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Over the past couple days at the Novacare Complex, players and coaches have tried to articulate what exactly has gone wrong with an offense that is scoring just 17.1 points per game, 28th in the league.

During training camp, it seemed like the 2012 version wouldn’t be far off from last year’s group. Michael Vick and company produced 64 pass plays of 20+ yards in 2011, eighth-best in the league. The plan was to cut down on turnovers, get DeSean Jackson back on track and resume the high-flying, big-play attack.

But a few things happened to derail that plan. Demetress Bell failed to be even adequate filling in for Jason Peters at left tackle. Another hole was created when center Jason Kelce suffered a season-ending injury. And the offense failed to fix the turnover problem.

After the Cardinals game, Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg decided to switch things up. More balance, coupled with a methodical passing game, was Plan B. If the defense could come up big (like it did against the Giants), perhaps that kind of offense would be good enough for the Eagles to get into the playoffs.

Nope. That hasn’t worked either.

There was a moment against the Lions a couple weeks ago where it looked like Nick Foles might go in. Michael Vick was slow to the sidelines and the training staff had gathered around him to assess the damage. Foles circled nearby and as time ran short, he dipped into the circle to see if he was needed. He was not. Vick was going to be OK. Foles slowed his pace and resumed his normal sideline routine.

The routine itself  is interesting to watch. Foles is pretty active. He’ll walk over to give the offensive line a pat; will have a quick word for an assistant or one of the players coming off the field. He’ll peek over Vick’s shoulder as he and Marty Mornhinweg look at the stills. Back and forth. Waiting, watching, waiting.

It has to be an odd existence, being the backup — and all the more being a backup for Vick. Especially this season.

A lot of Eagles players have grown weary of the talk. It’s not what is said during the week that counts, it’s the way they perform on game day that proves their mettle. It is a common refrain among the leaders in particular.

“You can only say so much and sometimes I get tired of talking,” said Michael Vick following the loss to Atlanta. “You get tired of talking and it’s more about letting your actions speak louder than your words.”

Ironically, this same group is hopeful that words will help save them.

Every Thursday we select a few of your Twitter questions and provide the long-form answers they deserve. For a chance to have your question published on Birds 24/7, send it to @Tim_McManus.

Yes, all the speculation was getting to Michael Vick.

“I’m human. It does tend to bother you because I have emotions just like everybody else. It’s not like you can just block certain things out sometimes,” said Vick. “You want to have that comfort level, you want to know everything is going to be what it’s is going to be at the end of the day. When you have that type of support, it’s easy to go out and make it all work. I kind of let it get to me, to be honest. But now it’s a totally different feel for me and I’m ready to go.”

Andy Reid was in full damage-control mode Wednesday afternoon when he met with reporters and addressed the Eagles’ quarterback situation.

“I know a lot’s been said in regards to Michael [Vick],” Reid said. “I’ve learned a long time ago with you guys that there’s a time and a place when you’re upset, and I was upset after the game – not at Michael Vick. I was upset, starting with myself and not getting my team ready to play and work it from there, but I’ve learned to step back and evaluate. So that was my point to you. My point wasn’t that I was going to bench Michael Vick. It was that I needed to step back and evaluate before I came to you with something. So I mentioned yesterday that Michael, in regards to that, was the quarterback, is the quarterback, and will continue to be the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. So I can’t make it any more clearer than that.”

Here’s what we saw from the Eagles’ offense in Sunday’s 30-17 loss to the Falcons after having reviewed the coach’s tape.

It took a while, but Andy Reid has finally backed Michael Vick. At least for Monday night.

Reid confirmed Wednesday morning that Vick will be his starter in New Orleans for the crucial game against the Saints.

Is it time to bench Michael Vick? Are Andy Reid’s day’s numbered? Here’s the weekly roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles.

Here is the latest on the quarterback situation:

As of early Tuesday afternoon Nick Foles had not received any indication that he is the starter for Monday night in New Orleans, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Does that mean Michael Vick will get the nod? Well, at the very least it means Andy Reid is running short on time if he plans on making a change. The Eagles do not resume practice until Thursday, but you would think he would want to give the rookie as much time as possible to mentally prepare for his first start.

The Eagles today released their depth chart for Monday night’s game against the Saints.

No major changes, but some things worth noting.

DeSean Jackson hit on a number of topics during his appearance on Mike & Mike Tuesday, including getting booed at home and the state of the locker room.

But the question everyone wants to know: Will Michael Vick remain the starter at quarterback?

Some took Michael Vick‘s statements to the media following Sunday’s loss as a concession speech.

“Obviously he’s thinking about making a  change at the quarterback position,” said Vick of Andy Reid.  “If that’s the decision the coach wants to make, then I’ll support it.”

Mix those comments with a report that Reid is leaning towards starting Nick Foles in New Orleans, and you can gather that Vick has learned his fate and is resigned to take a seat on the bench. But that conclusion seems premature.

Again, no ringing endorsement for the $100 million quarterback. Reid said heading into the bye week that Michael Vick was his quarterback “as of today” and that he would be taking a hard look at all positions. Ultimately, he chose to ride with Vick against the Falcons. But that’s as far as the public commitment goes.

“Obviously he’s thinking about making a  change at the quarterback position,” said Vick. “The thing I do know when I go watch the film and evaluate myself is that I’m giving us every opportunity to win. I’m trying my hardest. Some things don’t go right when I want them to; some things do. If that’s the decision the coach wants to make, then I’ll support it.”

A reader asked this week if today’s game against the Falcons is the biggest of both Michael Vick and Andy Reid’s careers.

To that, the answer is no.

Vick has played in an NFC championship game. And Reid has played in a Super Bowl. Those were career-defining games – much more so than a Week 8 regular-season matchup.

Having said that, there’s no doubt that today’s contest is huge for both guys.