CHICAGO --During the week leading up the Eagles Sunday night clash against the Chicago Bears, quarterback Donovan McNabb did not hesitate to deem the game a "must-win" for his team.
Well, it might not have been the prettiest game the Eagles have played all season, but the Eagles were able to claw their way to a 24-20 victory and get the win they so desperately needed after losing two games in a row to move to 6-4.
"It wouldn't have mattered whether we had won the game 3-2," McNabb said after the game, "This was a game that we needed to win by any means necessary. I thought today, as a team, we pulled together as a team to support one another.
"You always try to look on the positives, and that's why I said it was a must-win situation. I thought as a team that we needed to come out with that attitude, and I thought all week in practice guys had that attitude."
The Eagles answered a litany of questions against the Bears that had plagued them all season. They won a game by less than seven points for the first time since 2007. They converted several short-yardage situations in key moments of the game. And when the game was on the line, trailing by three points in the fourth quarter, they traveled into the red zone and came away with a touchdown on a 10-yard run by LeSean McCoy.
"I think on the offensive line, when we decided to run a little bit more, the left side wanted some action over there, the right side wanted some action," McNabb said. "I thought the offensive line did a great job of opening up holes for the run game, and giving time in the passing game."
McNabb was 23-32 for 244 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. The offense also re-discovered the big play in third quarter when McNabb connected with DeSean Jackson for a 48-yard touchdown pass. It was Jackson's first touchdown of the season of less than 50 yards.
"We tried to put a little pressure on their safeties," McNabb said of the play. "We had DeSean up on (Al Afalava) one-on-one, we like that choice all the time. (We) just took advantage of it, and (Jackson) did an excellent job of securing it and getting in the end zone. That was a great play by DeSean."
The win keeps the Eagles a game behind the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East and still in line for a playoff berth. More importantly, the Eagles are back to their winning ways, and McNabb said the team has regained a certain swagger.
"It provides confidence for the team to know that you can rely on the guy next to you," McNabb said.
Many key members of the Eagles, including Jason Peters and Sheldon Brown, played through significant injuries in search of the victory.
"When a guy is in the treatment room every morning, every night after practice; when a guy is out at practice fighting through his injury, and then comes out and has a good game ... I mean you gain respect that way."
-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 1:59 a.m., November 23
