Slow start can't shake veteran QB Donovan McNabb

The way the Seahawks knocked Donovan McNabb all over Qwest Field at the start, it didn't appear as if he'd be around for the finish.

Rocky Bernard, Brandon Mebane, Julian Peterson and Craig Terrill each took shots at the Philadelphia quarterback. The Eagles failed to gain a first down on their first three drives, and McNabb misfired on his first seven passes because Seattle applied constant pressure.

And when it appeared as though McNabb had found his groove on the Eagles' fourth drive, strong safety Deon Grant intercepted a poorly thrown pass in the end zone to preserve a 7-0 Seahawks lead in the first quarter.

"Just a bad way to begin," McNabb said.

The Seahawks, who played without middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu and defensive end Patrick Kerney, couldn't have designed a better start if they were going to pull off an upset. The Eagles' offense sputtered in the first quarter because McNabb connected on just 3 of 13 passes and had a dismal 13.3 quarterback rating.

But perhaps receiver Reggie Brown put it best after the Eagles' 26-7 victory when he said: "We've been through a lot worse than that around here."

McNabb, who was booed by Philly fans on draft day nine years ago and endured a bitter public dispute with former Eagles receiver Terrell Owens, knows adversity better than anyone.

"Being down a touchdown on the road is nothing," Brown said. "Not when you got a veteran like Donovan. He's a calm guy. He doesn't get rattled."

McNabb shrugged off a slow start for the second straight week, and passes suddenly found their mark. He also avoided pressure and punished the Seahawks each time they blitzed.

"What has to happen is that if we commit to the blitz and we take a free safety out of the hole and we are singled up, then we have to get home," coach Mike Holmgren said. "Otherwise, we put our defensive backs in a very vulnerable position and then they are taken advantage of."

Early in the second quarter, defensive end Darryl Tapp nearly sacked McNabb, who slipped the tackle and threw a 22-yard touchdown to Brown to tie the score at 7-7.

The play seemed to kick-start the Eagles' offense, which looked a lot like the old Seahawks offense when Holmgren and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck dissected opposing defenses.

In this case, McNabb and Philadelphia coach Andy Reid carved up the Seahawks with a clever mix of short passes and deep throws on four consecutive second-half scoring drives.

Early in the third quarter, McNabb missed Brian Westbrook on a short pass, snapping a string of 13 straight completions.

"The communication was off and our connection with all of the guys and just as a unit wasn't where we wanted it to be, but we got things going," McNabb said.

"The good thing about it is, if you play this game, it's all about winning. When you look up at the scoreboard and you won, you can move on. That's what it's all about."

McNabb, who had been hampered by a bruised chest, played his best game since the season opener. He finished with 349 yards on 28-for-43 passing as Philadelphia extended its winning streak to three games and improved to 5-3.

Still, McNabb's greatness is best exemplified in those around him. Backup tight end Brent Celek caught six passes for a team-record 131 yards, guard Todd Herremans caught an 11-yard touchdown, and 10 players finished with at least one reception.

"He is unbelievable," Peterson said. "Everybody forgets about him because he has been hurt the last couple of years, but he is still one of the best quarterbacks in the game."

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com