Redskins quarterback McNabb in Washington

The clock struck zero. Donovan McNabb raised his arms victoriously and a critical NFC East showdown was won. Philadelphia Eagles fans have become accustomed to this sight for over a decade – but never from the outside looking in.

McNabb is now a member of the Washington Redskins. The phrase still does not roll off the tongue any easier than when it first became official this offseason. But the events that unfolded during the first Sunday of the 2010 NFL season certainly drove the point home.

The stats were not overwhelmingly impressive for McNabb, but the end result was a win. And when the Redskins walked off the field after a 13-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, it was clear that their new man under center had taken the reins.

Meanwhile, hours before the final whistle sounded in Washington, the Eagles were heading down the tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field saddled with a 27-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers and a potential quarterback controversy.

Although McNabb would never admit it, a twinge of vindication must have coursed through his mind at the end of the day. Cast off from the city where he had spent his entire career, McNabb provided Washington with what Philadelphia was lacking on opening day: a stable presence to lead the offense.

The Kevin Kolb era has officially begun with a resounding thud. After completing just 5 of 10 passes for 24 yards, the Eagles’ quarterback of the future did not make it into the second half of the game due to a concussion.

Michael Vick filled in admirably for Kolb, rushing and throwing for over 275 combined yards in his first significant action outside of being a Wildcat specialist for the Eagles. But ultimately the offense took on a persona that mirrored the current quarterback situation in Philadelphia: muddled and lacking direction.

In other words, the Eagles' offense was the anti-McNabb.

Whether it was navigating through a season of discontent with Terrell Owens or orchestrating the miracle 4th-and-26 play against Green Bay in the 2004 playoffs, McNabb has always had an innate ability to maintain order amidst chaos.  

And it was that sense of control that the Eagles were missing during the final moments of their season opener.

With just under six minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the team was faced with a critical third down in the red zone. From the moment the ball was snapped, nobody appeared to be on the same page. 

Vick hiked the ball and began rolling to his left, but he quickly reversed direction with Packers linebacker Clay Matthews in hot pursuit. As the pocket collapsed, DeSean Jackson stood open, frantically waving his arms in the back of the end zone.

Vick identified Jackson in between dodging the Green Bay pass rush and contemplating a sprint to the goal line. But by the time Vick released the ball, defenders had blanketed Jackson and the ball never came close to its intended target.

Instead of potentially closing to within three points and energizing the crowd, the Eagles were forced to settle for an uninspiring field goal. In a moment that called for poise, there was none to be found on the field in Philadelphia, and a 0-1 start to the season was the result.

There is no way to definitively say that McNabb would have outperformed the duo of Kolb and Vick if he were still under center. In fact, the Philadelphia quarterbacks posted better combined statistics than McNabb on Sunday in almost every category. But McNabb still has the best numbers where it matters most: the win column.

Regardless of the stats he put up during his 11 years in Philadelphia, McNabb provided a certainty at the quarterback position that the Eagles now lack. Such stability helped lead Philadelphia to eight playoff appearances and one NFC championship during his time there.

Now the City of Brotherly Love finds itself in a quarterback quandary just one week into the season. Philadelphia’s front office has put itself in a position where it needs to give Kolb every opportunity to become the new face of the franchise. But everybody who witnessed Sunday’s loss saw a 30-year-old Vick outperform the future of the franchise.

As Philadelphia debates whether to move forward with a concussed Kolb or a revived Vick, there is only one certainty: McNabb will be under center for Washington. And that is a sight Eagles fans will have to get used to as they wait for answers at the position he vacated. 

To reach staff writer Michael Green, click here.

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