2 Sept. 3, 2000: McNabb kicks off his first full year as the starting quarterback with a 41-14 victory at Dallas, in which he completes 16 of 28 passes. Fans settle in, more or less happily, for an era of building expectations. "McNabb looked reasonably comfortable in the pocket, staying in it most of the time, and when he did run he provided that extra dimension that no amount of game-planning can defend against," writes Inquirer columnist Bill Lyon.
3 Jan. 19, 2002: Amid great hoopla, McNabb returns to his hometown of Chicago for a divisional-round playoff game, the final one at the original version of Soldier Field. He masterfully leads the Birds to the NFC Championship Game, beating the Bears, 33-19. After the game, Daily News Eagles beat writer Marcus Hayes writes: "He does things that other quarterbacks cannot do; he does things few ever have been able to do."
4 Nov. 17, 2002: McNabb suffers his first major injury, a broken fibula in the first half of a 38-14 victory over visiting Arizona. McNabb plays with the ankle taped and throws for four touchdowns; postgame X-rays reveal the break. "When the great moments of McNabb's career are recounted some distant day, this one will be included," Daily News Eagles beat writer Les Bowen writes.
5 Jan. 19, 2003: McNabb, in his second game back from the ankle injury, looks rusty as the Eagles abandon a successful run-centered approach and are upset in the NFC Championship Game, 27-10, by Tampa Bay, in the final football game at Veterans Stadium. Daily News sports writer Paul Hagen writes: "So to the fans who cursed into the gloaming and roasted McNabb's less-than-stellar performance as they spilled down the Veterans Stadium ramps for the last time . . . to those who vented their frustrations in chat rooms, to those in the media who stood prepared to pick apart his long, cold afternoon like the carcass of a Thanksgiving turkey, [McNabb] had a message: You're right. 'I played poorly,' he said.
