When we last saw the Eagles, though, they were giving up 276 yards passing to Kerry Collins, who, while technically in Manning's division, the AFC South, certainly isn't in his league as a passer.
Andy Reid's defense will depend on one cornerback, Dimitri Patterson, making his first career start and rookie safety Nate Allen, who was one of Collins' main victims.
If Manning is smiling at that thought, though, he wasn't letting on when he spoke to reporters on Wednesday.
"Philly's always had an excellent team, had an excellent defense," Manning said. "These guys are well coached . . . a diverse blitz team, smart blitzes."
Manning, the ultimate pocket passer, and Vick, a unique running and throwing threat, present vastly different styles, but both torment defenses with their unpredictability.
Vick may leave the pocket at any moment and create a play no one saw coming.
Manning does his deception before the snap, adjusting his offense on the fly. His line of scrimmage gyrations are by now familiar to fans and to cornerback Asante Samuel, who has faced Manning eight times.
"It's freaking annoying. I freaking hate it. But, you know, that's why it makes him one of the best players ever," said Samuel, a former Patriot familiar with battling the Colts.
Samuel and cornerback Ellis Hobbs, another ex-Patriot, said defenders have to ignore Manning's displays and focus on their own plays. Both said the keys to disrupting the quarterback are playing physical with the Colts' receivers and using a mix of coverages.
"You've got to keep him guessing," said Hobbs, who will likely be sidelined with a hip flexor injury.
Quarterback pressure will also be critical. It might come through blitzes, but, ideally, the Eagles would like to get at Manning with just four men, leaving more defenders to cover the receivers.
