Donovan McNabb Comes Up Shaky in the Big Game

MSNBC ^ | 1:20 AM Feb. 7, 2005 | Associated Press

[gopwinsin04]

It looked like Donovan McNabb saved his jitters for the Super Bowl. McNabb spent the week telling jokes, being loose and insisting that he felt no pressure leading the Philidelphia Eagles versus the New England Patriots.

But the five time pro bowl QB had a shaky performance in the most important game of his career Sunday, a 24-21 loss to the Patriots. McNabb turned the ball over three times, including crucial interceptions in the first and fourth quarters.

McNabb misfired on several passes early, held the ball too long in other instance and made several poor decisions. One of the best scramblers in the National Football League, McNabb had zero yards rushing on just one carry.

McNabb rebounded from his rough start with a strong second quarter, finally leading the Eagles into the end zone after sqandering several scoring opportunities. But he made a critical error midway through the 4th quarter right after the Pats took at 24-14 lead.

After he connected with Terell Owens on a 36 yard pass, McNabb badly underthrew his reciever Smith on the next play and was intercepted by linebacker Tedy Bruschi.

McNabb had the best season of his six year career, leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl for the first time in 24 years after three consecutive losses in the NFC title game. But McNabb couldn't deliver the Eagles first championship since 1960.

[Richard Kimball]

I was wondering about Bruschi as MVP. Two INTs, a sack that was almost a fumble, and a LOT of solid play in the middle.

“This game could’ve been a blowout,” McNabb said. “You take away those interceptions and we could’ve been up two touchdowns early.”

He's starting to sound like Kerry.

[Popman]

The last four minutes of the game exposed what a fraud McNabb is.

No two minute offense, time management that looked like union rules, no fire, no passion, no guts,

T.O. was the real player of the Eagles. He's a punk, but a gutsy one at that

[Aquinasfan]

Maybe McNabb is overrated.

That's what I'm thinking. He's a great scrambler. He can throw short passes. But anything deep, forget it. His passes float. 15 yards seems to be the extent of his range.

[lugsoul]

Racist. </sarcasm, of course>

[Russ]

The official motto of Philadelphia: Wait'll Next Year!"

[fish hawk]

Looks like Rush lost his job (as football analyst)to PC but time rings in his truth.

[gopwinsin04]

Reid may have been trying to swith the game plan up on New England.

Everyone in the place thought that McNabb would try and scramble for yards.

[Drango]

McNabb did well. Perfect? No, but he had a good season and the Pats are a tough team. He did well.

[BlackRazor]

I always ask - will McNabb be a Joe Montana, John Elway or a Joe Namath?

Of course, Elway wasn't considered a winner, either, until the last two years of his career.

[gopwinsin04]

They should have let TO throw some passes! He's done it before during the season..

[Cagey]

I saw TO screaming at McNabb to 'relax' after that bad 4th quarter INT..

I saw that also. I do have to say I enjoyed the game just for the fact there was a game until the very end. McNabb threw some great passes at times, but he felt the pressure of the big game. I'm a Giants fan and should never want the Eagles to win, ever! However, I did lose a bet in yesterdays game and by admitting that on a public forum my penance is complete, almost.

[zarf]

McNabb is good, but his mental toughness is in question. At this level and in these situations it's a head game. You could feel the weight on McNabbs shoulders and he was making lousy decisions.

The greats are unflappable. Montana, Staubach and now Brady were and are unflappable.

These guys instill fear into an opponent especially when the chips are down.

[Redleg Duke]

There you go again...being racist!

[Holicheese]

Did Rodney put a big hit on McNabb when he was scrambling. I was surprised that McNabb was not a little shaken up.

[bvw]

Look I agree McNabb didn't have his best game and didn't look on top of his usual form. Yet there were two things beyond his control that would have hampered anyone -- one was that some significant Eagle players had the flu, were coming down with it or were not quite recovered from it. How else to explain all the cramps? The Eagles have excellent physical conditioning and training, the weather in J-ville was great -- so why the cramps? The flu. We heard that there were a few cases written up -- I suspect there were more. Maybe most of the team.

The second was the TO factor. TO played superbly and with great gusto and heart. Yet he hadn't played for many many games and the team hadn't adjusted to having him. It was a factor in not getting much of a ground game or offensive synchronicity going. I suspect it was a big factor.

[Teacher317]

Surprise stat of the game:

Third Down Efficiency: NE 4-12 PHI 9-16

[ElectricStrawberry]

I think it was Rodney that hit Nabb in the thigh on a scramble....took his legs right out....probably gave him a three-week bruise.

[Callahan]

Criticizing McNabb isn't racist. Saying that McNabb is over-promoted because he is black (not because he's a flashy player with a genial personality and spotless off-the-field reputation) like Rush did is just plain stupid.

Rush is a moron when it comes to football. It's pathetic how he roots for the Steelers when his entire family is from Missouri. And Patriots "fans," if there are any real ones in Boston and not just a bunch of lapsed baseballers and bandwagon jumpers, must have made some sort of deal with Satan.

Can you tell I'm a bitter Philly fan?