Eagles knock Pack for a loop
PHILADELPHIA — Donovan McNabb usually puts up these numbers playing video games.
McNabb threw a career-high five touchdown passes in the first half and finished with a team-record 464 yards passing, leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a 47-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Brian Westbrook had 11 catches for 156 yards and three TDs and Terrell Owens caught eight passes for 161 yards and one score. McNabb set a team record by completing his first 14 passes and finished 32 of 43.
“Statistically, it felt like playing a video game,” McNabb said. “We were clicking on all cylinders. We spread the ball around. Everyone contributed. We sent that message out that week in and week out we come ready to play.”
Meanwhile, Brett Favre threw two interceptions that led to Philadelphia’s first two scores. His streak of games with a TD pass was snapped at 36, second in NFL history to Johnny Unitas’ 47 straight.
The four-time NFC East champion Eagles (11-1) matched the best start in team history. They have won nine games by a double-digit margin and hold a two-game lead over Atlanta for first place in the conference.
Since losing to Pittsburgh 27-3 last month, the Eagles have won four in a row by at least 20 points, outscoring their opponents 151-50.
“I don’t think there’s any defense that can stop us,” Westbrook said. “We can only stop ourselves with penalties and mistakes.”
The Packers (7-5) snapped a six-game winning streak, but remained tied with Minnesota for first place in the NFC North.
“We can throw this one in the recycle bin,” Favre said. “We didn’t play very well. We didn’t give much of an effort.”
A rematch of a thrilling playoff game 11 months ago, this one never lived up to its hype. The Eagles scored four TDs in the second quarter, led 35-3 at halftime and rested most of their starters with 8:18 left.
The Packers were 72 seconds away from going to the NFC championship game last January, before the Eagles converted a fourth-and-26, tied the game in regulation and won in overtime. Philadelphia then lost the NFC title game for the third straight year, while Green Bay fired its defensive coordinator and agonized over the loss throughout the offseason.
For one quarter, this game was competitive.
McNabb lost a fumble inside Green Bay’s 25 on Philadelphia’s opening possession, but Favre was intercepted by Brian Dawkins on the ensuing drive.
Three plays later, McNabb and Owens connected on a 41-yard catch-and-run TD. Owens caught the ball at the 26, streaked down the left sideline, broke one tackle and leaped into the end zone for his 14th touchdown, breaking the team’s single-season record.
“I just thank God for Donovan. It’s special. I can’t put into words what he means to me,” Owens said.
Favre drove the Packers to Philadelphia’s 15 early in the second quarter, but was intercepted by Sheldon Brown at the 7.