Donovan did this and Donovan did that. Donovan did everything. Donovan McNabb is becoming one if the NOT the premiere quarterbacks' in the NFL as he almost single handedly lead the Eagles to victory over arch-rival Washington Redskins in their house at Fed-Ex Field. Yes, Philadelphia also maintains their first place status ahead of both Washington and New York, who beat the hapless Cardinals down in the desert. The last time the Eagles held first place two weeks in a row, I believe was in 1980 when the Birds went to their only Super Bowl under Dick Vermeil. If the Eagles win out and the Giants lose once, the Eagles will finish the season 12-4, their best since 1980 and will also guarantee first place, a bye week and home playoff game probally against the NFC Western winner. That would be either the Rams or Saints, both dome teams. Then most likely, the Eagles would travel to Minnesota for the NFC Championship game. But that is "IF" they win out and the Giants lose one game. Hopefully, that one game will be next week when New York takes the Amtrak down to DC for their rematch with the Redskins. WOW, what a season this is becoming....

We all saw Donovan McNabb run 11 times for 125 yards. We watched him run for 26 yards down the sideline to help setup a field goal in the 2nd quarter. We watched him again in the 3rd as he ran a bootleg around Bruce Smith for a 21 yard touchdown run. And we all jumped for excitement as he dashed again on what appeared to be a called QB draw play with less than 4 minutes left and he gained 54 yards down to the 7 yard line. That setup David Akers game winning 30 yard field goal. The Redskin defenders, time and time again desparately tried in vain to contain McNabb and came up with enough air to inflate a giant air balloon. In Fact Donovan McNabb and his 125 yards rushing was an all-time 6th best ever in the NFL in one game. The most ever by an Eagle. He would have had the 3rd best ever if not for 3 kneel downs to seal the deal after "Old Man" Eddie Murray missed the game tying 44 yard FG with just over 1 minute left in the game. McNabb also completed passes to 10 different receivers as he completed 19 for 30 passes and 137 yards, 1 TD & 1 INT. Chad Lewis strengthened his all-pro position as he caught 6 passes for 53 yards. The Eagles offense played a pretty good, mistake-free game other than the one INT which led to a TD and 14-10 Redskin halftime lead. McNabb's counterpart and Redskin's QB Jeff George completed 25 of 43 passes for 288 yards and 2 TD's. Not bad, but he was forced to throw away many other passes because of the Eagles Pass rushers. George could of threw 2-3 INT's if not for all the phantom penalties that the men in stripes continued to throw at the Birds throughout the afternoon.

The Eagles defense led by Jeremiah Trotter stopped Jeff George and company time and time again when it mattered most and against all odds as the refs tried to help the Redskins into first place. The Birds were especially tough in the redzone in the second half not allowing a touchdown and forcing the 'Skins settle for 3 FG attempts, Eddie Murray missed the last and most important one that gave the Eagles a 23-20 win. For all those nay sayers, the Eagles also beat Pittsburgh and New Orleans this year. Philadelphia's only albatross are those New York Giants who beat them twice easily this season. The Eagles control their own destiny except if New York wins out. The Eagles have a real shot at hosting a playoff game for the first time since 1995, when another domed team came to the Vet and was clobbered 58-37. Domed teams are not often too successful when they have to play when the temperature is below 40 degrees. The chance for a football game in January in Philly with a temperature under 30 degrees is about 90% or maybe even higher. Maybe it will be a bitter 10 degrees. Plus we get a week off again as after the Cleveland game, the Eagles get their bye week to rest up for the now 2-11 Bengals. And that is down at the Vet. Let's wait till next week when the AFC Champion Tennessee Titans come to town. If we can pull off a win next week, then 12-4 should be a reality and a chance to advance to NFC Championship game a real possiblity. Who knows, maybe the Lions Rams or Bucs knock off Minnesota in their house while we take care of business against the Saints, then we could be hosting the NFC Championship game down at the Vet. Remember the last one? For those who forget or were too young, it was like 15 degrees and our defense just whipped upon the Dallas Cowboys 20-7. The score could of been 41-7 while Wilbert Montgomery rushed for over 190 yards against the once proud "Doomesday Defense". It is now only a dream, but miracles were born to be achieved. EXAMPLE - the 1999 Super Bowl Champion, St. Louis Rams went from 4-12 to 12-4 and "Champions" of the World....