McNabb benched in Redskins' loss
Donovan McNabb was pulled in the fourth quarter of the Redskins' 37-25 loss to the Lions on Sunday afternoon.
McNabb benched in Redskins' loss
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
In Donovan McNabb's eighth start with the Washington Redskins, with the game on the line, and the team having won three of its previous four games, head coach Mike Shanahan yanked him.
For Rex Grossman.
The Redskins' offense took over at the Washington 30 yard line with 1:45 left in the fourth quarter. The 'Skins were trailing the Lions, 31-25.
Grossman lasted just one play, as Kyle Vanden Bosch sacked him and forced a fumble, which was recovered and returned for a touchdown by rookie Ndamukong Suh. The Lions finished the Redskins off for a 37-25 victory.
McNabb was 17-for-30 for 210 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He was sacked five times.
"I thought [Grossman] gave us the best chance to win," Shanahan said, per The Washington Post.
He reportedly added that Grossman is more comfortable running the 2-minute offense, which is puzzling, considering this is Week 8 and McNabb has been the starter all season.
"When you get benched, you get benched. Just have to learn from it and move on," McNabb said, per The Post. "I continue to focus as if I'm the starter. He said I'm still the starter."
He added that he's been told he's still the starter.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, around the five-minute mark, with the Redskins up 25-20, McNabb threw a pick that gave the Lions' offense the ball at the Washington 37 yard line.
Matthew Stafford connected with Calvin Johnson for his third touchdown of the day, giving the Lions a 28-25 lead.
McNabb was on the field for the following series, though, which resulted in a sack on 4th-and-10.
With the loss, the Redskins are 4-4 on the season entering their bye week. The idle Eagles move into second place at 4-3. The Giants also have a bye, and the Cowboys fell to 1-6 after a 35-17 loss to the Jaguars. Dallas is now tied with the Panthers for the second-worst record in football behind the Buffalo Bills.
McNabb was only benched once in 11 seasons with the Eagles. That was, of course, in 2008 during the second half against the Ravens. By my count, that was McNabb's 123rd start with the Birds.
Here are some other thoughts from my bye week Sunday spent on the couch:
* McNabb has thrown eight interceptions on the season and has been picked at least once in six straight games. That streak is longer than any regular-season INT streak he had in his 11 seasons with the Eagles. He has failed to throw more than one touchdown in a game this season.
* Big game out of Johnson. He finished with nine catches for 101 yards and three touchdowns. The last score was huge as it came on a 4th-and-1 play. Johnson had gone to the sidelines on the previous down after getting shaken up on a second-down play.
* There's been a lot of talk about the AFC's superiority to the NFC in recent weeks. The Jets, considered by some to be the class of the AFC, failed to put up a single point in their 9-0 loss to the Packers. Clay Matthews continues to be a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. He sacked Mark Sanchez on a 3rd-and-5 late in the fourth quarter. He now has 9.5 sacks on the season.
* Remember in Week 2 when the Lions sacked the Eagles five times? Today, Detroit sacked the Redskins six times. Turns out they have some guys who can get after the quarterback.
* As for the Cowboys, Jon Kitna was picked off four times in the loss. But to be fair, at least two of those bounced off the hands of Dallas receivers. Maybe the bigger concern should be the Cowboys' defense? Dallas is allowing 33.5 points per game in the last four.
* Earlier today, I took a closer look at Brent Celek's struggles through seven games.
You can follow Moving the Chains on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.
And download the 2010 MTC app from the ITunes store.
Buy Eagles tickets 
Talk football in our Eagles forum 
Put in AJ.- Bozo was outplayed by a 2nd year starter.— Keep_It_Real
-
You people (the local media) are pathetic with your never ending obsession with trashing McNabb. You have absolutely no idea what occured but immediately you say he was "yanked". How about trying a new and novel concept, get the facts before you report something.— JLH - Hey JLH - Reported on the post game show - Shanny said Grossman has a better understanding of the 2 minute offense therefore he benched mcnabb. SHOCKING! So glad to turn the page in Eagles history. Hope that Nate Allen is an All-Pro for years to come :-) — NC Philly
Still throwing low! Still holding onto the ball too long! Looks like Andy did it again...Letting washed up has beens go at the perfect time.— citysims- Look at Sheil K., right on it. A dependable servant who cares ! How can you not like Sheil K... he brings the news and always on time. Whether you like the story or not, he brings it all... the good, bad, and ugly... and let's the reader decide. Thanks SK.— landt
- Hey JLH, not sure if you watched the game, but he didn't look the least bit hurt on the sideline - just angry. This report is just relaying what was being stated on the broadcast. Just read this from PFT: "We're told that coach Mike Shanahan believed that, with one minute left in the game, Rex Grossman gave the Redskins a better chance to win, because he was more familiar with the two-minute offense and terminology." That's not gonna sit well with #5
— Mkdazmedia - Wasn't AI a good quarterback in his day ? Bet he still has it. And he's from the Washington area. It's closer than Turkey. Sounds like a win-win.— landt
- Are you serious!! How are we still getting articles about McNabb!! If he throws for 300+ yards, win a game, or beat the Eagles. We don't hear anything. He sits for a play; you write an article instantly. This is Philly... Talk about the Eagles!!!— Eaglesfan804
- Who cares about McNabb getting benched...How about we worry about the Colts and finding a way for Manning not to throw for 300 yards on Ellis Hobbs.— pflynn20
- Sounds like Shanahan just wanted to throw a changeup, try a new spark. The result isn't real surprising, with Grossman fumbling. McNabb would need better competition, before he worries about the starting job.— tacklinjoe
Too Bad for McNabb- that oughta shut some people up around here.— kjuggs77- Wow. Sure McNabb's play could be frustrating and hair pulling at times but I never would have thought Shanahan would do that to a 12 year battle tested Vet that you traded for, and for who - Rex GROSSman - way to go Coach. Great Job LIONS.— BooDuhBud
Tell the truth Shanny, you were afraid of D5 throwing up because it was a pressure situation. That's Gross Man! After the game, D5 argued that he was just as faniliar with the 2 minute drill as Rex, he had only asked if it was cordless or not.
Comment removed.
Follow
Sheil on Twitter. And become
a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds
coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Download it here.
