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Nichols: Familiarity hasn't bred success for McNabb against Cowboys lately
10:44 PM CDT on Friday, September 10, 2010
Column by BILL NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News
bnichols@dallasnews.com
Column by BILL NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News | brnichols@dallasnews.com
Bill Nichols
Archive | E-mail
The Donovan McNabb era in Washington will begin Sunday the same way the Donovan McNabb era in Philadelphia ended last season – against the Cowboys.
In becoming the first quarterback since the AFL-NFL merger to play against the same team in three straight games, McNabb can only hope his history, as well as the Redskins' does not repeat.
He is 3-7 in his last 10 starts against the Cowboys. Last year, his Eagles lost three times to Dallas, closing the regular season with a 17-0 defeat and a 34-14 loss in the wild-card playoff.
It just so happened the only NFL team McNabb ever played for traded him to the only other team that was swept by the Cowboys in 2009. His new team has dropped three straight to Dallas, too.
"It's a new year. You start all over again," McNabb said. ''I think that's probably a plus for all of us. Not just for me but for them as well. I'm sure they're not excited about the way their season ended last year. I wasn't excited about the way my season ended."
The Cowboys are not the bane of McNabb's entire existence, only the last five years. He won eight of his first 10 games against Dallas.
His career record as a starter against the Cowboys, including one playoff game, is 11-9.
The only franchise he has beaten more is the one currently signing his paychecks. He is 12-7 against the Redskins.
McNabb no longer sparks fear in the Cowboys. In his last 10 starts against Dallas, he has completed 56.3 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and six interceptions. He has been sacked 32 times.
In three defeats last season, McNabb had 680 yards passing with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He was sacked 11 times.
"We know him as a quarterback," Cowboys safety Gerald Sensabaugh said. "We know what he likes to throw. We know his strengths and his weaknesses. We had a good feel for the Eagles last year. Now we're working on that for the Redskins."
McNabb, a six-time Pro Bowler, instantly transformed the look of the Redskins when they acquired him in the off-season.
He has the experience, leadership and playmaking ability the Redskins need for new coach Mike Shanahan's rebuilding project. McNabb ranks fourth among active quarterbacks in career yards, completions and touchdowns.
McNabb's mobility should help as the Redskins' offensive line, which includes three new starters, develops. But McNabb will not be at full strength Sunday because of a sprained left ankle.
"Anytime you get injured, you've just got to play through it," Shanahan said. "But he was there throughout the [organized team activities] and the first couple of weeks of camp and has got a lot of repetitions in."
McNabb, the second overall pick in the 1999 draft, guided the Eagles to four straight NFC East division titles, five NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl.
He said he's not slowing down. He's treating his move to Washington as a fresh start.
"I have a lot in my tank," he said. "I'm only 33 years old. I don't consider that old. If that's the case, then me and Peyton [Manning] might as well go sit down somewhere and smoke a cigar. I've got 10 more years left, 10 more years."
McNabb yearns to do what he could not in 11 seasons with Philadelphia – win a Super Bowl.
He considers the experience of 11 seasons as a positive, a trait that can lead him to the ultimate destination. Still, he may have to wait a bit longer, considering the 2011 Super Bowl will be played at Cowboys Stadium.
"You've seen the defenses, you've seen the blitz packages, you've seen players come in and out," McNabb said.
"You've competed against different coordinators and head coaches. You know what you're seeing. Experience plays a major factor. That's why you see some of your older guys having success in playoff games or taking their team to the Super Bowl."
McNABB VS. THE COWBOYS
CAREER
Rec. Co-Att. Pct Yds TD INT S
11-9* 356-646 55.1 4,181 27 14 48
LAST SEASON
Rec. Co-Att. Pct Yds TD INT S
0-3* 55-103 53.4 680 2 3 11
*includes one playoff s – sacks
• • •
10:44 PM CDT on Friday, September 10, 2010
Column by BILL NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News
bnichols@dallasnews.com
Column by BILL NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News | brnichols@dallasnews.com
Bill Nichols
Archive | E-mail
The Donovan McNabb era in Washington will begin Sunday the same way the Donovan McNabb era in Philadelphia ended last season – against the Cowboys.
In becoming the first quarterback since the AFL-NFL merger to play against the same team in three straight games, McNabb can only hope his history, as well as the Redskins' does not repeat.
He is 3-7 in his last 10 starts against the Cowboys. Last year, his Eagles lost three times to Dallas, closing the regular season with a 17-0 defeat and a 34-14 loss in the wild-card playoff.
It just so happened the only NFL team McNabb ever played for traded him to the only other team that was swept by the Cowboys in 2009. His new team has dropped three straight to Dallas, too.
"It's a new year. You start all over again," McNabb said. ''I think that's probably a plus for all of us. Not just for me but for them as well. I'm sure they're not excited about the way their season ended last year. I wasn't excited about the way my season ended."
The Cowboys are not the bane of McNabb's entire existence, only the last five years. He won eight of his first 10 games against Dallas.
His career record as a starter against the Cowboys, including one playoff game, is 11-9.
The only franchise he has beaten more is the one currently signing his paychecks. He is 12-7 against the Redskins.
McNabb no longer sparks fear in the Cowboys. In his last 10 starts against Dallas, he has completed 56.3 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and six interceptions. He has been sacked 32 times.
In three defeats last season, McNabb had 680 yards passing with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He was sacked 11 times.
"We know him as a quarterback," Cowboys safety Gerald Sensabaugh said. "We know what he likes to throw. We know his strengths and his weaknesses. We had a good feel for the Eagles last year. Now we're working on that for the Redskins."
McNabb, a six-time Pro Bowler, instantly transformed the look of the Redskins when they acquired him in the off-season.
He has the experience, leadership and playmaking ability the Redskins need for new coach Mike Shanahan's rebuilding project. McNabb ranks fourth among active quarterbacks in career yards, completions and touchdowns.
McNabb's mobility should help as the Redskins' offensive line, which includes three new starters, develops. But McNabb will not be at full strength Sunday because of a sprained left ankle.
"Anytime you get injured, you've just got to play through it," Shanahan said. "But he was there throughout the [organized team activities] and the first couple of weeks of camp and has got a lot of repetitions in."
McNabb, the second overall pick in the 1999 draft, guided the Eagles to four straight NFC East division titles, five NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl.
He said he's not slowing down. He's treating his move to Washington as a fresh start.
"I have a lot in my tank," he said. "I'm only 33 years old. I don't consider that old. If that's the case, then me and Peyton [Manning] might as well go sit down somewhere and smoke a cigar. I've got 10 more years left, 10 more years."
McNabb yearns to do what he could not in 11 seasons with Philadelphia – win a Super Bowl.
He considers the experience of 11 seasons as a positive, a trait that can lead him to the ultimate destination. Still, he may have to wait a bit longer, considering the 2011 Super Bowl will be played at Cowboys Stadium.
"You've seen the defenses, you've seen the blitz packages, you've seen players come in and out," McNabb said.
"You've competed against different coordinators and head coaches. You know what you're seeing. Experience plays a major factor. That's why you see some of your older guys having success in playoff games or taking their team to the Super Bowl."
McNABB VS. THE COWBOYS
CAREER
Rec. Co-Att. Pct Yds TD INT S
11-9* 356-646 55.1 4,181 27 14 48
LAST SEASON
Rec. Co-Att. Pct Yds TD INT S
0-3* 55-103 53.4 680 2 3 11
*includes one playoff s – sacks
• • •
