Eagles Jolt Chargers

The Philadelphia Eagles didn't let down this time. Donovan McNabb passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns, and Brian Dawkins returned a fumble 49 yards for a TD, leading the Eagles to a 24-14 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

Doug Flutie threw for 307 yards and two TDs against the NFL's top-ranked pass defense, but couldn't prevent San Diego from losing its sixth consecutive game after opening 5-2.

The NFC East-leading Eagles (8-4) won their second straight, fifth of six and improved to just 3-4 at Veterans Stadium.

On two previous occasions this season, Philadelphia lost games at home against teams it should've beaten. Arizona, a 13-point underdog, defeated the Eagles 21-20 on Oct. 7, and Washington, a touchdown underdog, beat them 13-3 two weeks ago.

Philadelphia let the Chargers hang around until the fourth quarter, but never trailed.

McNabb's 1-yard TD pass to Chad Lewis gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead 4:11 into the game. It was the first time this season Philadelphia scored on its opening possession.

McNabb was 4-of-5 for 66 yards on the drive, including completions of 28 yards to Duce Staley and 31 to James Thrash.

Dawkins made it 14-7 later in the first quarter when he scooped up a fumble by LaDanian Tomlinson and ran untouched into the end zone.

On third-and-1 at Philadelphia's 38, Flutie pitched the ball to Tomlinson, who ran wide and lost the ball despite not getting hit.

A fumble by Flutie midway through the fourth quarter also cost the Chargers. On third-and-3 at Philadelphia's 13, Flutie appeared to run for a first down when Dawkins punched the ball out of his hands and Hollis Thomas recovered.

David Akers kicked a 37-yard field goal minutes later to give the Eagles a 24-14 lead. It was Akers' team-record 14th straight field goal, breaking his own mark set last year.

The Chargers tied it at 7 on a 61-yard TD pass from Flutie to Jeff Graham midway through the first quarter. Graham made an acrobatic catch, reaching over cornerback Troy Vincent's shoulders, tipping the ball to himself before Dawkins converged and running untouched the last 40 yards.

McNabb's 8-yard TD pass to Staley gave the Eagles a 21-7 lead with 2:01 left in the first half.

McNabb began the drive by hitting Staley on a 37-yard screen pass. He threw a 24-yarder to Thrash on fourth-and-1 before Staley made a one-handed catch on a fade pass for a TD.

But Flutie led the Chargers 71 yards in 56 seconds, completing a 10-yard TD pass to Graham that cut it to 21-14 before halftime.

Chargers kicker Steve Christie hit the right upright on a 34-yard field goal that would have cut the deficit to 14-10 in the second. He was wide left on a 37-yarder with 1:57 left.

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

Article continues below

---

advertisement

---

Author: 6 - ABC, Action News