Field Of Philly`s Dreams?

Mention Donovan McNabb, and the New York Giants call him the NFL`s Michael Jordan. The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback is that good. He seemingly can take over a game and win it by himself.

McNabb did it last week in the NFC wildcard game against Tampa Bay, and the Giants (12-4) are worried he`ll do it again when the Eagles (12-5) visit Giants Stadium on Sunday in the NFC semifinal.

Or are they?

"You look at Michael Jordan, and he was Chicago," said Giants Pro Bowl linebacker Jessie Armstead. "But he couldn`t win it all early in his career.

"So is this the younger Michael Jordan, or the older Michael Jordan? That`s one thing we all have to find out."

While McNabb finished second in the MVP balloting this season, he looked very much like a second-year quarterback _ and a young M.J. _ in two one-sided losses in which the Giants controlled the ball for 83 of a possible 120 minutes.

McNabb completed 29 of 64 passes for 343 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed eight times for 87 yards and a TD. Much of the yardage came in garbage time in games the Giants won 33-18 and 24-7.

"He reminds me of a John Elway before they had a running game," Giants middle linebacker Mike Barrow said. "He`s like Jordan before they got Scottie Pippen. But unlike basketball, this is more of a team sport."

McNabb insisted the Eagles are a better team than the one the Giants last faced in late October. He also said his team didn`t play that well in either game.

"It wasn`t them," McNabb said. "We`ve prepared well all throughout the week, and we just didn`t take advantage of the opportunities that they were giving us. On the offensive side, there were times where we could have definitely completed some balls, we could`ve ran the ball a little bit better, or whatever it may be, we just didn`t do it."

New York did it on both sides of the ball. The offense kept McNabb and company on the sidelines and the defense made the Eagles one dimensional, limiting them to 128 yards rushing in two games, most of it coming with McNabb on the run.

A big reason for the success was the discipline of its defensive front seven. The group did a great job of keeping McNabb encircled. When he did break the containment, there was an assigned defender waiting for him.

"They used a spy, and that`s something that I learned (to live) with," McNabb said. "The only way that you get a chance to learn is to be involved in it. I`m excited about this opportunity. I`m excited about this game. We have been waiting for this game for a while and now it`s time to strap it on and play."

Armstead feels the same way. "We`re only concerned about ourselves," Armstead said. "If we play like we`re supposed to, we`re not worried about anybody. If we go out there and play the defensive style we play, we don`t care who is out on that field." Even if it is the Michael Jordan of the NFL.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: AP