If that doesn't sound like such a great way to celebrate a birthday, consider this: McNabb is one of only two quarterbacks taken in the 1999 draft still employed by the NFL, and he is the only one still starting.

Though this season has included more than a few potholes, not to mention some broken ribs in the season opener at Carolina, McNabb is in a good place as the Eagles head into another end-of-season playoff push.

"I feel great," the quarterback said, noting that it makes him feel young to be surrounded by players who were in high school when his NFL career started.

It's a terrific point. His top two receivers this season - DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin - weren't even in high school when McNabb threw his first NFL pass 11 years ago.

The only NFL starting quarterbacks older than McNabb are Brett Favre; 40, Kurt Warner, 38; Matt Hasselbeck, 35; Jake Delhomme, 34; and Peyton Manning, who turned 33 in March.

Because the Eagles' offense has undergone a major overhaul since the NFC championship loss at Arizona, it has been a different kind of season for McNabb. Five of the 11 starters from that game against the Cardinals aren't around, and the Eagles' starting offense has six starters on offense who are 25 or younger.

"It's the youth" that has made this year different, McNabb said. "It's the challenge of making sure that everybody is on the same page. It's the challenge of providing that confidence for them on the sideline during games when things don't go as well. Just making sure we communicate throughout the meetings, practice, and the games. That's the exciting part this season and just seeing how far we can really go if we all play a perfect game."

The only thing close to perfect for the Eagles this season was the Week 8 game vs. the New York Giants, when McNabb threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-17 rout of their division rival.

But that win was followed by disappointing losses to Dallas and San Diego, and even after staging a fourth-quarter comeback at Chicago, the Eagles' offense is still trying to regain its stride.

The quarterback, however, is having perhaps his best personal season since 2004, when he led the team to the Super Bowl. In eight starts, he has completed 154 of 250 passes for 1,929 yards with 14 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.

His 61.6 completion percentage and 95.9 passer rating would be the second best of his career - 2004 was better - and he's on pace to throw 25 touchdowns, which would tie for the second most in his career.

McNabb laughed when a reporter told him how coach Andy Reid's Hall of Fame endorsement following Sunday's win in Chicago had triggered some debate around the area.

"I'm a football player just playing football," McNabb said. "If that was to happen . . . that's great."

That's really a debate for a later date, as are McNabb's reflections about his career in Philadelphia and the record for games played he's about to set.

"That's something that you look at when it's all said and done," he said. "At this particular point, it's just focusing in on what we have to do in order to win ball games and try to bring a championship home. That's an honor to surpass [Jaworski], but we have a lot more games ahead of us and some things we have to get accomplished."

McNabb and his family have put down some roots. In a now yearly ritual, his wife, Raquel, and his parents led a group that helped with Thanksgiving dinners last night at the Stenton Family Manor in Mount Airy.

McNabb said he sees a long future in Philadelphia even though he has only one year remaining on his contract beyond this season.

"If I'm still playing at 38 or 39 years old, I would love for it to be here," he said. "I wouldn't see myself being anywhere but here in Philadelphia. I love it here and I think we can do some great things here."