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Eagles get control of NFC East

PHILADELPHIA -- Quarterback Donovan McNabb ran for a 40-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and David Akers kicked three field goals to lead the Eagles to a 17-3 win over the Giants in the final Monday night game at Veterans Stadium.

Philadelphia had 299 yards rushing for its third straight win over the Giants after losing nine in a row to them. The Eagles took a two-game lead over the Giants and Washington Redskins in the NFC East.

McNabb rushed for 111 yards and Duce Staley got 126.

"The Giants have a stingy defense, we knew that coming in, but we also knew we had to establish the run to help Donovan, and we did that," Staley said.

McNabb's run capped a nine-play, 99-yard drive that took 3 minutes, 33 seconds.

On third and 11 with 10:30 left, McNabb dropped back to pass, stepped up in the pocket and avoided a tackle at his feet by Cornelius Griffin. The quarterback then started to scramble, cut left, streaked down the sideline, jumped over a blocker at the 5 and went into the end zone.

His two-point conversion pass to Chad Lewis put Philadelphia up 17-3.

The Eagles took advantage of the absence of defensive tackle Keith Hamilton, who went down with a season-ending Achilles' tendon injury two weeks ago, by running at his replacement, Lance Legree, and right defensive end Kenny Holmes.

The Giants got inside the Eagles 20 on the drive after McNabb's score but mistakes ended their chances. First, quarterback Kerry Collins fumbled a shotgun snap on third down. Then on fourth and long the Giants were called for delay of game. On the next play from the Eagles 34, Collins' arm was hit as he tried to pass and the ball bounced away.

Akers, who saw his perfect season come to an end when he missed a50-yarder on the opening series, hit from 27, 36 and 35 yards.

Matt Bryant kicked a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter for the Giants.

The Giants had a chance to take the lead on the opening possession of the second half. A 14-yard run by punter Matt Allen after he fumbled a fourth-down snap and a late hit by Eagles Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins on an incomplete pass to Ike Hilliard moved the ball to the Eagles 13.

Hilliard dislocated his right shoulder on the play and left. The former Florida standout was running a seam pattern around the Eagles 10-yard line when he reached out for a pass from Collins.

Charles Stackhouse caught a pass and ran to the 1 but the rookie fullback fumbled trying for the final yard and the ball rolled through the end zone for a touchback.

Akers gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead with 2:08 left in the first quarter with his27-yarder. After the Giants scored, Akers put Philadelphia ahead to stay 6-3 with his 36-yard field goal with 5:23 left in the half.

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