McNabb, Eagles Have Cowboys on the Run

Donovan McNabb used the Dallas Cowboys’ blitz to his advantage.

McNabb completed 24 of 37 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for 67 yards and one touchdown to lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a 44-13 victory over the Cowboys Sunday.

Pressured, harassed and forced to run in the first quarter, McNabb kept his poise and picked apart the Cowboys the rest of the game.

His scrambles of 26 and 25 yards in the opening quarter kept Dallas off-balance and opened up the passing game after a slow start.

“I think I stopped them from blitzing,” McNabb said. “I took it upon myself to get some yards and move the chains.”

The Eagles (2-1) didn’t allow an offensive touchdown for the second consecutive game. Reggie Swinton’s 100-yard kickoff return was the only touchdown for Dallas (1-2).

Emmitt Smith ran 11 times for 52 yards, moving within 362 yards of passing Walter Payton to become the NFL’s career rushing leader. Smith’s sixth carry moved him ahead of Payton for No. 1 on the rushing attempts list. He has 3,844 carries.

McNabb, sacked twice in the first quarter, spent the game’s final 9:28 watching from the sideline after the Eagles built a 28-point lead.

“He takes the game over,” Dallas Coach Dave Campo said.

After falling behind, 10-3, in the first quarter, the Eagles scored the next 31 points on their way to their second consecutive rout.

Philadelphia dominated the Washington Redskins in a 37-7 victory Monday night, a week after wasting a 14-point halftime lead in a season-opening loss at Tennessee.

A 35-yard touchdown pass from McNabb to James Thrash tied the score, 10-10, early in the second quarter. On their next possession, the Eagles went ahead to stay on a two-yard touchdown run by McNabb that made it 17-10.