McNabb Runs Past Redskins

The first-place Philadelphia Eagles are no mirage. Not as long as Donovan McNabb can run.

McNabb rushed for 125 yards, including a 21-yard bootleg touchdown and a 54-yard scramble that set up the winning field goal, as the Eagles beat the Washington Redskins 23-20 Sunday.

The victory kept the Eagles on pace for their first division title in 12 years, a season after they finished last in the NFC East. The Redskins, losing for the third time in four games, played without top running back Stephen Davis and lost top receiver Albert Connell to a sprained knee in the second quarter.

Eddie Murray tied the game 20-20 with a 20-yard field goal with 5:42 remaining, but McNabb outran linebacker Shawn Barber for 54-yard scramble on third-and-10 on the next possession to move the ball to the Redskins 7. Four plays later, David Akers kicked his third field goal, a 30-yarder, to put the Eagles (9-4) back in front.

Murray had a chance to send the game into overtime with about a minute left, but the 44-year-old kicker`s attempt was short and wide right from 44 yards against the wind.

Davis, who has 1,073 yards, was placed on the inactive list just before kickoff with a hairline fracture in his right forearm suffered during last week`s game at St. Louis. In his absence, the Redskins (7-5) couldn`t put the ball in the end zone with a first-and-goal at the 1 in the fourth quarter.

Skip Hicks carried twice and couldn`t get in. Jeff George, making his third start for Brad Johnson, threw incomplete on third down, leaving Murray to kick the short field goal.

McNabb gave the Eagles a 17-14 lead in the third quarter on a 21-yard bootleg. He outran Bruce Smith, juked Mark Carrier and dragged Matt Stevens 3 yards into the end zone, one play after George lost a fumble on the snap at Washington`s 20.

Murray tied it with a 26-yard field goal, but Akers restored the three-point lead with a 27-yarder after both defenses held firm on first-and-goal situations.

The Redskins led 14-10 at halftime. Washington scored on the opening drive of the game despite punting the ball. A rare defensive delay of game penalty on Philadelphia`s Damon Moore for simulating the snap count negated the punt and gave the Redskins a first down.

Two plays later, George threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to James Thrash, who was open because he pushed Moore in the back just before the ball arrived. Such no-calls cannot be reversed by instant replay, but Eagles coach Andy Reid wasted a timeout asking the referee about it anyway.

The Eagles tied it a 7-7 after Thrash muffed a punt, and Mike Sellers had the ball stolen from him by Mike Bartrum at the bottom of the pile, giving Philadelphia the ball at the 11 Two plays later, McNabb threw a 3-yard TD pass to Jeff Thomason.

Akers` 27-yard field goal made it 10-7. The Redskins then retook the lead after downing a punt at the 1. McNabb, hurrying from his own end zone, was intercepted by Champ Bailey on the next play. Three plays later, George threw a 19-yard TD pass to Stephen Alexander.

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

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Author: AP