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Eagles lose McNabb; beat Dolphins

Nov 18, 2007 - 11:48 PM By Vince DiGregorio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - The Philadelphia Eagles survived two scares before securing a victory.

A.J. Feeley came on for the injured Donovan McNabb and engineered two scoring drives in the second half to rally the Eagles past the winless Miami Dolphins, 17-7, on Sunday.

McNabb suffered a right ankle sprain late in the first half after having his leg rolled on by cornerback Michael Lehan while throwing an incompletion.

"In that situation, I was just trying to get the ball out of my hand and throw it out of bounds," McNabb said. "(Lehan) kind of rolled up on it."

McNabb, who limped to the locker room, underwent X-rays which were negative. But he did not return in the second half.

"It's still sore," McNabb said. "I don't think (I could have returned). I knew I was done."

"I didn't know (if MCNabb would return)," Feeley said. "I just kind of figured that until someone told me I was coming out, I was gonna take the reins and run with it."

Without McNabb, the sloppy Eagles were able to avoid losing to the Dolphins, who are the first team to start a season with 10 straight losses since the Detroit Lions went 0-12 to open the 2001 campaign.

"I think sometimes people look at (Miami's) record and and all of a sudden, overlook a team," McNabb said. "We didn't overlook them. They have some good players on the defensive side."

Feeley shook off a first-half interception when he led Philadelphia on a seven-play, 62-yard scoring drive to open the third quarter that culminated in an 8-yard touchdown run by Correll Buckhalter that gave Philadelphia its first lead, 10-7.

"I thought I was getting into rhythm until I threw that first pick," Feeley said. "Then, I had to settle myself down a little bit. I had to be pretty efficient and take care of the football."

The Eagles avoided disaster on the prior play when Feeley was hit attempting to pass and fumbled. But an offsides penalty on the Dolphins nullified the play.

Feeley then threw a 4-yard TD pass to Jason Avant four minutes into the final period to increase the margin to 17-7. The scoring strike capped a 10-play, 77-yard drive.

"Jason is essentially the third read," Feeley said. "We got man coverage. Jason did a good job and made a great catch on the ball. It was a tight window."

Brian Westbrook, who kept the Eagles' fading season alive with a huge game last week at Washington, rushed for a career-high 148 yards on 32 carries. Westbrook had missed practice on Thursday and Friday with a sore knee.

"I thought Brian Westbrook had a great day," Eagles coach Andy Reid said . "It was hard to get him out of the game. He wanted to stay in and carry the football."

The Eagles appeared to score first on their second possession when McNabb took a pitch from Westbrook on a flea-flicker and threw 46 yards to Reggie Brown, but the touchdown was called back when tight end L.J. Smith was flagged for holding.

"It was just a shame because that was a big play," Westbrook said. "I think that was one of those plays that definitely could have broken their back. When you're playing against an 0-9 team, you have to go out and make a big play warly to deflate them."

Later in the drive, McNabb showed his improved mobility when he ran 26 yards down to the Miami 32. But two plays later, McNabb forced a throw that was intercepted at the Miami 7 by Jason Allen.

The Dolphins' offense came to life on the ensuing series when Beck drove them to the Philadelphia 29, but Jay Feely's 47-yard field goal attempt into a strong wind was short.

After Philadelphia went three-and-out, rookie Ted Ginn Jr. took Sav Rocca's punt at his own 13, found a gaping hole and outran everyone to the end zone for an 87-yard touchdown return to give the Dolphins a 7-0 lead with 14:35 left in the second quarter.

"We knew that we could hit them on special teams and that's what we did," Ginn said. "I caught the ball, (Derrick) Pope threw a great block. Then, (it was) off to the races."

McNabb drove the Eagles to the Dolphins 29, but was again intercepted by Allen, this time at the 2. There appeared to be miscommunication on the pass route.

"There was micommunication," McNabb said. "There's no need for me to go into it. It was my fault. Maybe I just should have thrown the ball away."

David Akers connected on a 34-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, bringing the Eagles within 7-3.

Feeley was able to move the Eagles offense when he replaced McNabb, but he too was victimized by a wrong pass route and his throw was picked off by Andre Goodman at the Miami 2-yard line later in the second quarter.

Feeley, who led the Eagles to a 4-1 record late in the 2002 season when McNabb was sidelined with a fractured fibula, completed 13-of-19 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown with an interception.

Prior to leaving, McNabb was awful as he completed 3-of-11 passes for 34 yards and two interceptions.

The Eagles (5-5) put together consecutive wins for the first time this season. Their streak will be tested next Sunday when they visit unbeaten New England.

"At this point, it doesn't really matter who you play, you just have to be ready to play," McNabb said. "What (the Patriots) have done leading up to next week doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what we have done earlier as well. We have to make sure we eliminate the mistakes."

Philadelphia also was able to use a late defensive stand to secure its second home win in five tries this season.

With the Eagles holding a 17-7 lead, the Dolphins had a 1st-and-goal at the Philadelphia 1 with just over eight minutes remaining. But the Eagles held, as Juqua Thomas dropped Jesse Chatman for a 13-yard loss on a pitch on fourth down.

"We needed a touchdown and a field goal and we felt like that was our best opportunity to get a touchdown," Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said. "We felt like (Thomas) being the only guy out there, we could win that matchup and it just didn't happen."

Chatman was one of the few bright spots for the Dolphins, rushing for 72 yards on 22 carries.

Making his first career start, second-round pick John Beck went 9-of-22 for 109 yards without a turnover.

"I really prepared well this week," Beck said. "This whole team really helped me to be ready out there."