Eleven weeks into the 2000 NFL season and the Eagles are 7-4. Eighteen games into the career of Donovan McNabb, two come from behind OT wins later and Donovan is beginning to look like the "Field General" that all Eagle fans hoped he would become. Only McNabb is doing it sooner and more dramatically than any Eagles fans ever dreamed. Last week, down 13-10 to the Cowboys and under two minutes in the game, McNabb led the Eagles down the field and the drive was capped by a game-tying FG by David "Green" Akers. This week: down 23-13 and under 4 minutes, Donovan first led the team down the field and on the capping play, Brian Mitchell caught a flare out of the backfield and ran it in for a 13 yard gain and TD. After Tim Hauck recovered the onside kick with only about a minute and half left, Donovan again led the Eagles down the field for the game tying FG with time running out to send the game into OT. Eagles again lost the toss to start the game (Eagles have lost 10 of 11), again won the toss in OT and McNabb drove the Birds right down the field. The big play was keyed by the pass to Stanley Pritchett who ran down to the Steeler's 28 yard line. Three plays later and the legs of David Akers won another in dramatic fashion with his 4th of the game on a 42 yard FG. The Eagles REPEAT are now 7-4. Yes. The Eagles are going to the playoffs. Yes, that is if they do not sustain a major collapse or suffer any major injuries that bite them on the ass.

What more can be said of Donovan McNabb as he only completed 26 of 55 for 213 yards and 2 TDs. McNabb who played mistake free with NO INT's against one of the NFL's best defenses. For the better part of the day though, McNabb missed wide or low & his receivers had a touch of stone hands. Donovan never gave up and led the Eagles down the field when it counted most. NO INT's. It is worth mentioning again that McNabb did not make any major mistakes and kept his team in the game with just enough offense. His counterpart, Kordell Stewart completed 14 of 31 for 159 yards and 1 very costly INT that led to Eagles first points, a 26 yard FG early in the first quarter. Kordell did make some nice plays as he completed 4 passes to Hawkins who was the only Steelers' receiver to have more than 2 catches. Kordell was flustered by the Eagles relentless pass rush and was sacked 3 times and hit another 6 or 7 times. It was Hugh Douglas hit early in the game which directly led to games only INT. Kordell ran from the Eagles defense most of the day and more times than not, either threw the ball away or on the ground. McNabb on the other hand, had great protection for most of the day except for a 15 stretch in the 3rd & 4th quarters when the Steelers sacked him 3 times and hit him a number of more times. But when it mattered most, the Eagles offensive line protected Donovan extremely well. For once though, Donovan did not lead the Eagles in rushing as the Steelers played a smart game and allowing him to rush 5 times for only 27 yards. The Eagles as a team only had 88 yards rushing and 292 total. The "Bus" Jerome Bettis gained 134 yards on 30 carries, but the Steelers lack of passing offense ultimately doomed them in the end.

Did you see all the penalties on both teams. Pittsburgh had 13 for 141 yards, while the Eagles had 9 for only 61 yards. Most of the penalties on both teams came on defense. Time and again, the Steeler's D made the big offesive play for the Birds giving them first down after first down. But the calls did go both ways and in the end, Philadelphia prevailed with great special teams. David Akers was 4 of 5 on FG's, while Brian Mitchell broke the all-time record for most kickoff yardage on 7 runbacks for 144 yards. He also ran back 3 punts for 36 yards. But the Eagles special teams not only once, but twice recovered the onside kick. The first was nullified when Je'rod Cherry caught the ball 9 1/2 yards from the spot and the rule says, the ball must go 10 yards. On the second try, the ball was tipped and Tim Houck was johnny on spot and recovered the ball for the Eagles on thier own 32. Special teams...Brian Mitchell on the season has NO fumbles and the team has NO touchdowns scored on them either. Special teams and Donovan McNabb, a "Double Dose" of trouble for opposing defenses.