McNabb, Eagles answer critics with different kind of outburst

Posted: Tue Sep 25 6:32 PM

By Scott Garbarini, Associate NFL Editor

(Sports Network) - On the day the franchise was recognizing its 75th season of existence, the Philadelphia Eagles paid a fitting tribute by putting forth an offensive performance for the ages.

After being stuck in neutral during back-to-back losses to start the season, the Philadelphia offense was utterly unstoppable in Sunday's encounter with the high-powered Detroit Lions. The Eagles rolled up 473 total yards in the first half, the most by an NFL team in an opening 30 minutes since such statistics were first kept in 1991, and scored touchdowns on their first five possessions en route to a 56-21 rout.

The only things more offensive than Philadelphia's prolific scoring eruption, the team's highest regular-season point total since 1953, were the hideous light blue-and-gold throwback uniforms the Eagles wore during the game to commemorate their 75th anniversary.

Philadelphia had scored a combined 25 points in its recent setbacks to Green Bay and Washington. The Eagles had surpassed that number less than three minutes into the second quarter on Sunday, when quarterback Donovan McNabb and wide receiver Kevin Curtis teamed up for the second of three touchdown connections between the pair.

The Eagles actually had a shot at opening the game with seven consecutive touchdown drives, having marched to the Detroit four-yard line on their sixth series before McNabb lost a fumble after being sacked by the Lions' Corey Smith.

"The first touchdown, I wouldn't say it was easy, but it was to the point that we felt so confident that we knew we could do it again," said guard Shawn Andrews of the offense's execution.

Curtis amassed an eye-opening 205 receiving yards before halftime, tying an NFL record set by Buffalo's Lee Evans last season, and wound up with career- bests of 221 yards and 11 catches. Brian Westbrook was equally as prolific, as the playmaking running back compiled 111 receiving yards, another 110 on the ground, and scored three times before being removed in the third quarter after bruising his ribs.

Sunday's win wasn't just a necessary rise to the occasion by the Eagles, but also a sweet sense of redemption for a maligned McNabb. The star signal-caller had come under heavy fire in the days leading up to the game, partly because of his early-season struggles under center but mostly for some ill-timed controversial comments he made regarding the scrutiny that African-American quarterbacks receive.

McNabb received a smattering of boos from an unforgiving home crowd to begin the game. He ended it with a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3 after throwing for 381 yards and four touchdowns on 21-of-26 passing. The five-time Pro Bowl honoree completed 18 straight attempts at one point.

"I felt the same way in the previous two games, it's just that things were just a little off," said McNabb in reference to the knee injury that cut short his 2006 campaign. "If it was timing or whatever it may be to get adjusted back to the game situation, I think today was just that time where we felt that we were right on point with everything in the passing game. I saw everything in the previous weeks that I saw today and it was just (better) execution."

SACK PARTY

The Philadelphia defense allowed its share of yards through the air to the talented Lions, but a ferocious and relentless pass rush enabled the Eagles to limit the damage and compensate for a secondary depleted by injuries. The unit brought Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna to the turf nine times, the club's highest total since it registered a franchise-record 11 sacks at Dallas on October 4, 1991. End Trent Cole led the charge with a career-high three sacks, with second-year tackle Brodrick Bunkley and situational specialist Juqua Thomas each recording a pair of takedowns of Kitna.

"(The Eagles coaches) pretty much put (the onus) on us at the beginning of the week," said end Jevon Kearse. "Coach (Jim) Johnson told us we are going to match up with their receivers, no matter what. It was up to the defensive line to get to the quarterback and stop them from throwing the ball."

SHORTHANDED SECONDARY

The defensive backfield was without its top two players on Sunday, as free safety and emotional leader Brian Dawkins was inactive after suffering a neck stinger in last week's loss to Washington and cornerback Lito Sheppard missed his second straight game due to a left knee sprain. The Lions were able to exploit Philadelphia's weakened secondary, as Kitna threw for a personal-best 446 yards and two scores, including a 91-yard hookup with standout wide receiver Roy Williams in the second quarter.

On the flip side, the Eagles were able to effectively neutralize Detroit's ground attack, although the Lions virtually abandoned the run game after falling well behind early. Philadelphia yielded only 39 rushing yards and an average of 3.3 yards per rush.

Valued reserve Quentin Mikell made his first career start in Dawkins' absence, and had one of the Eagles' nine sacks of Kitna, along with three tackles and a fumble recovery. Veteran William James assumed Sheppard's normal position of left cornerback, with Joselio Hanson slotted into the nickel role.

SURGERY FOR SMITH

The Eagles are expected to be without tight end L.J. Smith for about a month after the fifth-year pro underwent surgery last week to clean out scar tissue surrounding his groin. Smith has been hampered by a groin strain since training camp and had a limited role in Philadelphia's first two games, catching only four passes for a total of 26 yards.

It's the second surgical procedure in four months for Smith, who had a procedure to repair a sports hernia in late May.

"The one good thing about this (last) surgery is they didn't have to fix anything," said team head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder. "You don't have to wait for anything to really heal. You just have to wait for all that swelling and everything to go down and let him get back to function where he can play football at a normal level."

RIVALRY RENEWED

The Eagles will dive back into divisional play with a key Sunday night road showdown with the NFC East rival New York Giants this coming weekend. The teams will be meeting for the first time since Philadelphia handed New York a 23-20 defeat in the wild card round of last January's NFC Playoffs.

Philadelphia has also won three of its last four matchups with the Giants at the Meadowlands, including a 36-22 decision back in December. New York will be returning home with some momentum, however, after rallying for a much-needed 24-17 win at Washington on Sunday.