Things are never the same after a breakup.

Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid may have patched things up in time for the Thanksgiving Day game, and they'll be together for another month or so in Philadelphia after that. But then it's off to Splitsville — and even money which one of them gets back on his feet first.

Through 10 up-and-down seasons, the quarterback and the coach who went against the grain and drafted him have been in plenty of jams.

On Sunday, they trailed Baltimore by only 10-7 after a disastrous first half. A week after turning the ball over four times in a game, McNabb managed three more in just 30 minutes.

Two days after Reid dispatched quarterbacks coach Pat Shurmur to tell McNabb his services wouldn't be needed for the second half, McNabb was still fuming over both the message and the way it was delivered.

When someone asked McNabb who told him he was starting Thursday against Arizona, he quipped, "I was told by the janitor. Me and him have a pretty good relationship around here. It was a pretty good conversation that we had."

As for his conversations with Reid since the benching, McNabb wasn't quite so forthcoming. Apparently, trust built up over a decade can unravel in a heartbeat.

"In that situation, that wouldn't be the decision that I would make," he said. "I still have the same relationship that I've had. Will it continue on? I hope so. I guess that is something that you'd have to ask Andy. I'm fine."

A day earlier, Reid announced McNabb had the starting job back, but refused to be pinned down on how much longer. He wouldn't back down, either, regarding his decision to sit McNabb. Reid made a point of telling reporters he knew the quarterback "better than anybody in this room."

But if he thought McNabb believed he was going to benefit from having a different vantage point on the field, Reid may not know him as well as he thinks.

"Sometimes it's good to step back and look at things from a different angle," Reid said. "I expect him to go out and play his heart out."

The coach didn't want to speculate what comes next if that wasn't enough. He found out Sunday that backup Kevin Kolb wasn't an option, at least not for what remains of this season. After losing two of the last three games and tying the other one, the Eagles are 5-5-1.

Nothing short of a resurgence and a playoff spot will enable McNabb to keep his job. He will cost the Eagles $10.3 million in salary-cap space next season, though the money isn't guaranteed.

If he's traded or released, that number drops to $1.2 million. A loss to the Cardinals, on the other hand, practically requires Reid to use the last four games to look at Kolb and decide whether he will ever be that option.

McNabb might be the only guy left in Philly who doesn't see it that way. He says he doesn't feel like he's on a short leash, he won't be looking over his shoulder, and, despite turning 32 on Tuesday, he's convinced he's got more good days ahead than behind.

"You look at the things that have happened, and it's kind of uncharacteristic of me and I know that. It's something that you have to battle through, playing the position. Not everyone goes through a perfect season," he said. "Some guys go through a little drama at the beginning, some go through it at the end.

"It's unfortunate that I'm going through it right now," he added, "but it's easy to bounce back from."

But the only thing easy about it is understanding why McNabb feels that way.

A busload of fans made the trek from Philly to New York on draft day to boo Reid's decision to use the No. 2 pick on McNabb instead of running back Ricky Williams. Gradually, he won them over. Then, McNabb became the target of self-serving campaigns launched by radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh and one-time teammate Terrell Owens to promote themselves at his expense.

Eventually, he outlasted both. The play he is most remembered for was a fourth-and-26 against the Packers in the waning minutes of the 2004 playoffs. He completed a pass for 28 yards.

"If I elevate my game to another level, then everyone else will begin to follow," McNabb said. "You have to put pressure on yourself individually to go out and be that guy to turn things around; to make that big play to put us all in position to win the game.

"If all 53 guys do that," he added, "then we don't have any problems."

In truth, the Eagles have little else besides problems. With Brian Westbrook limited by injuries, they don't have a running game to speak of. The passing game isn't much better, because of a back injury to Shawn Andrews, their best offensive lineman, and a case of the drops that is afflicting tight end L.J. Smith.

Making things worse, there are few reinforcements on the way, since Reid hasn't drafted wisely or well the past few seasons, yet he's shifted even more of the burden onto McNabb's shoulders by calling more — and more predictable — pass plays with each game.

McNabb could wind up with less help than ever in front of a notoriously tough hometown crowd that is running out of patience.

"There's nothing that we can do about the Baltimore game, at this particular point, or any of the other losses. It has to start," he said, "right now."