Terrell Owens and Donovan McNabb click in opener for three touchdowns as the Eagles toy with the Giants.
By Associated Press
Published September 13, 2004
PHILADELPHIA - Terrell Owens needed a police escort to get to the stadium. He didn't need help finding the end zone.
Owens had three touchdown catches, Donovan McNabb threw for 330 yards and tied a career high with four TD passes and Brian Westbrook ran for 119 yards, leading the Eagles over the New York Giants 31-17 Sunday.
Owens got stuck in traffic on his way to Lincoln Financial Field for the receiver's first game with the Eagles, and was told by a police officer he wouldn't make it in time without an escort.
"I didn't expect the traffic to be so hectic," Owens said. "I was on time for the game. That's all that matters."
An team spokesman said Owens wasn't fined for being late.
The Eagles, runnersup in the NFC title game the past three years, won their opener for just the second time in coach Andy Reid's six seasons.
"It was a good start," said McNabb, who completed 26 of 36 and had no interceptions. "We made some big plays. We made some mistakes. Overall, it was a great performance."
Two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner had a lackluster debut for the Giants, who lost their ninth straight and first under new coach Tom Coughlin. Heralded rookie Eli Manning made his debut in the final minutes, handing off on his first play to Tiki Barber for a 72-yard touchdown run.
"We obviously had a lot of trouble stopping them on defense," Coughlin said. "We have our work cut out for us, but I'm not discouraged."
Owens, who came to the Eagles after eight sometimes-controversial seasons in San Francisco, made an immediate impact, scoring on his first two receptions.
The four-time Pro Bowl receiver, known for his flamboyant TD celebrations, kept it low-key. He stood in the end zone and flexed his right arm while cradling the ball in his left arm after his first score. He flapped his arms after the last one, then took a few bows on the sideline while fans chanted, "T.O."
"This is what I expected. This is why I lobbied to get here," Owens said. "I'm loving it."
Owens, acquired in a three-team trade with the 49ers and Baltimore in March, finished with eight catches for 68 yards, including scores of 20, 3 and 12 yards.
After the Giants took a 7-0 lead on Ron Dayne's 3-yard run early in the first quarter, the Eagles came back.
Westbrook ran 50 yards to the New York 21. Two plays later, McNabb dropped back, pump-faked and lofted a pass into the right corner over cornerback Will Allen and safety Shaun Williams into Owens' hands.
McNabb's 3-yard scoring pass to Owens made it 14-7. The play was vintage McNabb.
He was chased out of the pocket by Michael Strahan, scrambled toward the right sideline, stutter-stepped near the 10, kept rolling and threw across his body just before stepping out of bounds.
