Quarterback Michael Vick's broken ribs have not healed as quickly as the 2010 Comeback Player of the Year had hoped they would. He is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots. With Vick missing practice again on Friday, Vince Young is preparing to make his second-consecutive start.

After leading the Eagles on an 18-play, game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter last week against the Giants, the former Texas standout is confident about the team's chances against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

"That last drive was definitely something this team needed," said Young. "We've had games where we haven't been able to finish in the fourth quarter, so it gave our entire team confidence, from the coaches down.

"I've been preaching all week that no matter what happens, there are four quarters in the game and we can always be in it. If things don't go our way early, we need to put that in the past and focus on the task at hand."

The Patriots are a team for whom the 6-5 slinger has a lot of respect. In his only start against them, as a rookie with the Tennessee Titans in 2006, their defense gave him fits. He completed 15-of-36 pass attempts (39.9 percent) for 227 yards and threw two interceptions with no touchdowns in a 40-23 loss at home.

"The funny thing is that when I played them in 2006, Asante Samuel picked me off and helped win the game for them," said Young with a smile. "So thank God he's here and playing with us."

Now as an experienced quarterback, Young preached the importance of having patience against the New England defense.

"Just like last week, we're preparing to play a very physical team. The Patriots like to make you think a little bit," Young said. "You're not always going to get the big plays against them, but you have to be patient throughout the game and wait until they give you the deep throws. The biggest thing from an offensive standpoint is that we want to be patient in everything we do and keep Tom Brady off the field as much as possible."

For each week until last, when he stepped in for Vick, Young has run the scout-team offense in practice. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback is not used to serving as a reserve, but he stressed Friday that his focus is on winning games for this team, not boosting his own stock around the league.

"Being on the scout team, I've wanted to get out there and make plays for this team. Everybody in a reserve role wants to do that," said Young, who is playing under a one-year contract. "A lot of people think I'm treating these starts as an opportunity to audition for others teams, but I'm a Philadelphia Eagle. I'm not thinking about myself, I'm thinking about my teammates."

Regardless of Vick's status for this Sunday, the Eagles will go into this game confident that they have a quarterback who gives them a chance to win against a dangerous Patriots team.

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