PHILADELPHIA – The Giants had best beware. The Eagles aren’t planning to be one of those teams that wait until the final weeks of the regular season to earn a spot in the playoffs. As far as they’re concerned, there’s no time like the present to turn the NFC East into a green-and-white romp.
“You don’t want to be there with three weeks left in the season and battling for the division,” said Eagles OT Jon Runyan. “You want to have the division locked up and playing for home-field advantage is our goal.”
That looks like a good possibility if the Eagles can build on their impressive 20-10 victory over the Bucs yesterday at the Vet. Tampa Bay came into the game with a five-game winning streak, the league’s top-rated defense and no touchdowns allowed in its previous three games. But Donovan McNabb ran for one TD, threw for another and David Akers kicked two field goals as the Eagles improved to 4-2.
They beat the Bucs (5-2) at their own game. The Eagles defense held Tampa to just 207 total yards and no touchdowns. The Bucs’ points came off a fumble return for a touchdown by linebacker Derrick Brooks and a 48-yard field goal by Martin Gramatica. The Eagles’ offense (269 yards) was more opportunistic, turning two Bucs turnovers into 10 points, and more persistent, with Duce Staley rushing for 152 yards on 24 carries.
“They were licking their chops to play us,” said CB Bobby Taylor. “Well they got all they wanted and a lot more.”
This was considered one of those springboard games that could send the winner on a run and leave the loser vulnerable. The Bucs also had revenge as a motive after being eliminated by the Eagles in the wild-card round the last two seasons.
Turnovers set up the game’s early scoring. A fumble by FB Mike Alstott on the Bucs’ second offensive play of the game was recovered by LB Barry Gardner at the Tampa 14. That led to a 30-yard field goal by Akers to put the Eagles ahead 3-0.
The Bucs cashed in a turnover when Brooks scooped up a fumble by McNabb and returned it 11 yards for a touchdown at 5:39 of the first quarter. But the Eagles were able to claim a 10-7 lead late in the second quarter when McNabb (12 of 25 for 127 yards) found WR Todd Pinkston streaking down the right sideline for a 42-yard touchdown pass.
The teams traded field goals and although they trailed 13-10, the Bucs thought they had momentum. But a sideline pass by quarterback Brad Johnson was intercepted when Eagles defensive back Al Harris stepped in front of Keyshawn Johnson at the Bucs 42. McNabb took full advantage, ending a short drive with a 1-yard TD run around right end to close the scoring.
“We feel we can get better,” said LB Levon Kirkland. The Giants had best beware.