PHILADELPHIA -- Nobody is booing Donovan McNabb now. McNabb threw three touchdown passes, David Akers kicked a 35-yard field goal with 7 seconds left, and the Philadelphia Eagles clinched their first NFC East title since 1988 with a 24-21 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday.
"For all those people who talked bad about us, we are the NFC East champions no matter how you look at it," said McNabb, who was jeered by Eagles fans when he was drafted No. 2 overall in 1999, and has been criticized throughout the season.
The Giants were eliminated from playoff contention a year after reaching the Super Bowl, but not before they nearly won a third straight game in the final minute.
After Akers´ kick, New York had time for one play from its 20, and Kerry Collins threw a 14-yard pass to Tiki Barber, who lateraled the ball to wideout Ron Dixon. With blockers leading him down the left sideline, Dixon made it all the way to the Eagles 6, before Damon Moore made the game-saving tackle.
"I really thought I was going to get in," Dixon said.
The Eagles (10-5) trailed 21-14, but scored 10 points in the last 2 minutes, including McNabb´s 7-yard touchdown pass to Chad Lewis to tie the score.
Philadelphia will play Tampa Bay at Veterans Stadium in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season. The teams also play next week to complete the regular season.
It´s the third time New York (7-8) has failed to reach the playoffs the year after going to the Super Bowl.
"Coming off a successful season it´s hard to repeat again, but to not make the playoffs is disappointing," Giants coach Jim Fassel said.
Giants defensive end Michael Strahan had 3 1/2 sacks in the first half, breaking Lawrence Taylor´s team record for sacks in a season. Strahan has 21 1/2 sacks -- a half-sack from Mark Gastineau´s NFL mark.
Ron Dayne´s 16-yard TD run with 2:43 left gave the Giants a 19-14 lead. Barber ran in for the 2-point conversion to make it 21-14.
But McNabb drove the Eagles 67 yards in 54 seconds, capped by his touchdown toss to Lewis with 1:49 left.
After the Giants went three-and-out, Philadelphia got the ball at its own 29 with 58 seconds left.
McNabb completed a 25-yard pass to James Thrash, hit Todd Pinkston for 9 yards, and ran 11 yards to set up Akers´ 35-yarder. Strahan helped the Eagles by holding McNabb down after the run, resulting in a delay-of-game penalty that stopped the clock and gave Philadelphia 5 yards.
McNabb finished 21-of-39 for 270 yards passing.
"Donovan stepped up and did a great job in as much pressure as you can have," Eagles coach Andy Reid said.
The Eagles had lost nine straight to New York before a 10-9 comeback victory Oct. 22.
On Sunday, McNabb connected with Thrash on a 57-yard TD pass 49 seconds into the fourth quarter to give the Eagles a 14-10 lead.
Thrash beat rookie cornerback Will Allen on a deep route down the right sideline, stretched his arms for a fingertip catch and high-stepped into the end zone.
"It was a perfect pass," Thrash said.
Morten Andersen´s 25-yard field goal with 2:38 left in the third gave the Giants their first lead -- 10-7. Andersen hit a 32-yarder to cut it to 14-13 with 8:44 left.
The teams didn´t wait until the game started to get at each other. During warmups, a scuffle broke out between some Giants and Eagles special teams players, including returner Brian Mitchell and wide receiver Dameane Douglas.
"It was just guys jawing at each other," Akers said.
After the Giants went three-and-out on the opening possession, the Eagles drove 72 yards on nine plays, capped by McNabb´s 5-yard TD pass to Lewis. McNabb was 6-of-7 for 68 yards as the Eagles scored a TD on their first possession for just the second time this season.
New York tied it 7-7 on a 60-yard TD pass from Collins to Amani Toomer on its first play of the third quarter. Collins lateraled to Barber, who tossed the ball back to Collins. Toomer got wide open across the field, caught the ball at the 20 and easily ran in.
When the Giants tried that flea flicker in practice on Wednesday, Barber and Collins botched it. It turned out to be their longest play of the season.
Notes: After the game, Fassel presented New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani with a U.S. flag carried by troops in Afghanistan .... Eagles DT Hollis Thomas didn´t play after breaking his foot in pregame warmups .... Thrash´s touchdown was his first in six games .... Collins was 22-of-39 for 301 yards, one TD and no interceptions.
