HONOLULU -- The 49ers and the Eagles are both well represented at the Pro Bowl, and both teams figure to enter the 2002 season among the favorites in the NFC.

In what was supposed to be a year to gain experience, the 49ers improved from a 6-10 team in 2000 that had been gutted by salary cap problems to a 12-4 playoff team that has one of the best young quarterbacks in the game in Jeff Garcia, one of the best wide receivers in the game in Terrell Owens -- even if his feud with Steve Mariucci is never ending -- and one of the best young defenses in the NFL.

	Donovan McNabb threw 25 touchdown passes during the regular season,

Despite Owens' greatness on the field, Garcia is clearly the leader on offense for the 49ers. Since stepping into the 49ers' lineup during the 1999 season, Garcia has established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. The 2001 season saw Garcia pass for over 3,500 yards and toss over 30 touchdown passes for the second straight season (31 in 2000 and 32 in 2001).

However, despite the 49ers' rapid ascent to a spot among the best teams in football, the question now becomes how high can they go with expectations weighting them down? Garcia knows the 49ers can't just assume that their next step will be forward.

"I still think that we have a long way to go," Garcia said. "I think that what we did this past year was very positive, we grew up, we matured in a lot of ways. But I don't think there's any way we can settle on just being a playoff-type team, we need to continue to build."

Offensively, Garcia indicated he'd like to see the 49ers become more consistently explosive.

"I think we improved in so many ways. I think that as an offensive player, there are ways that we can be more explosive, more attack oriented and utilize some of the weapons that we have in our system and hopefully be able to accomplish more as an offense as far as putting up more points and being a little more consistent."

For the Eagles, success in 2001 was expected after a 2000 campaign that saw them win 11 games and reach the second round of the playoffs. But while success in 2001 was expected, and achieved to a large degree with a trip to the NFC championship game, even bigger things will be expected next year.

The Eagles will likely enter the 2002 season as the favorite of many pundits to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

"We can't afford to get caught up in that," said Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb when asked about the expectations that would be placed on the Eagles. "What happened last year was great, it was a long run, but it's over. Our main focus right now, especially going into the offseason, is what we want to get done the following year."

The expectations will be high for the 49ers and the Eagles entering the 2002 season. But don't expect Jeff Garcia or Donovan McNabb to let those expectations weight them down.

Happy, Happy, Happy
There can't be many players at the Pro Bowl who seem more genuinely happy to be there than McNabb. From the moment he stepped on the practice field Tuesday to the moment he stepped out of the locker room, Philadelphia's third-year quarterback had a huge smile on his face.

For the second straight season McNabb was added as an injury replacement -- in place of Brett Favre this year -- and he couldn't be more pleased.

"To come here and play with a great group of guys, it's an honor, said McNabb. "Going into just my fourth year in the NFL, it's something that hasn't happened to a lot of players. I just try to enjoy it in stride, but still keep my focus on what I want to get done from the team standpoint in the game."

Pats win bittersweet for Whigham
For Bears special teamer Larry Whigham, watching New England's stunning Super Bowl win over the Rams brought mixed emotions.

Whigham spent seven seasons in New England before signing with the Bears as a free agent in the offseason.

"I was really happy for a lot of my old teammates in the Patriots organization," said Whigham. "But on the other hand, it hurt a little bit. Playing there for seven years and actually losing the Super Bowl in New Orleans to Green Bay, it was good to watch (the Patriots win), but it hurt a little bit, too."

Saints' view
If Sammy Knight can take solace in anything from the Saints' disappointing 7-9 season, it's that his team might have helped the Patriots beat the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

The Saints have enjoyed a lot of success against the Rams over the last two years -- beating St. Louis in three out of five games, including once in the playoffs -- and New England certainly must have looked at tape from some of those games.

"I don't know," Knight responded when asked if he thought the Saints' game plan against the Rams helped the Patriots prepare for the Super Bowl. "I hope so. I think it was kind of like a blueprint on how to play the Rams."

Knight also admitted it was difficult watching two teams play in the Super Bowl in New Orleans at the Superdome.

"It was tough. It's tough watching anybody play in your home stadium, especially in a championship game of that magnitude."

Peter Lawrence-Riddell is the assistant NFL editor for ESPN.com