Eagles breeze by Cleveland, 30-10

THE EAGLES hadn't enjoyed many of these loosen-the-belt-and-exhale games since the season opener, which last night's balmy weather evoked.

The outcome of their 30-10 victory was never in doubt, after valiant Hank Baskett ran down cornerback Brandon McDonald at the Birds' 7 on a near-disaster of a final play of the first half. Lots of stat-building ensued against a Cleveland Browns team that mostly looked like it would rather have been somewhere else, would have preferred to quietly shuffle toward the end of its season far from the harsh glare of the "Monday Night Football" spotlight.

For Donovan McNabb, it had to feel good to complete 26 of 35 passes for 290 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and then take a seat with more than 11 minutes left in the game. For Jason Avant, it had to feel good to catch five passes for a career-high 101 yards. Ditto DeSean Jackson (five for 77). Correll Buckhalter celebrated his return from 2 weeks off because of a knee injury with 55 yards on six carries. The Eagles' defense had to feel very good about allowing only a field goal, on Cleveland's first drive of the game, and generally terrorizing quarterbacks Ken Dorsey and Joshua Cribbs. The Birds' D has allowed one meaningless garbage-time touchdown in the past two games.

But this was not a win to savor, it was a hurdle that had to be crossed. The next hurdle is looming at FedEx Field, where the Redskins lurk, just 5 days from today. Even if the 8-5-1 Eagles clear that one and the final one, Dallas at Lincoln Financial Field Dec. 28, they still might not make the playoffs. Atlanta's overtime victory Sunday over Tampa really cast a shadow over this late sprint to the finish from a Birds team that has only itself to blame for not being able to control its own destiny.

The Eagles couldn't beat Atlanta (again) last night, though, they could only drop Cleveland to 4-10, and keep themselves alive in case they get a little help from Brad Childress and the Vikings this weekend.

"Worrying about it is not going to change anything," noted middle linebacker Stewart Bradley. "If we don't win out, it's all for naught. We have to focus on winning our games."

Cornerback Asante Samuel spoke of "trying to sneak up in these playoffs, one way or another."

Eagles coach Andy Reid was talking about the short week when he declared afterward that "there is no time right now," but his words could have just as easily referred to the overall situation facing his team.