McNabb undefeated at Soldier Field

Remember the day that was billed as one of the most momentous in Chicago sports history - January 19, 2002?

It began with Michael Jordan's first appearance at the United Center as a visiting player and ended with a Bears home playoff game against Philadelphia.

From a Chicago perspective, it was a huge dud. The basketball game was horribly ugly and the Bears lost to the Eagles 33-19. Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb capped off his hometown victory by spiking the ball over the crossbar after scoring the clinching TD.

Now at 31 and in his 10th season as the Eagles' starting quarterback, McNabb relates better to the story line of an aging veteran returning home. The Eagles (2-1) face the Bears on Sunday night at Soldier Field.

"I think I can (still dunk over the goal post), but I don't think I will try," McNabb said during a conference call with Chicago reporters. "I'm kind of at the point where Michael Jordan went to the Wizards. If he got a dunk, that was like a beautiful thing. So I don't think I will get up there and try."

McNabb downplayed the fact that he's undefeated at Soldier Field. He's beaten the Bears there two times and quarterbacked Mt. Carmel High School to a Prep Bowl victory over Bogan in 1993.

But McNabb didn't refute the impression that Philadelphia is once again on the rise after missing the playoffs in two of three seasons after losing Super Bowl XXXIX to New England. The Eagles are coming off an impressive 15-6 win over Pittsburgh last Sunday.

"I think we're emerging," he said. "This team, each week we're progressing. We're still a young team. We're a team that's obviously trying to form our identity."

Through three games, the Eagles are tied for third in the NFL in passing yards and may be forced to keep putting the ball in the air. Running back Brian Westbrook's status for Sunday is in question because of an ankle injury suffered last week.

McNabb himself left the Pittsburgh game briefly with a chest contusion, but joked Wednesday that he's ready to match the 67 passes Tampa Bay's Brian Griese threw last week against the Bears.

"Absolutely," he said. "I'm going to go for 70, 75."

Philadelphia coach Andy Reid attributed McNabb's success this season to being completely healthy heading into training camp.

"He didn't spend the off-season rehabbing," Reid said. "He came to camp ready to go and didn't have to answer a lot of questions on how he feels and all that stuff this time. I think mentally and physically, he's in a great place."

On the defensive side, the Eagles got roughed up in a 41-37 loss at Dallas two weeks ago, but came back to pile up 9 sacks against the Steelers. The Eagles also lead the league in rushing defense.

The Bears lead the league in missed opportunities after blowing fourth-quarter leads against Carolina and Tampa Bay the past two weeks. McNabb resorted to more comedy when asked if the Eagles would try to goad the Bears into another costly personal foul penalty this week.

"Yeah, I know a couple bios on a couple players," McNabb said. "I can talk about (Brian) Urlacher, he can't grow any more hair. Tommie Harris shaves his head with a butter knife and he eats fattening foods after 12 o'clock. I don't know.

"I think that's kind of like old school, trying to bait people into doing different things. We just play football and have fun doing it."