Resurgent McNabb leads Eagles to win over Saints

NEW ORLEANS -- If Donovan McNabb keeps playing like this, those fickle Philly fans who have been calling for rookie Kevin Kolb may have to wait.

Running, throwing, and sometimes throwing on the run, McNabb accounted for 300 total yards and tossed 3 touchdown passes, leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a 38-23 victory Sunday that dealt a devastating blow to a New Orleans squad still clinging to playoff hopes.

"A lot of people ask a lot of questions about Donovan," said Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, who gained 100 yards on 17 carries. "I've said all along, it's going to take a full year for him to recover and be totally back. You see the way he's running the ball down the field. He's rounding back into being his old self and these last two weeks are proof of that."

The Eagles (7-8) have won two straight, building on their upset of the Cowboys in Dallas a week earlier. Their triumph snapped a two-game winning streak for the Saints (7-8), who are still alive after the Washington Redskins defeated Minnesota Sunday night.

McNabb, whose 263 yards passing gave him more than 25,000 for his career, no longer showed the effects of his rehabilitation from knee surgery over the summer or an ankle sprain in midseason.

His 40-yard scramble on the third play led to a bizarre touchdown after his fumble was recovered in the end zone by receiver Kevin Curtis. McNabb also used his scrambling ability to neutralize the Saints' pass rush and give his receivers more time to get open.

"I think teams now see the progression of me coming off the injury and seeing I'm getting my mobility back," McNabb said. "I'm definitely feeling better and being able to get opportunities for guys by holding the ball a little bit longer."

Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw for 289 yards and a touchdown, but lost his best receiver when Marques Colston left the game in the first half with a chest contusion that had him spitting up blood.

Still, the Saints, who will face the Bears in Sunday's season finale at Soldier Field, were in position to tie the game at 21 on the opening drive of the second half when David Patten nearly scored on a short first-down pass.

Coach Sean Payton thought Patten had crossed the goal line and challenged the ruling, but the call was upheld, setting up second-and-goal from the 1. The Eagles stuffed New Orleans on three straight running plays to preserve their one-touchdown lead, taking over possession at their own 2.

"Second and goal from the 4-inch line? You should be able to put that one in," Brees said. "We had pounded in there two other times previously and why not again right there?" Brees said. "That was a huge turning point in the game. We score there, we tie it up, and I think it would have been a different ballgame."