Eagles, Bengals play to 13-13 tie, first in 6 yrs.

[November 17, 2008]  CINCINNATI (AP) -- Given the way Donovan McNabb played, the Philadelphia Eagles were lucky to get the tie. McNabb fumbled and threw three interceptions in regulation, and nearly had another pass picked off in overtime Sunday as the Eagles and Bengals played to a 13-13 tie, the NFL's first in six years.

Cincinnati's Shayne Graham missed a 47-yard field goal with 7 seconds left in overtime, falling to the ground as the ball sailed a few inches wide to the right. It was a fitting way to end a game played like the very definition of a tie. Despite all the shanked punts and trick plays, this one went nowhere.

It was the first tied game in the NFL since Nov. 10, 2002, when the Falcons and Steelers finished 34-34 with Michael Vick and Tommy Maddox matching each other pass for pass. In this one, the teams matched each other gaffe for gaffe.

The Eagles (5-4-1) have yet to win a close game this season, going 0-4 with a tie in games decided by less than a touchdown. McNabb had a big hand in this one, matching his career high with three interceptions and setting up 10 of Cincinnati's points.

He nearly had another, but Johnathan Joseph dropped a potential interception near midfield in overtime. Each team had three chances in the extra 15-minute quarter, but only the Bengals (1-8-1) got close enough to try a field goal.

Considering what went on the previous three hours, no one was surprised when Graham, 6-for-6 this season from 40-49 yards away, sliced it just outside the right upright for the second tie in franchise history. The Bengals played Houston to a 31-31 tie in 1969, their second season.

Philadelphia hadn't finished with a tie since a 10-10 game against Baltimore in 1997. The Eagles' defense had eight sacks and compensated for McNabb's fumble by pulling off a goal-line stand from the 1 in the first quarter. The game soon settled in that pattern -- a blitzing defense trying to erase the offense's mishaps.

It ended up in a draw.

McNabb, who had only five interceptions coming in, went 28-of-58 for 339 yards. He repeatedly missed open receivers in an offense that has come to rely on him almost entirely because it lacks a running game. Brian Westbrook managed only 60 yards, his third straight sub-par game.

Ryan Fitzpatrick went 29-of-44 for 261 yards with a touchdown set up by McNabb's first interception. He was under heavy pressure all game, forcing the Bengals to punt 11 times, tying their team record.

After Philadelphia's David Akers tied it at 13 with 5:18 to go in regulation, neither team could put together a drive until the Bengals' final one, set up by Sav Rocca's third shanked punt of the game to Cincinnati's 41. Sheldon Brown's roughing-the-passer penalty gave the Bengals another huge break and set up Graham's final kick.

Not even the breaks could break the tie.

[Associated Press; By JOE KAY]

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