Loss of McNabb Overshadows Win

Playing with a broken right ankle that could sideline him the rest of the regular season, Donovan McNabb had the best passing game of his career.

Injured on the third play of the game, McNabb tied a career high with four touchdown passes, leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a 38-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

McNabb went down after he was sacked by Adrian Wilson and LeVar Woods on a third-and-three. He clutched his right leg and stayed on the turf after losing the ball, but returned on the next series for Philadelphia (7-3).

“I tried not to think about it,” McNabb said. “When the game was going on, I just focused on what I needed to do to get the win.”

McNabb’s status for the final six games is in doubt. Eagle Coach Andy Reid said this type of injury typically keeps players out six to eight weeks.

McNabb, who has never had a serious injury, insists he’ll try to play against San Francisco next Monday night. Koy Detmer would start if McNabb can’t play.

“In my mind, I’ll be out there,” said McNabb, a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

The Eagles’ medical staff was less optimistic.

“It’s not something he can play with right now,” trainer Rick Burkholder said. “We’ll know more in the next 24-48 hours.”

Asked why X-rays weren’t taken at halftime, McNabb said: “I wouldn’t let anybody touch it.”

Unable to scramble because of his injury, diagnosed as a sprain during the game, McNabb stayed in the pocket and threw touchdown passes of two yards to James Thrash, three to Dorsey Levens, 27 to Todd Pinkston and nine to Duce Staley in the first half.

Though he limped noticeably the entire game, McNabb didn’t miss a play until resting with 4:49 left. He finished 20 of 25 for 255 yards and one interception, but had no rushing attempts for the first time in 53 career starts, including playoffs.

“They had a quarterback that was gimpy, but their running game was working so well,” said Coach Dave McGinnis, whose Cardinals (4-6) lost their fourth in a row.

Staley had 136 yards rushing and added 82 more yards receiving on three catches.