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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- When Donovan McNabb carries the ball, he
gives the Philadelphia Eagles another running back. One good enough
to rush for 125 yards.
|  | | Philadelphia running back Darnell Autry struggled to only 25 yards Sunday, but the Eagles got 125 rushing yards from their QB. |
McNabb scored on a 21-yard bootleg, scrambled 54 yards to set up
the winning field goal, completed passes to 10 receivers and was an
overall headache for the Washington Redskins as the Philadelphia Eagles
retained first place in the NFC East with Sunday's 23-20 victory.
"He was so big, I don't think they make Tylenol that big,"
Redskins defensive end Marco Coleman said.
The victory kept the Eagles (9-4) on pace for their first
division title in 12 years, just one season after a last-place
finish. The Redskins (7-5) lost for the third time in four games
and fumbled twice deep in their own territory to set up both
Philadelphia touchdowns.
McNabb, whose 558 yards rushing is tops in the NFL among
quarterbacks, had three runs that any running back would envy. The
first came in the second quarter, when he hurdled a blocker and a
would-be tackler near the sideline on a 26-yard scramble that set
up a field goal.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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Question on the Eagles: Is Donovan McNabb at the head of the '99 QB class?
Donahoe: When you think of the '99 quarterback class, there are two QBs that stick out -- Minnesota's Daunte Culpepper and McNabb. McNabb's performance, when you analyze the team he's playing with, might be more impressive. He doesn't have the experienced playmakers on the Eagles that Culpepper has on the Vikings. So what Donovan has been able to do has been even more remarkable. McNabb finds a way to win. He can beat you with his arm, he can beat you with his legs, he can beat you with a scramble and he can beat you with a broken play. McNabb and the Eagles are at 9-4 -- which is more wins than Philly had the last two seasons combined.
Question on the Redskins: Did injuries stop the 'Skins as much as the Eagles?
Donahoe: Injuries are always a factor in a football game. It's unfortunate for the Redskins that they had to play today without running back Stephen Davis. But they do have other quality running backs -- enough to get the job done. Today they didn't get it done. Would a healthy Davis have helped Washington? Certainly. But you can't attribute this loss to injuries. You have to attribute the outcome to an Eagles' team that came prepared to play and made more plays.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director of football operations.
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"I didn't even know he was the one scrambling," Eagles
receiver Charles Johnson said. "I thought it was a running back I
was blocking for. I saw him leap into the air, and -- Oh! -- I didn't
know he had some hops."
In the third quarter, McNabb gave the Eagles a 17-14 lead on the
21-yard bootleg in which he outran Bruce Smith, juked Mark Carrier
and dragged Matt Stevens 3 yards into the end zone. It came one
play after George lost a fumble on the snap at Washington's 20.
"He can run the ball. He can pass the ball. He reads defenses
well. He gets the checks done. He throws hot," Eagles running back
Stanley Pritchett said. "He does virtually everything you want a
fifth- or sixth-year quarterback to do, and this is his second
year. That man's special."
Finally, McNabb outran linebacker Shawn Barber for 54-yard
scramble on third-and-10 with less than five minutes to play. Four
plays later, David Akers -- who strained his quad before the game --- kicked his third field goal, a 30-yarder, to give the Eagles the
lead with exactly three minutes remaining.
Eddie Murray had a chance to send the game into overtime with
1:21 to play, but the 44-year-old kicker's attempt was wide right
from 44 yards against the wind.
The Redskins played without their leading rusher, Stephen Davis.
They also lost top receiver Albert Connell to a sprained knee in
the second quarter and rookie linebacker LaVar Arrington with a
bruised shoulder and concussion.
Davis, who has 1,073 yards, was placed on the inactive list just
before kickoff with a hairline fracture in his right forearm
suffered during last week's game at St. Louis. In his absence, the
Redskins couldn't put the ball in the end zone with a
first-and-goal at the 1 in the fourth quarter.
Skip Hicks carried twice and couldn't get in. Jeff George,
making his third start for Brad Johnson, threw incomplete on third
down, leaving Murray to kick a 20-yard field goal that tied the
game 20-20 with 5:42 remaining.
The Redskins ran nine goal-to-go plays in the second half
without scoring a touchdown.
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Inside the Numbers
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Donovan McNabb had struggled in three previous starts against the Redskins, losing two straight. But a career-high 125 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns Sunday by McNabb helped the Eagles hang onto first place in the NFC East.
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1st 3 gms.
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Sunday
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Pass ypg
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139.5
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137
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Comp. pct.
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56.2
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63.3
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TD/INT
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4/2
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1/1
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Rush ypg
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54.3
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125*
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Yds./carry
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7.4
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11.4
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* 1 rush TD
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"You don't replace a Stephen Davis," George said. "When
you've got first-and-goal, you've got to punch it in. I don't care
who you're playing."
The Redskins led 14-10 at halftime, scoring on the opening drive
after a rare defensive delay of game penalty on Philadelphia's
Damon Moore for simulating the snap count in punt formation on
fourth down.
Two plays later, George threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to James
Thrash, who was open because he pushed Moore in the back just
before the ball arrived. Such no-calls cannot be reversed by
instant replay, but Eagles coach Andy Reid wasted a timeout asking
the referee about it anyway.
The Eagles tied it 7-7 after Thrash muffed a punt. Mike Sellers
had the ball stolen from him by Mike Bartrum at the bottom of the
pile, giving Philadelphia possession at the 11. Two plays later,
McNabb threw a 3-yard TD pass to Jeff Thomason.
Akers' 27-yard field goal made it 10-7. The Redskins then retook
the lead shortly after downing a punt at the 1. McNabb, hurrying
from his own end zone, was intercepted by Champ Bailey on the next
play. Three plays later, George threw a 19-yard TD pass to Stephen
Alexander.
But the Eagles, who felt robbed in a 3-point loss to the
Redskins at home in October, rallied behind McNabb and can finally
start talking playoffs.
"We know we should've won that first game," said McNabb, who
was 19-for-30 for 137 yards. "We tried not to use the revenge
factor, but we came out very hungry. This was sort of a
championship game for us. We're right where we want to be."
Game notes
Seventeen of the last 19 games in the series have been
decided by seven points or fewer. ... The Redskins defense was
whistled for 12 men on the field on one play and had to call a
timeout when it had 13 men for another play. ... McNabb also nearly
caught a pass from running back Brian Mitchell, but Deion Sanders
broke up the play. McNabb was penalized because a quarterback can't
go out for a pass unless he lines up in the shotgun. ... Eagles LB
Ike Reese sprained his shoulder.
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ALSO SEE
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
Clayton: McNabb makes some Randall-like moves
Comedy of errors not so funny for Redskins
Redskins without Davis for NFC East showdown
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Despite great individual numbers, Donovan McNabb says it was a team effort.
wav: 183 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Andy Reid talks about the composure of Donovan McNabb.
wav: 159 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Brian Mitchell says Donovan McNabb was a ''magician'' against the Redskins.
wav: 94 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Philadelphia's Troy Vincent on the impact of Donovan McNabb's play.
wav: 231 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Who is going to step up for the Redskins? Norv Turner wants to know.
wav: 223 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
The pressure is on for Jeff George and the Redskins to win out.
wav: 177 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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