Joe Montana, John Elway, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady and Trent Dilfer.
Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Fran Tarkenton, Jake Delhomme and Rich Gannon.
Which group will Donovan McNabb going to belong to? He already belongs to the second group.
Many say he likely will remain in the second, that is a group of NFL quarterbacks to play in, but never win a Super Bowl. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb played in Super Bowl XXXIX, a 24-21 loss to the New England Patriots in 2005.
This year, McNabb is leading a unlikely Philadelphia Eagles team to the brink of his second Super Bowl appearance, thanks to a 23-11 second round victory over the defending Super Bowl champions New York Giants.
The Eagles will play the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday for the NFC championship, the fifth trip to championship game under the 10-year Donovan McNabb/Andy Reid era.
It is amazing for the fact that McNabb and Reid were ready to be run out of town after a 36-7 drumming by the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 23. The loss left the Eagles at 5-5-1, with little hope of making the playoffs. Furthermore, McNabb was benched at halftime.
What did McNabb and the Eagles do after that loss? They finished the season 9-6-1, going 4-1 down the stretch. On the last day of the regular season, an improbable loss by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, authored by the lowly Oakland Raiders and the Bears loss to the Texans, followed by the 44-6 Eagles win over Dallas, put the Eagles in the playoffs.
And they have not taken the opportunity lightly.
The Eagles beat the Minnesota Vikings in the first round, 26-14. Then the Eagles, the number six seed in the NFC, topped the number one seed, the New York Giants, 23-11. It happened twice in the AFC, but never in the NFC.
The Eagles defense has given up an average of just below 11 points in the last five weeks.
But what about McNabb? Since the loss to the Ravens and the benching, he has been loose, having fun, smiling on the field and playing great. Late in Sunday’s game, McNabb went out of bounds during a run and picked up the phone on the Giants bench as he jogged to slow down.
If you are a fan of McNabb, you loved it. It cost the Eagles 15 yards but so what? The NFL is crazy these days over celebratory events, and if you don’t think so, ask Billy “White Shoes” Johnson or Ickey Woods what they think.
McNabb finished the day with 22-for-40, 217 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also had a rushing touchdown.
I contend that he had a fine game. He kept the offense moving, eating up the clock once the team took an eight-point lead early in the fourth quarter.
Who had a better day among the winning second-round playoffs quarterbacks? Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger was 17 of 26 passes for 181 yards and one touchdown pass in a 35-24 win over San Diego; Joe Flacco was 11 for 22 for 161 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in a 13-10 Ravens win over Tennessee; and Kurt Warner was 21 for 32, for 220 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a 33-13 victory over Carolina.
Warner probably had the best day, but McNabb was not far behind.
At this point in the playoffs, it more about the defense and quarterbacks are caretakers of the ball, doing just enough to win.
Want evidence? The Arizona defense intercepted Carolina QB Jake Delhomme five times on Saturday.
In my opinion, the AFC has the better teams. Pittsburgh or Baltimore would be fine Super Bowl representatives and most certainly will be the favorite among odds makers in Las Vegas, whether the Eagles or Cardinals make it to the Super Bowl.
But there is one NFL player who think he knows who will win the Super Bowl.
"I think they just beat the only team that had a chance to beat 'em," said the Giants star running back Brandon Jacobs after losing to the Eagles.
Whenever the Philly fans base, the national media and non-Eagles fans doubt the Philly team, they pull together and “Just Win, Baby.”
Want proof in another sport? Take the “y” off of Philly and replace it with an “ies.”
And Donovan McNabb should be in the lead float in the parade down Broad Street in early February, led by a team of Clydesdales, alongside his wife, Roxie, and their three children.
Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
15 comments Last one added 5 months ago — Leave a Comment
speedster monroe 5 months ago
"The Baltimore defense forced Carolina QB Jake Delhomme into throwing five interceptions on Saturday."
.... and you are qualified enough to write an article??
Is there no such thing as Proof Read anymore??
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Richard Monihan 5 months ago
Dude, we all make mistakes. Lay off!
Besides, it's all about BIRDS this year.
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Scott Eisenlohr 5 months ago
Hey Speed Racer,
First off, thank you for the catch. I had the Ravens D on my mind.
Secondly, DO NOT question my qualifications. I was a writer for a daily newspaper for 23 years, which I know is WAY more than you've ever done without looking at your profile, which obviously you did not look at mine.
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Christian Karcole 5 months ago
Speed Racer...classic, Scott!
Nice write up, our piece should be up tonight.
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Jim Mc 5 months ago
Nice job, Scott! The question remains, should the Eagles pull off the unthinkable, and McNabb leads the parade down Broad Street, does he follow Burrell out of town, going out in style?
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Richard Monihan 5 months ago
I have contended, for some time, that this may be McNabb's last year with the Eagles unless he wins the SB. Why? Contract. Sure, letting him go will improve another team dramatically, most likely. But his contract pays him so much money over the next few years, the Eagles could use that to upgrade other positions and start grooming Kolb.
Admittedly, Kolb has NOT looked particularly amazing in his few opportunities. But he could become something special, too, given the chance.
Will McNabb stay? My opinion is only if he wins it all. You don't let a SB winner with HOF pedigree go.
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Scott Eisenlohr 5 months ago
Nope,
Both Donovan and Reed get a pass next year.
I do believe McNabb is up for a new contract, so for his sake, he better win, then he would be assured of a new contract.
It will be interesting to see if they lose Sunday, what management will do. If he goes to the Supe and loses, I think he still gets a new deal.
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Richard Monihan 5 months ago
McNabb's 2 INTs weren't terrible. A deflection and one when he was hit as he threw. Toss those aside and he had a very, very good game.
This defense is on fire, too.
I hate to prognosticate. I felt great going into the Giants game. I worry about the Cardinals. It's a fluky team with fluky things happening for it. I think they've got a shot...most of all, they've got experienced players who have "been there before", which counts for alot.
I won't look ahead to a SB appearance. The job isn't finished. This team DESERVES the NFC Championship. They earned it the hard way. I hope they can win it next week.
People forget that before Elway joined the first group, he was the poster boy for the second...and he finally won it in most improbable fashion, as a 4th seed WC.
This Eagles team is playing very well at just the right time. Keeping focus is very important. They must avoid distractions and stay committed to the goal. Stop the comparisons to the Giants of 2007/2008...this team has an identity all its own and, by all rights, is a much better team than that one.
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Scott Eisenlohr 5 months ago
Thanks, Dan.
I agree. The Eagles are taking one game at a time.
I think I know where you are coming from in your last statement. The Eagles play better team ball then the Giants. I think the Giants had better talent, save McNabb.
Also, I want the Eagles to win this year for McNabb and Dawkins. McNabb for the new deal, but more importantly, I know a lot of people, fans, non-fans, black and white people, who think Donovan is not a good quarterback. And I want the ignorant Randall Cunningham comparisons to stop. Randall was a good athlete and a good QB. Donovan holds most of the Eagle QB records. A fairer comparison is with Jaworski.
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Scott Eisenlohr 5 months ago
Sorry I meant Richard.
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Dan Parzych 5 months ago
Great job Scott. I actually just saw that Jacob's quote you mentioned in the article on Sportscenter.
If the star running back of the defending Super Bowl champion Giants can say we're the team to beat and can go all the way, then there's no reason why we shouldn't believe it's coming.
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Scott Eisenlohr 5 months ago
Guys,
I was curious to see what team speedster likes.
His profile is empty. Figures.
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Richard Monihan 5 months ago
Scott,
I agree about the comparisons and how the win is the only way to change things.
I disagree that last year's Giants were more talented. Were McNabb not rehabbing his knee last year, and barring his midseason injury, I think the Eagles would have won at least 1 of the Giants games. Had that occurred, the Giants would NOT have made the playoffs. In fact, one could argue that the non-call of a pass interference in game 2 last year cost the Eagles the playoffs. Had the Eagles won that game(or the 12 sack game, which despite 12 sacks was a remarkably CLOSE game), the Giants would have been tied with Washington and Philly, but lost on the divisional tie breaker. Philly would have been the 5th seed. Would the outcome have been different? Not worth asking....
What it says, however, is that by all measurements, these teams have been remarkably close in talent levels and the Eagles have, over the last 2 years, simply been a play or two short against their hated rivals. Still a 2-3 record against the Super Bowl champs, regardless of how you feel about their talent level, is pretty darn good.
What I'm saying is that by most statistical measures, THIS team is better than last year's Giants team.
Last year's Eagles gave up 51 fewer points than the SB champ Giants, and scored only 37 fewer points. This year's Eagles scored 43 more points than last year's Giants...and gave up 62 fewer points. Cross year comparisons aren't really fair when it comes to points. But DVOA can be compared across years...and this year's Eagles are much, much better than last year's Giants. Eagles were 31.7% in DVOA, atop the league...versus -0.6% for last year's Giants.
Simply put, the Giants got hot at the right time last year. They were ranked 16th in DVOA (Eagles were 11!) in 2007. In 2008, Eagles are ranked 1 and Giants were 3rd.
None of this means anything except to represent an analysis of the level of play each team is CAPABLE OF. That said, the game still has to be played, which means a team like 2007 New England can set new records in the DVOA tables and still lose....that's why they play the games.
However, this Eagles team has as good a shot as any before it, perhaps more so. In fact, if any team this year is comparable to last year's Giants, it's Arizona....which comes in with a regular season DVOA of -0.5% and is ranked 20th!!!
So let's end the comparisons of the Eagles to last year's Giants. The real "lightning in a bottle" could be coming from out of Arizona....good reason to fear this game!
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Scott Eisenlohr 5 months ago
Richard,
I had to look up DVOA, I did, and I am still not sure what it is about or its importance.
I do remember this: Many people talked about the Giants losing by three points to the Patroits in the regular season finale, but so did the Eagles, and Feely was the QB. On the last drive, with a chance to go ahead, he threw an interception. It was probably Samuel who picked it off. Another team, I forget who, also lost by three to New England. And I think Indy was close, too.
The thing about this year's Giants are that they were so dominant early in the year. Dallas last year, finished 13-3 in the regular season. But that didn't matter for either team. Getting hot at the right time is all that matters.
The Steeler made their Super Bowl run in the same manner two years ago. That was Bettis' last year. The funny thing I remember about the Colts-Steelers championship game that year was Bettis fumbling on the three-yard line (he hardly ever fumbled) and the Colt who picked up the fumble and running the other way had gotten stabbed in the leg the night before. He looked as if he could go the other way to win the game for the Colts, but Rothlesburger, who was on the ground, grabbed his foot, enough to slow him down for the other Steeler to catch up and tackle him.
Football is a funny game. But when I think about it, I love all the Philadelphia teams, but my real passion is baseball. Football is a close second.
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Ryan Callahan 5 months ago
I think it is good that the Eagles barely made it in because they came into the playoffs with a chip on their shoulder looking for something to prove. Bring on the Cardinals!
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