What We Saw

Each week, Daily News football writer Paul Domowitch will tell you the things he will be keeping his eyes on during that week's game. Here is how things panned out yesterday:

1. The turnover battle: Going into yesterday's game, the Eagles had scored just 53 points off of 18 turnovers. Against the Giants, however, they scored two touchdowns that were set up by first- and second-quarter interceptions and a field goal set up by a third-quarter fumble recovery. The Giants, who came into the game having scored 65 points on 13 turnovers, got a field goal after recovering a fumble in the third quarter.

2. The Giants' giant pass rush: The Eagles' offensive line neutralized a Giants' front four that included Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka. Donovan McNabb was sacked twice but generally had plenty of time to pass. He finished 17-for-23 for 240 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 146.7.

3. Oh, those third-and-longs: The Eagles had converted just six of 31 third-down opportunities in the two previous games. Against the Giants, the Eagles were a much better 6-for-11 on third-down opportunities (55 percent).

4. A better McNabb: Donovan McNabb hadn't been sharp in the two games before yesterday's meeting with the Giants, especially on third down where he completed just nine of 20 passes against the Raiders and Redskins. Yesterday, he was much better on third-down situations, including a 17-yard touchdown pass to Brent Celek in the first quarter and a 28-yard completion to Jason Avant that kept a drive alive and led to a field goal by David Akers.

5. When opportunity knocks, answer the freaking door: The Eagles had 27 possessions in games against the Raiders and Redskins and had the ball in enemy territory 13 times. Yet all they had to show for those 13 trips beyond the 50 were four field goals. Yesterday, the only time they DIDN'T score from within Giants territory was when Donovan McNabb fumbled the ball away on the Giants' 40 in the third quarter.