Eagles Rewind: McNabb ran offense like clockwork

That changed against New York, and surprisingly, against what is considered one of the better four-man fronts in the NFL. The Eagles' offensive line, a source of angst since training camp, had its best game of the season, both in its pass protection and its run blocking.

But the primary goal was to shield McNabb. The Giants faced the same mission, but they failed. Eli Manning took a few licks and threw two picks. McNabb, on the other hand, was ticking.

"He was out there flying around and throwing the ball," Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson said Sunday. "He was pumped up. It was great to see him like that. It was like he was out there during his young days. As long as he keeps playing like that, he's unstoppable."

McNabb threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns without tossing an interception. In 133 pass attempts, he has thrown only one pick this season. He completed 17 of 23 passes and could have been more accurate if it weren't for four batted-down passes.

Those deflected throws and a few lulls show that the line is still not there yet. But the unit, in its full configuration for the second straight week, seemed to have been buoyed by the return of guard Todd Herremans.

"The offensive line, as a whole, is clicking right now," tackle Jason Peters said. "Todd is back. We're getting better every week."

Herremans' biggest contribution Sunday may have come on the first drive. Coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, looking to reestablish the screen game, called a beauty on the first play from scrimmage. McNabb, throwing away from a blitz, dumped off to LeSean McCoy. Herremans sealed off Giants defensive tackle Barry Cofield and sprinted downfield alongside McCoy, who picked up 16 yards.

Two plays later, fullback Leonard Weaver lumbered 41 yards up the gut for the game-opening touchdown. Reid rightfully gave wide receiver Jeremy Maclin credit for a downfield block, but Herremans mauled linebacker Antonio Pierce on the run. He drove him back nine yards.

"I think it helps having Todd back," Reid said.

McNabb would toss three touchdowns on the Eagles' next five possessions. The first came on a third-and-goal play from the Giants' 17 after a Peters hold on Osi Umenyiora pushed the offense back 10 yards. But the tackle rebounded with a sound outside block on the Giants end as McNabb uncorked a dart to tight end Brent Celek.

After New York cut the Eagles' lead to 16-7, McNabb sliced the heart out of the Giants with back-to-back touchdown passes in a span of 52 seconds. In both cases, the Giants rushed just four, and in each situation McNabb had ample time and space. First, he connected with Jackson from 54 yards out and then he floated a perfectly placed 23-yard strike to Maclin.

Some of the success, McNabb said, had to do with the line effectively sorting out blocking assignments.

"They're communicating up front," McNabb said. Center Jamaal Jackson "has done a wonderful job of just making sure that everybody is on the same page. And it just gives myself . . . the opportunity to step up in the pocket."

It wasn't an error-free day. McNabb was sacked twice and the four batted passes, Reid said yesterday, were partly because the linemen didn't finish off their blocks.

"I think you have to keep pressure on the guy," Reid said. "You can't allow him to jump."

As for the sacks, Peters had a share of the blame for both. In the second quarter, Umenyiora got around the left tackle and blindsided McNabb, swatting the ball from his hand. Peters recovered the fumble.

"Those are the ones where you would hope [McNabb] would step up on," Reid said. "I don't give a 100 percent to [Peters] on that."

The other sack occurred in the third quarter when cornerback Bruce Johnson blitzed off the corner and Peters didn't pick him up. Giants defensive tackle Fred Robbins also beat right tackle Winston Justice on an inside move, and McNabb never stood a chance. Johnson caused the fumble, and Robbins was there to pick it up.

Still, protection rarely broke down, and on the occasions when it did, McNabb harked back to his "young days," as Jackson said. He caught one batted pass himself and high-stepped for a 1-yard gain. And McNabb improvised a 14-yard scramble that resulted in Umenyiora falling and hurting himself as he chased the 32-year-old quarterback.

Some may argue this timepiece has become less dependable with time. On this day, however, it was an instrument of precision.

Contact staff writer Jeff McLane at 215-854-4745 or jmclane@phillynews.com.