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Paul Domowitch's Eagles-Saints Report Card

RUSHING OFFENSE: The Eagles’ 184 rushing yards were their second most of the season. Their 10 rushing first downs were their third most. For the second week in a row, they had three 20-plus runs, including a 40-yarder by Donovan McNabb.

Grade: A

PASSING OFFENSE:Yeah, the Saints’ secondary stinks. But this was the best McNabb has looked since Week 3 against Detroit. He was decisive and accurate, throwing 3 TDs and completing 68.6 percent of his passes. His 19-yard bullet to Kevin Curtis right before Correll Buckhalter’s TD run and his 31-yard TD throw to Reggie Brown were the prettiest passes he’s thrown all season.

Grade: A-plus

RUN DEFENSE:Gave up 2 early goal-line TDs to Aaron Stecker, but held the Saints to 65 yards on 18 carries. Eagles had a huge momentum-swinging goal line stand early in the second half in which they stuffed the Saints 3 straight times from the 1.

Grade: B-plus

PASS DEFENSE:The Eagles cooled off red-hot Drew Brees. Brees, who had thrown 10 TD passes and averaged 8.32 yards per attempt in the last 4 games, failed to throw a TD pass Sunday for the first time since Week 3 and was held to 6.42 yards per attempt. Eagles only sacked him once, but got consistent pressure on him.

Grade: A-minus

SPECIAL TEAMS: Eagles averaged a season-best 27.8 yards on kickoff returns, including two 30-plus-yard returns by Correll Buckhalter (34) and J.R. Reed (31). Coverage units did a solid job. David Akers made his only field goal attempt.

Grade: B

OVERALL:Aside from the Week 3 Detroit game, this was the offense’s finest performance of the season. If this McNabb had showed up every week, the Eagles would’ve cruised into the playoffs. The defense shut the league’s best red-zone offense down twice inside the 20, including once at the 1.

Grade: A