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McNabb Denied Once Again

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By IRA KAUFMAN

ikaufman@tampatrib.com

Published: January 19, 2009

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Just when three second-half TD passes by Donovan McNabb lifted Philadelphia to the brink of a Super Bowl berth, the Eagles abruptly canceled their flight to Tampa.

Arizona's 14-play drive in the fourth quarter, capped by Kurt Warner's third-down scoring pass to rookie RB Tim Hightower, led to a galling 32-25 loss in Sunday's NFC title game.

"Philly's a prideful team and we figured they would make a run at us," said Arizona DE Bertrand Berry after the Eagles rallied from a 24-6 halftime deficit to take a 25-24 advantage that proved to be short-lived. "Make no mistake - Donovan McNabb is a warrior. He takes a lot of heat in that town for some reason, but they do the man a great injustice. Believe me, they will miss him when he's gone."

McNabb threw for 266 yards after intermission and Arizona had few answers for TE Brent Celek, who scored twice while catching 10 passes.

"To end this way, it's tough when you're that close to making it to the Super Bowl," said McNabb, now 1-4 in NFC title games. "We saw them Cardinals take it away from us, so tip your hat to them."

Kevin Curtis added four receptions for 122 yards and dynamic rookie DeSean Jackson hauled in a go-ahead, 62-yard TD with 10:45 remaining, temporarily silencing a crowd quite accustomed to fourth-quarter letdowns by the home team.

WORTH THE WAIT

Bill Bidwill rarely reveals his emotions, but Arizona's stoic owner couldn't help himself after the Cardinals posted their third postseason upset in as many weeks, stoking a raucous fan base.

"I'd like to say a big thank you to our supporters," he said after Arizona earned its first trip to the Super Bowl. "All the years of struggle, all the tough times ... it's all been worth it. Now we're the team going to Tampa for a shot at the big trophy. All I can say is it feels very good."

THE GREAT ONE

Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald has turned the NFL postseason into his personal showcase.

The Pro Bowl WR continued his torrid pace Sunday, tormenting an array of Eagle defenders for three first-half TD receptions. Fitzgerald finished with nine catches for 152 yards, giving him 23 receptions for 419 yards and five scores in three playoff games.

"Larry Fitzgerald has set the bar so high, it's unbelievable," Cardinals LT Mike Gandy said. "This guy changes the whole momentum by himself. There's little doubt he took over this game in the first half today."

GOING HOME

Cardinals rookie CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is homeward bound.

"Tampa is home and I can't wait to get back," said the Bradenton native after Sunday's tense triumph. "We're the team that wasn't supposed to be here. We're home against Atlanta in the first playoff game two weeks ago and we were underdogs - that's a slap in our faces. Nobody believed in us except us ... and now we're going to the Super Bowl."

McNabb victimized the first-round pick out of Tennessee State on the 62-yard strike to Jackson, who bobbled the pass.

"The ball went through my hands and the guy made a play," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "I have faith in our offense and we came through. We're a fighting team and when we went back ahead, the defense made the key stops."

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