PHILADELPHIA (Dec. 7, 2005) -- Mike McMahon will start at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles against the New York Giants on Dec. 11 despite being benched after throwing two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns against Seattle.
"I like Mike's mobility," coach Andy Reid said. "It's important everybody does their job. The quarterback gets the brunt of it. I'm not going to point fingers. Everybody had a piece in it."
Koy Detmer replaced McMahon on Dec. 5 in the second quarter of a 42-0 loss to the Seahawks, but didn't fare much better.
McMahon was awful against Seattle. He completed 4 of 10 passes for 61 yards and the two picks. On the first interception, McMahon stared down receiver Greg Lewis and tried to force a pass between two defenders. Andre Dyson stepped in front, picked it off and ran untouched 72 yards for a score. However, it's possible Lewis might have run the wrong route or didn't make the proper adjustment to the ball.
Rookie linebacker Lofa Tatupu appeared to be the intended receiver when he intercepted McMahon's pass for L.J. Smith and ran it back 38 yards for a TD in the second quarter.
Overall, McMahon has started three games since Donovan McNabb went out with a sports hernia and is 37-for-83 for 486 yards, one TD, three interceptions and a passer rating of 52.6. He played one more series after the second interception against Seattle before going to the sideline for good.
Detmer was 13-for-29 for 84 yards against the Seahawks. His first pass was tipped by Tatupu, intercepted by Michael Boulware and returned to the Eagles 2.
Detmer had been McNabb's backup since 2000, but Reid chose McMahon to start when the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback decided to have season-ending surgery.
"We all have to get on the same page," McMahon said. "If one guy makes a mistake, it can ruin the whole play."
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2005, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
