Looking back at the Eagles' 2004 season: Game 10

TEN YEARS ago, the Eagles were in the middle of one of the best seasons in recent team history, a year that ended with a Super Bowl appearance. Each

Tuesday, the Daily News will look back at the 2004 season.

Game 10: Eagles 28, Redskins 6

Date: Nov. 21, 2004

Site: Lincoln Financial Field

Vegas Vic's line: Eagles -11. Over/under 38.

Game stuff: The Eagles held the Redskins to 51 yards rushing and pulled away with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to improve to 9-1. Two weeks before, the Birds allowed Pittsburgh to run for 252 yards and suffered their first loss of the season.

Back down: Washington running back Clinton Portis was facing the Eagles for the first time. He had put together consecutive 1,500-yard seasons for Denver in 2002-03, but was held to just 37 yards on this day. It was the fewest in his career up to that point for a full game.

Quote to note: "It's all in the mind, stopping the run," linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said. "There is a certain amount of arrogance and cockiness that you've got to have if you're going to be a good run defense."

T.O. report: A week after making national headlines by appearing in a sexually suggestive promo ahead of a Monday night game, wide receiver Terrell Owens had his quietest game of the year against the Redskins. Owens had two catches for 24 yards, though one of those receptions was a touchdown. It gave Owens 13 TD catches on the season, tying him with Mike Quick and Tommy McDonald for the most in a single season in Eagles history.

Whoops: On the final play of the first half, quarterback Donovan McNabb lined up under left guard Artis Hicks, which resulted in a false-start penalty. The gaffe caused a 10-second run-off and prevented David Akers from attempting a 47-yard field goal.

Butt how? "We got down the field [after a 25-yard completion to Todd Pinkston] and I was trying to get everyone on the line of scrimmage and not focusing in on [center Hank Fraley] and where he was," McNabb explained. "I guess I'll be on ESPN for a while."

This and that: The Eagles moved to 9-1, their best record after 10 games since the 1980 Super Bowl season . . . The six points were the fewest the Birds allowed in 2004. "Should have been less," grumbled defensive tackle Sam Rayburn . . . Todd Pinkston had five catches for 106 yards and Brian Westbrook had two TD receptions in the fourth quarter . . . Washington's points came via two field goals by Ola Kimrin, who once kicked a 65-yard field goal in the preseason while with Denver . . . The Redskins entered the game at 3-6, which prompted coach Joe Gibbs to bench quarterback Mark Brunell in favor of Patrick Ramsey.

Super sub: Ike Reese started at weakside linebacker for Mark Simoneau and had six solo tackles. He also picked off a pass from Ramsey for the second and final interception of his 9-year career. Earlier in the season, Reese got one off Minnesota's Daunte Culpepper.

Take a bow: Redskins coach Joe Gibbs was coaching his first game at the Linc since unretiring. "The crowd was a big part of it today for us," he said. "We had a ton of penalties. Our guys had a tough time hearing. It affected us when we felt like we had a chance to get a few scores and stuff - at least kick field goals."

Current events: Sarah Steele, then a fledgling actress at Episcopal Academy, made her movie debut in Adam Sandler's "Spanglish." Steele, now 26, has since appeared in TV shows such as "Law & Order," "Girls" and "The Good Wife" . . . Mike Jarmoluk, a member of the Eagles' 1949 championship squad and a former team captain, died at age 82 . . . The Pacers and Pistons engaged in one of the most infamous brawls in NBA history, which included Indiana's Ron Artest going into the stands after a fan threw a drink. From the bizarre files, musician Kid Rock nearly joined the melee, but he was held back by Chris Chelios, a friend and then-Detroit Red Wings hockey player who was attending the game with Kid.