McNabb Flies Like an Eagle

Nobody is booing Donovan McNabb now.

McNabb threw three touchdown passes, David Akers kicked a 35-yard field goal with seven seconds left, and the Philadelphia Eagles clinched their first NFC East title since 1988 with a 24-21 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday.

“For all those people who talked bad about us, we are the NFC East champions no matter how you look at it,” said McNabb, who was jeered by Eagle fans when he was drafted No. 2 overall in 1999, and has been criticized throughout the season.

The Giants were eliminated from playoff contention a year after reaching the Super Bowl, but not before they nearly won a third straight game in the final minute.

After Akers’ kick, New York had time for one play from its 20, and Kerry Collins threw a 14-yard pass to Tiki Barber, who lateraled the ball to wideout Ron Dixon. With blockers leading him down the left sideline, Dixon made it all the way to the Eagle six before Damon Moore made the game-saving tackle.

“I really thought I was going to get in,” Dixon said.

The Eagles (10-5) trailed 21-14, but scored 10 points in the last two minutes, including McNabb’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Chad Lewis to tie the score.

Philadelphia will play Tampa Bay at Veterans Stadium in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season. The teams also play next week to complete the regular season.

It’s the third time New York (7-8) has failed to reach the playoffs the year after going to the Super Bowl.

“Coming off a successful season it’s hard to repeat again, but to not make the playoffs is disappointing,” Coach Jim Fassel said.

Giant defensive end Michael Strahan had three sacks in the first half, breaking Lawrence Taylor’s team record for sacks in a season. Strahan has 21 sacks--a half-sack from Mark Gastineau’s NFL mark.

Ron Dayne’s 16-yard touchdown run with 2:43 left gave the Giants a 19-14 lead. Barber ran in for the two-point conversion to make it 21-14.

But McNabb drove the Eagles 67 yards in 54 seconds, capped by his touchdown toss to Lewis with 1:49 left.

After the Giants went three-and-out, Philadelphia got the ball at its 29 with 58 seconds left.

McNabb completed a 25-yard pass to James Thrash, connected with Todd Pinkston for nine yards, and ran 11 yards to set up Akers’ 35-yarder. Strahan helped the Eagles by holding McNabb down after the run, resulting in a delay-of-game penalty that stopped the clock and gave Philadelphia five yards.

McNabb completed 21 of 39 passes for 270 yards.

“Donovan stepped up and did a great job in as much pressure as you can have,” Eagle Coach Andy Reid said.

The Eagles had lost nine in a row to New York before a 10-9 comeback victory Oct. 22.

On Sunday, McNabb connected with Thrash on a 57-yard touchdown pass 49 seconds into the fourth quarter to give the Eagles a 14-10 lead.

Thrash beat rookie cornerback Will Allen on a deep route down the right sideline, stretched his arms for a fingertip catch and high-stepped into the end zone.

“It was a perfect pass,” Thrash said.

Morten Andersen’s 25-yard field goal with 2:38 left in the third gave the Giants their first lead--10-7. Andersen connected on a 32-yarder to cut it to 14-13 with 8:44 left.

The teams didn’t wait until the game started to get at each other. During warmups, a scuffle broke out between some Giant and Eagle special teams players.

“It was just guys jawing at each other,” Akers said.

After the Giants went three-and-out on the opening possession, the Eagles drove 72 yards on nine plays, capped by McNabb’s five-yard touchdown pass to Lewis.

New York tied it 7-7 on a 60-yard touchdown pass play from Collins to Amani Toomer on its first play of the third quarter. Collins lateraled to Barber, who tossed the ball back to Collins. Toomer got wide open, caught the ball at the 20 and easily ran in.

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AFC PLAYOFFS

IN

* Pittsburgh: Clinched Central title, first-round bye, home-field advantage

* Oakland: Clinched West title

* New England: Clinched playoff berth

* Miami: Clinched playoff berth

STILL ALIVE

* For two berths: N.Y. Jets, Baltimore, Seattle

NFC PLAYOFFS

IN

* St. Louis: Clinched West title, first-round bye

* Philadelphia: Clinched East title

* Chicago: Clinched playoff berth

* Green Bay: Clinched playoff berth

* Tampa Bay: Clinched playoff berth

* San Francisco: Clinched playoff berth

* Note: The only definite first-round matchup is Tampa Bay at Philadelphia.