Donovan McNabb had a solid game against the New York Jets on the same field where he had been sacked 12 times the week before. He made some big throws to put points on the board and sealed the game with a 3rd down strike.
Donovan also made a costly mistake which put the win in jeopardy.
McNabb made a great audible on the touchdown pass to Kevin Curtis. He recognized the blitz and checked to a slant route for Curtis. Kevin did a good job of getting inside off the jam. Once he got inside he accelerated and caught the football. Curtis made a move on the oncoming safety and pulled through the tackle. Once out in the open he turned on the burners and took it the rest of the 75 yards for the touchdown. If the Birds can make big plays against the man-to-man coverage it will force teams to get out of it.
He also did a great job on the last drive of completing a pass to Reggie Brown on 3rd and ten. McNabb slipped on his drop but kept his composure and threw a strike to Brown which put the Birds in position to put the game away.
Donovan has to make the mental transition that he can’t run like he did before the injury, so he’s got to get rid of the football. He cost the team about 30 seconds near the end of the half by not throwing the ball away. It looked like he started throwing the ball away in the second half.
He’s also got to start letting the ball go earlier in anticipation of the receiver’s routes. The attempt to Jason Avant in the end zone should have been thrown earlier and farther outside. The attempt to Kevin Curtis down the in the end zone at the end of the first half, should have been thrown earlier as well. He’s got to believe in these guys to the point where he has confidence they’re going to be where they’re supposed to be.
The interception thrown by McNabb out of the end zone was high and off target. He just can’t be that off target on that throw. He’s got to get it down and give Jason Avant a chance to make a play on the ball. These are the kind of plays which cost you games.
