NEW YORK, 22 September 2004 — Donovan McNabb threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns as the Philadelphia Eagles made it two wins from two games this season with a 27-16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings Monday.
The quarterback also rushed for another touchdown as host Philadelphia handed the Vikings (1-1) their first loss of the new campaign. McNabb scored on a 20-yard scamper in the third quarter to put the Eagles in front 20-6 before his five-yard TD strike to Terrell Owens with 7:40 remaining sealed the win.
Owens, who caught three TD passes in his Eagles debut last week, had a relatively quiet night, making four catches for 79 yards.
Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who went 37-for-47 for 343 yards, lost an important fumble on the Philadelphia one-yard line and was sacked four times.
Randy Moss caught a four-yard TD pass in the final minutes for the Vikings and had eight receptions for 69 yards. But a costly pass interference penalty also snuffed out a Minnesota scoring drive.
Morten Andersen, 44, the league’s oldest player, tied George Blanda’s record when he appeared in his 340th game.
The 23-year veteran kicked three field goals for Minnesota but was short on a 44-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.
David Akers had two field goals for the Eagles, a 37-yarder in the first half and another 47-yard effort with 1:11 to play. LJ Smith scored the other Philadelphia TD on an 11-yard pass from McNabb in the first quarter.
Saints’ McAllister to Miss Up to Six Weeks
In New Orleans, Louisiana, Deuce McAllister, the New Orleans Saints’ star running back, is expected to miss up to six weeks of the season with a sprained right ankle. McAllister was injured on a running play on the Saints’ first possession in Sunday’s 30-27 win over San Francisco. Aaron Stecker is expected to take over as the featured running back.
Losing McAllister is a significant blow to the Saints. McAllister, who finished second in the NFC in rushing last season with 1,641 yards and eight touchdowns, took over for Ricky Williams as the Saints’ featured back in 2002 when Williams was traded to Miami.
Bears Lose Brown for Season With Achilles Injury
In Lake Forest, Illinois, Chicago free safety Mike Brown ruptured his right Achilles tendon in Sunday’s 21-10 win over Green Bay and will miss the rest of the NFL season.
Brown was injured on an incomplete pass with 3:54 left in the fourth quarter. After he was taken off the field on a cart, he left the locker room on crutches.
Brown had a huge hand in the surprise victory as he returned a fumble 95 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Losing the experience of Brown is a big blow for the Bears. The playmaker has started 65 of 66 games since he was drafted in the second round in 2000.
