PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Brian Westbrook scored a career-high four touchdowns as the Eagles built a 34-13 lead over Arizona after three quarters on Thursday night.
ve on offense for the first time in weeks.
McNabb, back in the lineup after being benched at halftime last week, looked sharp. He was 22-for-31 for 223 yards passing through three quarters while Westbrook had 105 yards rushing.
Westbrook had a 1-yard TD run in the first quarter and the Eagles extended their lead to 31-7 with a 9-yard touchdown run by Westbrook in the third quarter. Rookie receiver DeSean Jackson kept the drive alive with a 24-yard catch on third-and-23, where he slipped a tackle and tiptoed along the sideline to pick up the first down.
Arizona got on the board with just under three minutes left in the first half on a touchdown pass from Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald set up by consecutive 20-plus-yard completions.
Leonard Pope had a 25-yard catch that gave the Cardinals a first-and-goal at the 10 that withstood a coach’s challenge. A defensive holding penalty on third-and-goal kept the Cardinals drive alive before Warner found Fitzgerald on a slant for the score.
Warner was 16-for-27 for 173 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions after three quarters.
failed on the 2-point conversion to keep the score 34-13 with 3:27 left in the third.
Philadelphia had a six-play, 54-yard drive capped by a 41-yard field goal by David Akers.
The Eagles, who have leaned heavily on their passing attack all season, mixed the run and pass well to start the game and even converted on a third-and-1 on the ground – an achievement that drew a standing ovation from the crowd.
Philadelphia had thrown incomplete passes on their past four third-and-1 plays over the past two games and coach Andy Reid’s reluctance to run the ball had been a source of much frustration among the Philly faithful.
The first of Warner’s two interceptions set up a 1-yard TD run by Westbrook in the first quarter.
Joselio Hanson, starting in place of the injured Asante Samuel, reeled in a tipped pass for his first career interception. Westbrook ripped off runs of 16 and 17 yards on the drive and scored on a 1-yard run up the middle.
Hank Baskett had a diving catch down the sideline for a 20-yard gain to help set up McNabb’s TD pass to Westbrook in the second quarter.
Eagles guard Max Jean-Gilles was taken off the field on a cart with a broken right ankle on Philadelphia’s last drive of the half. Akers hit a 42-yard field goal with 1 second left to give the Eagles a 24-7 lead.
ck was 8-for-18 for 59 yards with two interceptions and a fumble against the Ravens before being pulled in favor of second-year backup Kevin Kolb.
Arizona (7-4) was attempting to clinch its first division title in 33 years. The Eagles (5-5-1), meanwhile, desperately needed a victory to keep their rapidly fading playoff hopes alive.
Add A Comment