McNabb throws 3 TDs in Eagles’ 40-17 win over Giants in 1st game of NY-Philly doubleheader

McNabb throws 3 TDs in Eagles’ 40-17 win

PHILADELPHIA — Score the first round of the New York-Philly twinbill in favor of the Eagles by brutal knockout.

Donovan McNabb threw three touchdown passes and DeSean 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.

The game was just the appetizer in a marathon day in the 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.

New York (5-3) 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.

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 coach Andy 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. It only got better from there for the Eagles — and their fans in the home green jerseys dotted with red Phillies caps.

The next drive — launched when Asante Samuel picked off Manning — saw a McNabb to tight end 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.

It’s point totals such as this that make it all the more puzzling that the Eagles could go without a touchdown in a loss at lowly Oakland two weeks ago.

LeSean McCoy, Westbrook’s backup, joined in the fun on a 66-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that made it 40-17.

By then, fans from both teams could hit the parking lots and resume their tailgating. Giants fans grilled and drank with Yankees jerseys hanging on their car windows. Eagles fans waved their Phillies flags as they pulled into the complex.

Philly fans ended the game chanting “Let’s go Phillies!” in the waning minutes.

The Giants, eliminated by the Eagles in the NFC divisional game last season, were still in this one late in the second quarter after Manning’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Boss made it 16-7.

Five minutes were left in the half. Enough time to get to the break and regroup.

Wrong.

McNabb went deep to a wide open Jackson for a 54-yard touchdown on the first play after the kickoff. Jackson has become the top target McNabb’s lacked since Terrell Owens was in town dancing after scores and stirring the locker room.

Jackson, also a threat on punt returns, tied a team record with his sixth TD of the season of 50-plus yards.

Another overthrown Manning pass was intercepted by Quintin Demps, and McNabb needed two plays to find Jeremy Maclin on a 23-yard touchdown and a 30-7 halftime lead.

Quick strikes, long strikes. McNabb threw for 240 yards and was not intercepted.

Manning brought the Giants back from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win in overtime here in 2006.

Any thoughts of a similar comeback were squashed when Domenik Hixon fumbled the second-half kickoff. The turnover set up David Akers’ 35-yard field goal, he also kicked a 30-yarder in the second quarter, and the Eagles continued their streak of having all their wins be by double-digit margins.