Bucs Coming to Town

The Philadelphia Eagles will be right at home when the playoffs begin, thanks to their superb turnaround and a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Donovan McNabb completed 23 of 40 passes for 198 yards and one touchdown as the Eagles beat the Bengals 16-7 on Sunday. When Green Bay beat Tampa Bay, it assured that next week`s wild-card game with the Buccaneeers would be in Philadelphia.

After winning just eight games combined over the last two seasons, the Eagles went 11-5 despite losing star running back Duce Staley in Week 5. It will be Philadelphia`s first playoff appearance in four years.

Cincinnati (4-12) completed its 10th straight losing season, and has the NFL`s worst record in that span, 47-113. But coach Dick LeBeau, who took over Sept. 25 after Bruce Coslet quit, received a new contract earlier in the week.

Star running back Corey Dillon might not return next year, however. Dillon, who finished with a team-record 1,435 yards rushing, is a free agent. He had 39 yards on 16 carries against the Eagles.

One play after Bobby Taylor recovered a fumble by Danny Farmer, McNabb hit Charles Johnson on a 39-yard TD pass for a 10-0 second-quarter lead . David Akers made it 13-0 on a 45-yard FG with 1:06 left in the first half. He missed a 41-yarder wide right late in the fourth, ending a string of 11 straight successful kicks.

The Eagles were hurt by four turnovers, including two fumbles by Chris Warren. Warren, signed Dec. 7 after being waived by Dallas, had 42 yards rushing on 15 carries.

Cincinnati cut it to 13-7 on a 17-yard TD pass from Scott Mitchell to Peter Warrick with 3:12 left. But the Eagles recovered an onside kick, and Akers kicked a 33-yard FG to ice it with 1:48 left.

Akers gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead on a 32-yard field goal in the first period. Philadelphia needed 18 plays to drive 61 yards. A 5-yard TD pass from McNabb to Torrance Small was negated by a pass interference on Small.

Warren, signed to improve a struggling rushing attack, fumbled inside Philadelphia`s 20 late in the third quarter, but the Bengals couldn`t capitalize as Neil Rackers hit the goalpost on a 31-yard field goal.

Warren again fumbled at Cincinnati`s 5 midway through the fourth quarter.

Courtesy Assoicated press. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2000.

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Author: AP