that Kolb's departure robbed the team of a talented backup quarterback.

Reid and Eagles' owner Jeffrey Lurie knew what they were getting into and were willing to take a chance. I'm sure they understood Vick's fragility, but I doubt they'd figure it would become an issue in  Week Four.

Unfortunately it has, and if Vick can't play this week, the Eagles will live and die with unproven second year man Mike Kafka or erratic former Titan Vince Young. Either way, it's going to be an uphill battle.

Short yardage situations

Speaking of injured quarterbacks, the news just keeps getting worse for Indianapolis. Although Colts' owner Jim Irsay hinted that Peyton Manning may actually play this season, it's certainly not something the organisation is counting on. Current starter Kerry Collins is being evaluated after suffering a possible concussion and backup Curtis Painter struggled in a loss to the Steelers. As of now, the Colts say they aren't looking for a new quarterback going into a Week Four matchup with Tampa Bay.

Every year somebody jumps out at you as a potential superstar in the making. Tennessee wide receiver Kenny Britt might have been that player, but sadly he's done for the year after tearing his ACL and MCL in a win over Denver. Britt, who was ranked fifth in the league in receiving, had a stunning game in Week Two against Baltimore, catching nine passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.

When we talk about Sav Rocca and Mat McBriar, the two Australians in the NFL, we usually just discuss their punting. But another important job the two perform is holding on place kicks. In Tuesday's loss to the Cowboys, Rocca mishandled a snap on Graham Gano's field goal attempt and the kick was blocked. Unfortunately that turned out to be a crucial play in the context of the game, with Washington losing to Dallas by just two points.