QB McNabb earns redemption with win over Giants

Jan 12, 2009 - 6:35 PM By Bob Birge PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

Funny how things can change in the wacky world of the NFL.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb reached perhaps the nadir of his 10-year career when he was benched at halftime of a 36-7 Week 12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

To make matters worse, the benching came just a week after a 13-13 tie at Cincinnati, when the veteran signal-caller was excoriated for not knowing that regular-season games can end in a draw.

At 5-5-1, the Eagles' season seemed to be spinning out of control and McNabb's future in Philadelphia seemed bleak.

In an odd kind of way, however, the benching may have been the best thing that could have happened to McNabb and the Eagles.

"I think this team has shown that we're strong mentally and physically at being able to get the job done when our backs are up against the wall," McNabb said Sunday after the Eagles' 23-11 divisional playoff victory over the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants on Sunday.

NcNabb has been through numerous ups and downs during his decade in Philadelphia. To many observers, however, the benching in Baltimore was the last straw, a signal that it was time for him to move on to another team.

After beating the Giants, however, it's difficult to imagine that McNabb won't be back in Philadelphia next season.

"He's been asked to carry this team and he's been doing a great job," Eagles running back Brian Westbrook said. "He's been helping his other teammates, including me, to stay focused and stay on the task. You ask a leader to do that."

Another funny thing - following Sunday's game, Philadelphia coach Andy Reid couldn't praise McNabb enough.

"He's one of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League," said Reid, who was singing a different tune when he sent McNabb to the bench in Baltimore on November 23.

In fairness to Reid, though, McNabb had committed seven turnovers in his previous seven quarters.

But backup Kevin Kolb got nothing done in the second half against the Ravens. McNabb was back in as the starter the following week against Arizona - the Eagles' opponent in next week's NFC championship - and has been on a roll ever since, winning six of his last seven games.

"We've got another week of work," McNabb said. "I guess for old guys and guys who really don't want to see us anymore, they'll be watching another week."

Even if he wins a Super Bowl, McNabb likely won't win over all Eagles' fans, who have maintained a strange love-hate relationship with him since he entered the NFL out of Syracuse in 1999.

But surely he has redeemed himself. Next week, he will be participating in his fifth NFC championship game in 10 seasons. He is 1-3 in the previous four.

McNabb talked about the Eagles' veteran core - safety Brian Dawkins and offensive tackles Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas.

"It's an exciting time for all of us," McNabb said. " It's 10 years for me, 13 for Dawk, it'll be 13 for Runyan, 11 for Tra. This is something that is storybook.

"You've been to now five NFC championships in 10 years for me. That kind of shows the trust and the coaching that we have with Andy."

The Eagles now fancy themselves as this season's version of last year's Giants - not the best team throughout the season, but the best team at the right time.

"Like everyone always says, if you get hot at the right time, you are going to be dangerous in the playoffs," Westbrook said.

With Baltimore and Pittsburgh meeting in the AFC title game, it would be a delicious irony if McNabb got another chance to face the Ravens in the Super Bowl.