Eagles Make a Statement

McNabb's Five TDs Leave Packers a Message: Eagles 47, Packers 17

Nick Barnett and the Packers had a hard time keeping Brian Westbrook out of the end zone as the Eagles running back scored three times before halftime. (Miles Kennedy -- AP)

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 5 -- The Green Bay Packers had been the NFC's hottest team for the past month and a half. But the Philadelphia Eagles flexed their muscles Sunday -- or, rather, quarterback Donovan McNabb flexed his throwing arm -- and reminded everyone who has been the conference's best club all season by a wide margin.

McNabb threw for five touchdowns, all in the first half, and 464 yards on the best passing day of his NFL career as he completely outshone Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre and the Eagles flattened the Packers, 47-17, at Lincoln Financial Field.

"I think we made a statement,'' Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens said. "Green Bay is a great team. They have Brett Favre, Ahman Green. . . . It was a great game for us. We set the tone early.''

The Eagles (11-1) avoided a letdown a week after clinching their fourth straight NFC East title. They have beaten each of their NFC opponents this season by at least 10 points and, with Atlanta's loss, moved two games ahead of the Falcons in the race for home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs. The Packers (7-5) had their six-game winning streak ended but remained tied with the Minnesota Vikings atop the NFC North.

"I can remember back in my younger days, the road [to the Super Bowl] used to go through Dallas,'' Favre said. "If we are fortunate enough to make the playoffs and win a game, maybe we can come back here and give them a better game. If you watched today, we are obviously not on the same level as Philly. But we can be. . . . More than likely, the road will go through here.''

This was to be an intriguing rematch of the teams involved in the memorable playoff game here last season in which the Eagles converted a fourth-and-26 miracle en route to a tying field goal at the end of regulation and an overtime win. It shaped up as a possible NFC championship game preview, the way the Packers had been playing recently. Instead, McNabb made the day a personal showcase for his bid for the NFL most valuable player award, completing 32 of 43 passes before giving way to backup Koy Detmer with a little more than eight minutes to play.

He set an Eagles' single-game record for passing yards, and his completions and touchdown passes also were career highs. He completed his first 14 passes and 17 of his initial 18 throws. He connected on 24 of 28 passes for 303 yards and five touchdowns in the first half alone, as the Eagles scored four touchdowns in the second quarter and sprinted to a 35-0 lead. Tailback Brian Westbrook had three touchdown catches. Westbrook finished with 156 receiving yards, and Owens had 161. Owens set club records with his seventh 100-yard receiving game of the season and his 14th touchdown catch of the year.

"Sometimes you just go through games when you're in a groove and you just hope the next play called is a pass," McNabb said. "We were clicking on all cylinders. Everyone contributed. It was one of those games where you want to send a message, and we sent a message that we come to play every week.''

McNabb padded his statistics in the second half with long completions to Owens and Westbrook, but the Eagles had to settle for four field goals by David Akers after the intermission. They pushed their lead to 47-3 before reserve quarterback Craig Nall threw a pair of cosmetic touchdown passes for Green Bay. Favre was replaced by Nall with 11 minutes to go after a 14-for-29, 131-yard, two-interception passing day. He had his streak of games with at least one touchdown pass ended at 36 -- 11 shy of Johnny Unitas's NFL record.

"If I'd thrown a touchdown and we'd lost by 40, I don't think I'd be quietly high-fiving anyone," Favre said.

McNabb lost a fumble to end Philadelphia's first drive. But Favre gave the ball right back with his first interception, this one by Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, and McNabb went to work.

He began with a 41-yard scoring pass to his usual favorite target, Owens. McNabb moved to his left and set his feet before delivering a strike to Owens as the receiver cut across the middle. Owens made the catch and maneuvered around safety Mark Roman on his way to the end zone.

The Eagles went three plays and out the next time they had the ball, and Green Bay moved to a first down at the Philadelphia 10-yard line. But a false-start penalty set back the Packers, and Favre threw into tight coverage again. Cornerback Sheldon Brown made a juggling interception for the Eagles and, although the ball appeared to hit the ground, the Packers failed to issue an instant-replay challenge.

The Eagles followed with their longest drive of the season -- 93 yards -- for a two-touchdown cushion. On third and five from the Packers 9, McNabb rolled to his right and then threw the ball back to his left on a screen pass to Westbrook, who weaved his way into the end zone.

McNabb and Westbrook teamed again for the Eagles' third touchdown. The Packers crowded the line of scrimmage on a third-and-one play from the Green Bay 41, and fell for a play-action fake by McNabb. Westbrook got behind Roman easily along the right sideline, and hauled in McNabb's well-placed lob for a 21-0 advantage.

A pass-interference penalty on Packers rookie cornerback Ahmad Carroll set up McNabb's six-yard scoring toss to tight end L. J. Smith, and a 40-yard punt return by Dexter Wynn led to a 12-yard touchdown connection from McNabb to Westbrook.

"I thought the guys were focused in," Eagles Coach Andy Reid said. "They came out ready to roll. And they had every reason not to, after last week."