McNabb Sends Eagles Soaring

When Donovan McNabb carries the ball, he gives the Philadelphia Eagles another running back. One good enough to rush for 125 yards.

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,” Redskin defensive end Marco Coleman said.

McNabb’s rushing total was the highest for an NFL quarterback since Chicago’s Bobby Douglass ran for 127 yards against Oakland on Dec. 17, 1972.

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.

“I didn’t even know he was the one scrambling,” Eagle 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 three yards into the end zone. It came one play after George lost a fumble on the snap at the Washington 20.

“He can run the ball. He can pass the ball. He reads defenses well. He gets the checks done. He throws hot,” Eagle 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 a 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 because of a sprained knee in the second quarter and rookie linebacker LaVar Arrington with a bruised shoulder and concussion.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The Rally King

Donovan McNabb’s has led the Eagles to four consecutive wins, three of which came with fourth qusrter rallies.His numbers in the fourth quarter and overtime, during which his QB rating is 85.6:

Passing

*--*

Com-Att. Yards % TD Int 58-99 526 58.6 6 3

*--*

Rushing

*--*

Att Yards Avg. TD 23 167 7.3 1

*--*