Eagles Beat Buccaneers 21-3

P H I L A D E L P H I A, Dec. 31 -- The cold didn’t knock the Tampa BayBuccaneers out of the playoffs. Donovan McNabb did.

McNabb ran for a touchdown and threw for two more to lead thePhiladelphia Eagles to 21-3 victory over Tampa Bay in an NFCwild-card game today, sending them on to the Meadowlands to playthe New York Giants next weekend.

Cold Weather Breakdown

For the Bucs, who hoped to become the first team to play theSuper Bowl in their home stadium, it was a disappointing end to a10-7 season that started with title hopes.

It also continued a string that has plagued them even as theybecame one of the NFC’s best teams: They’re now 0-20 when gametimetemperatures were under 40 degrees, including three losses thisseason. It was 34 Sunday, the wind chill was 11 and the wind wasswirling up to 30 mph.

The winning formula for the Eagles was the same onethat improved them to 11-5 this season after they went 8-24 theprevious two years — defense and Donovan.

McNabb, runner-up to Marshall Faulk for the NFL’s MVP award,played much of the game as if the weather was balmy. He finished24-of-33 for 161 yards and ran for 32 yards on eight carries, andwas at his best as he quarterbacked the Eagles to two touchdowns ina span of 3:21 late in the first half that gave Philadelphiacontrol of the game.

Defense Comes Through

Still, the defense, led by Hugh Douglas, jump-started thePhiladelphia offense. And it was the defense that shut down TampaBay after McNabb’s only mistake, an interception by Donnie Abrahamat the Philadelphia 48 early in the fourth quarter. But the Bucsgained just 4 yards and had to punt.

With the Bucs leading 3-0 late in the second quarter and thewind in their favor, Shaun King dropped back to pass on athird-and-19 from his own 25. He was sacked by Douglas, fumbled andMike Mamula recovered for Philadelphia at the 15.

Four plays later, McNabb took the snap on a third-and-goal fromfive, cut through the line and swerved right for the Eagles’ firstscore.