McNabb's happy return to Philadelphia: 'Skins win

PHILADELPHIA - The Donovan McNabb jerseys still outnumbered the Kevin Kolbs and Michael Vicks in the parking lot outside Lincoln Financial Field yesterday.

Inside, the fans who booed McNabb on draft day - and many subsequent days - greeted his pregame introduction with a standing ovation worthy of a man who led the Eagles to five NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl.

But Kolb, who entered the game for the injured Vick in the second quarter, had the final chance to earn an even bigger ovation and, probably, a spike in jersey sales.

With no time remaining, Kolb's last-ditch heave hit Jason Avant in the hands in the end zone, but he couldn't hold on as the Redskins escaped with a 17-12 win.

McNabb finished 8-for-19 for 125 yards, one TD and an interception. "I was overwhelmed by the standing ovation," said McNabb, who was traded to the Redskins (2-2) for draft picks. "It felt like I had just pulled into the players' parking lot like I had been doing for 11 years. Although now Mike [Vick] has taken my parking spot."

McNabb's rousing reception stood in stark contrast with the silence that followed the third-quarter announcement that Vick would not return because of rib and chest injuries.

Vick struggled getting off the field after he was hit trying to extend a second-quarter scramble into a touchdown. That ended the hype surrounding the first meeting between the two quarterbacks since the 2005 NFC Championship Game.

"It was never Vick vs. McNabb," McNabb said. "It was Eagles vs. Redskins."

Eagles coach Andy Reid said Vick will have an MRI on his chest this morning.

Kolb was 22-for-35 with a TD and an interception. He hit Brent Celek for a 5-yard TD to pull the Eagles (2-2) within 17-12 with 4:10 left. The two-point conversion attempt failed.

"He did some good things," Reid said of Kolb. "There were some throws he would probably like to have back, but he put us in a position where we had a chance to win this game. We just didn't get it done."

The cheers turned to boos for McNabb when he took the field for the first series. They continued three plays later on Ryan Torain's 12-yard TD run.

"I knew [the boos] were coming," McNabb said. "I wouldn't have expected them to always cheer. That wouldn't be right."

McNabb further distanced himself from the crowd on the next drive, finding a wide-open Cooley down the middle for a 31-yard TD and a 14-0 lead.

McNabb wasn't asked to pass much, but he finished with 39 yards on the ground. Torain had 70 yards on 18 carries.

The Redskins have won two straight against divisional opponents. That, McNabb said, is the most important thing. His coach agreed.

"You've got to find a way to win," Shanahan said. " . . . I think [McNabb] handled himself like a pro throughout the week. He's really a class individual."