honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 11:23 a.m., Sunday, November 18, 2007

NFL: Minus McNabb, Eagles beat Miami 17-7

By Rob Maaddi
Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — Knocking out Donovan McNabb couldn't help the Miami Dolphins win a game.

Backup quarterback A.J. Feeley led a pair of second-half scoring drives, Brian Westbrook had a career-best 148 yards rushing and the Philadelphia Eagles beat Miami 17-7 today, dropping the Dolphins to 0-10.

No NFL team has finished 0-16. Tampa Bay went 0-14 in 1976.

McNabb left with a sprained right ankle in the second quarter, nearly a full year after his season ended with a torn knee ligament. X-rays were negative, but McNabb spent the second half watching from the sideline.

The Eagles (5-5) improved to .500 for the first time this season by winning consecutive games for the first time.

John Beck made his NFL debut for Miami, throwing for 109 yards. The 26-year-old rookie from BYU didn't commit any turnovers. Ted Ginn Jr. returned a punt 87 yards for the Dolphins' only score.

With McNabb playing cheerleader in a hooded coat and oversized mittens, Feeley finally got the offense going on the first drive of the second half.

Feeley completed all three of his passes for 41 yards, including a 17-yard toss to Kevin Curtis on third-and-7 to the Miami 13. After an offside negated Feeley's fumble, Correll Buckhalter ran in from the 8 for a 10-7 lead.

Feeley connected with Jason Avant on a 4-yard TD pass to make it 17-7 early in the fourth period.

A goal-line stand preserved the 10-point lead. The Dolphins had a first down at the 1, but didn't move any closer after two runs and one pass. Then defensive end Juqua Thomas, starting for the benched Jevon Kearse, stopped Jesse Chatman for a 13-yard loss on fourth down.

The Eagles took over with just under seven minutes left and Miami didn't get the ball again until the final minute.

Feeley finished 13-for-19 for 116 yards, one TD and one interception. Westbrook had a career-best 32 carries. His previous high in yards was 141 against the Giants in a playoff game last January, and his most carries were 26 against Dallas last December.

Feeley beat his former team in his second stint with the Eagles. He was 4-1 as a starter in the last five regular-season games in 2002, helping Philly clinch first place in the NFC after McNabb and Koy Detmer were injured.

He was traded to Miami in 2004 for a second-round draft pick. Feeley was 3-5 in eight starts with the Dolphins and was traded to San Diego after 1› seasons in Miami. He returned to the Eagles last season as the No. 3 quarterback.

The Dolphins went ahead 7-0 early in the second quarter when Ginn broke free after fielding a line-drive punt by Sav Rocca. Ginn eluded one tackler, ran up the middle untouched, cut toward the right sideline and sprinted into the end zone.

David Akers kicked a 34-yard field goal one play after McNabb went down to cut it to 7-3.

Feeley came in the next series and drove Philadelphia to the Dolphins 25, but he was intercepted by Andre Goodman at the 2.

A holding penalty by tight end L.J. Smith negated McNabb's 46-yard TD pass to Reggie Brown off a flea-flicker in the first quarter. The drive ended when McNabb's pass to Brown was intercepted by Jason Allen at the Dolphins 5. Allen picked off McNabb again at Miami's 2 in the second quarter.

A second-round pick, Beck replaced Cleo Lemon as Miami's starter. Trent Green started the first four games before going down for the season. Beck was the 12th QB to start for the Dolphins since Dan Marino retired following the 1999 season.