NFL: McNabb, Eagles pummel Giants

Philadelphia » The Eagles were in the rarest of positions on a football Sunday. They served as the opening act of a New York-Philly twinbill instead of kicking off as the main event.

Donovan McNabb and DeSean Jackson still put on a dynamic show and the first round of the doubleheader was scored in favor of the Eagles by brutal knockout.

McNabb threw three touchdown passes and Jackson had another big TD catch as the Philadelphia Eagles took a 40-17 win over a mistake-prone Eli Manning and the New York Giants on Sunday.

"When you play these NFC East teams, you prepare for a heavyweight fight," Eagles coach Andy Reid said.

The game was just the appetizer in a marathon day in the contentious NY-Philadelphia rivalry. The Yankees and Phillies were set for the first pitch of Game 4 of the World Series across the street only hours after the Eagles' rout ended.

The Eagles (5-2) remained undefeated in the division and host Dallas next week. Philly continued its victorious run over NFC East teams a week after beating Washington.

The Eagles dominated without running back Brian Westbrook, who sat out after he suffered a concussion in the win over the Redskins. His absence caused Reid to add a new wrinkle to the offense: a fullback. Rarely asked to carry the ball under Reid, Leonard Weaver was an integral part early and helped catch the scuffling Giants by surprise.

The Eagles needed only three plays to score when Weaver ran 41 yards up the middle for a touchdown.

The next drive -- launched when Asante Samuel picked off Manning -- saw a McNabb-to-Brent Celek TD called back on a penalty. No worries. The two connected on a 17-yard score two plays later and a 13-0 lead.

New York has lost three straight games after starting the season 5-0 for the first time since 1990. Manning continuously threw high over his receivers or was the victim of bad route running and threw two interceptions.

"You don't expect it when you win five straight," Manning said. "You're feeling good, you're feeling great and then, to lose three in a row especially, you just don't feel like you're playing your best."