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McNabb Leads Eagles Past Saints

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The Associated Press

Published: December 24, 2007

NEW ORLEANS - If Donovan McNabb keeps playing like this, those fickle Philly fans who have been calling for rookie Kevin Kolb may have to wait.

Running, throwing, and sometimes throwing on the run, McNabb accounted for 300 total yards and tossed three touchdown passes, leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a 38-23 victory Sunday that dealt a devastating blow to a New Orleans squad still clinging to playoff hopes.

"A lot of people ask a lot of questions about Donovan," said Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, who gained 100 yards on 17 carries. "I've said all along, it's going to take a full year for him to recover and be totally back. You see the way he's running the ball down the field. He's rounding back into being his old self and these last two weeks are proof of that."

McNabb, whose 263 yards passing gave him more than 25,000 for his career, no longer showed the effects of his rehabilitation from knee surgery over the summer or an ankle sprain in midseason.

His 40-yard scramble on the third play led to a touchdown after his fumble was recovered in the end zone by receiver Kevin Curtis.Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw for 289 yards and an interception, and lost his best receiver when Marques Colston left the game in the first half with a chest contusion.

Still, the Saints (7-8) were in position to tie the game at 21 on the opening drive of the second half when David Patten nearly scored on a short first-down pass.
Coach Sean Payton thought Patten had crossed the goal line and challenged the ruling, but the call was upheld, setting up second-and-goal from the 1. The Eagles (7-8) stuffed New Orleans on three straight running plays to preserve their one-touchdown lead.

Phi-Curtis fumble recovery in end zone (Akers kick), 13:15.

NO-Stecker 3 run (Gramatica kick), 11:07.

NO-Stecker 1 run (Gramatica kick), 8:52.

Phi-Buckhalter 20 run (Akers kick), 5:47.

Phi-R.Brown 31 pass from McNabb (Akers kick), 1:51.

Second Quarter

Phi-FG Akers 24, 9:28.

NO-FG Gramatica 55, :00.

Third Quarter

Phi-Lewis 9 pass from McNabb (Akers kick), 2:55.

Fourth Quarter

NO-FG Gramatica 35, 13:03.

NO-FG Gramatica 46, 7:19.

Phi-Curtis 7 pass from McNabb (Akers kick), 2:28.

A-70,011

RUSHING-Philadelphia, Westbrook 17-100, McNabb 6-37, Buckhalter 4-37, R.Brown 1-10. New Orleans, Stecker 13-49, P.Thomas 3-17, Karney 1-0, Brees 1-(minus 1).

PASSING-Philadelphia, McNabb 24-35-0-263. New Orleans, Brees 30-45-1-289.

RECEIVING-Philadelphia, Curtis 6-78, R.Brown 6-73, Avant 4-35, Westbrook 3-9, Celek 2-35, Lewis 2-25, Baskett 1-8. New Orleans, Patten 6-55, P.Thomas 6-29, Stecker 4-35, Miller 3-38, Copper 3-28, Moore 3-28, Colston 3-16, Henderson 1-52, Brees 1-8.

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