Eagles Rout Cards

The Philadelphia Eagles talked about improving, about possibly competing for the playoffs. No one could`ve imagined first place.

After winning only eight games over the past two years, the Eagles have gone from worst to first -- for one week at least.

Philadelphia (8-4) is one-half game ahead of the New York Giants (7-4), who lost to the Detroit Lions 31-21.

"To be in this position is something special, something we all worked for," McNabb said. "A lot of people never expected us to be in this position. The sky is the limit for us. If we can continue to improve, big things are going to happen."

McNabb completed 25-of-34 and Darnell Autry ran for 59 yards, including a touchdown, to back a dominating performance by the defense.

Philadelphia had eight sacks, and twice knocked Jake Plummer out of the game. Plummer did not return after leaving early in the fourth quarter with bruised ribs and an injured left thumb.

"We had to get pressure on him. We didn`t want him to get hot," said safety Brian Dawkins, who had two sacks.

Arizona (3-8) took an early 3-0 lead on a 42-yard field goal by Cary Blanchard that hit the crossbar and just bounced over. But the Cardinals couldn`t generate much offensively the rest of the game.

"They played better defense than we played offense," Arizona coach Dave McGinnis said. "You have to be able to protect your quarterback. You have to be able to move the football down the field."

Philadelphia overcame two costly turnovers deep in Cardinals territory, including an interception against McNabb and a fumble by Cecil Martin at the 3.

After David Akers tied it 3-3 with a 37-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, the Eagles took the lead for good as their two-minute offense scored again.

McNabb, who led Philadelphia to game-tying field goals in the final seconds of the previous two games, threw a 1-yard TD pass to Jeff Thomason with 19 seconds left in the first half, making it 10-3. A 33-yard pass interference penalty on Corey Chavous set up the touchdown.

"McNabb played well, a lot of parts of his game were on," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "He threw to 10 different receivers, he worked well against the blitz, ran the ball and showed his want to get it in the end zone."

Philadelphia took control with a long scoring drive to open the second half. McNabb`s 7-yard TD run made it 17-3, and capped a 15-play, 65-yard drive that consumed 8:32.

McNabb scrambled nearly 25 yards to get the touchdown, lowering his shoulder and breaking a tackle for the final 2 yards.

He threw an air ball as he tried to celebrate the touchdown by shooting the football -- free-throw style -- over the goal post.

"It was very windy out there," McNabb joked. "I have to blame something."

The Eagles needed overtime to beat the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers the past two weeks. Philadelphia, which hadn`t won its eighth game this early in the season since 1995, is seeking its first playoff berth in four years.

"We don`t care about (first place) right now," Reid said. "We care about it at the end of the season."

Akers kicked a 46-yard field goal, Mike Caldwell returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown, and Autry had a 1-yard TD run in the fourth.

Dave Brown, subbing for Plummer, threw a 44-yard TD pass to David Boston to make it 27-9.

"There`s a whole lot of blame to throw on everybody right now and we just have to take it like men and move on," Brown said.

Game notes
Simeon Rice had a career-high three sacks against McNabb, his former high school teammate. All the sacks came in the first half. ... McGinnis was irate at LB Ray Thompson`s personal foul penalty late in the fourth. "I will not tolerate that on this football team," he said. ... Eagles DT Corey Simon had 1 sacks. He entered the game leading all rookies with seven sacks. ... Philadelphia has won three straight for the first time since 1996. ... McNabb completed just one of his passes to a wide receiver.

(Courtesy Associated Press. All Rights reserced. Copyright 2000.)

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Author: AP