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Eagles, McNabb Answer Call

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By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

Published: January 12, 2009

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Donovan McNabb wasn't trying to be disrespectful or cocky. When he reached down on the New York sideline and picked up a phone as if to make a call at the end of an 8-yard run near the end of Philadelphia's divisional playoff game at the Meadowlands on Sunday, the Eagles quarterback was just trying to have a little fun.

And why not? For as long as McNabb has made fun a priority, he and the Eagles have been winning. Their 23-11 victory against the Giants was their fifth in six games and easily their biggest yet, because it means the fun will continue until at least kickoff at the NFC title game Sunday at Arizona.

"I probably shouldn't have done it," McNabb said of the sideline stunt that earned him an inconsequential unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. "But I was just trying to have a little fun. That was me trying to have a good time there. I've got to be smarter than that."

Not necessarily. No one is questioning McNabb's smarts after the way he played Sunday, when the Giants forced the game onto his shoulders by taking uberback Brian Westbrook out of it. Westbrook, who strafed the Giants for more than 200 yards in a 20-14 Eagles victory at the Meadowlands on Dec. 7, gained just 46 yards.

There was a time, maybe even just a few weeks ago, when the Eagles probably would not have won with Westbrook contained. The Eagles have changed, though.

"We're a well-rounded team," Westbrook said. "We have guys like receivers Kevin Curtis and DeSean Jackson and Donovan did a great job finding those guys today. And our defense is doing a good job, too."

The Eagles' defense wasn't just good on Sunday, it was great, particularly on two critical, fourth-quarter, fourth-down plays on which runs by quarterback Eli Manning and running back Brandon Jacobs were stopped short.

"We are very, very disappointed," said Giants coach Tom Coughlin, whose team lost four of its last five this season. "We have lots of remorse for opportunities lost."

The Giants recorded a safety in the second quarter when McNabb was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, a play that contributed to the only 23-11 final score in NFL history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

But Giants kicker John Carney missed field-goal tries of 46 and 47 yards, one after the safety and one late in the third quarter that would have given the Giants a lead.

New York led 11-10 early in the third quarter, but Philadelphia scored on three of its next four possessions.

"Coming out in the second half, we thought we could throw the ball against them," McNabb said. "We knew they were going to be packed in to stop the run, so it was a matter of just being efficient."

Efficiency was a big problem for McNabb and the Eagles earlier this season. After 11 games they were 5-5-1 and there was talk of McNabb being run out of town following his benching for a half against Baltimore.

Since then, though, the Eagles have been one of the best teams in the league and McNabb believes it has a lot to do with the fact that he and the rest of the Eagles have loosened up since then.

"We're a much better team when we're playing loose and that's what you saw Sunday," McNabb said. "You saw guys flying around and making plays and having fun."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

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