McNabb, Eagles too much for Falcons

Philadelphia marches into NFC title game with 20-6 win against Atlanta

? For anyone who was wondering, Donovan McNabb is doing just fine.

And Michael Vick still has a few lessons to learn.

McNabb made a triumphant return from a broken ankle to lead Philadelphia past Vick’s Atlanta Falcons, 20-6, Saturday night, putting the Eagles within a victory of their first Super Bowl in 22 years.

Bobby Taylor returned in an interception 39 yards for an early touchdown that put the Eagles ahead, and Vick & Co. never caught up.

The game was billed as a matchup between two of the game’s shining stars: McNabb, the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, against the guy he once showed around the Syracuse campus.

Vick’s eye-popping speed and prodigious arm may one day carry him to heights higher than McNabb, but not on this frigid night at the “Concrete Jungle.” Crusty ol’ Veterans Stadium, occupied by 66,452 towel-waving fans, will hang around for one more game, the NFC championship next Sunday against either Tampa Bay or San Francisco.

“I’m still a little rusty according to everyone else,” McNabb said. “I came out here and wanted to calm everyone down and play football again. Everyone talked about the mobility and the rust. I just wanted to play football.”

Vick reached the end zone once, but the 20-yard run — which would have tied the game in the third quarter — was called back by a holding penalty. Otherwise, the Eagles defense ruled the day.

“You need to have home games in the playoffs,” Vick said. “It’s tough to win on the road in the playoffs. The turf was tough, and they seemed to be getting the calls.”

McNabb, playing his first game since Nov. 17, did just enough on offense to earn the top-seeded Eagles at least another game. He showed right away that his right ankle was OK.

On Philadelphia’s second offensive play, McNabb scrambled to his right, raced past Keith Brooking and scooted out of bounds with a 19-yard run.

“Getting on the sideline, I wanted to continue warming it up,” McNabb said. “In weather like this, you want to continue to keep your body loose.”

The Falcons, after falling behind 13-0, made a game of it until McNabb sealed the victory with 6:26 remaining.

On fourth-and-1 at the Philadelphia 35, McNabb got some huge blocks up front to hold off the blitzing Falcons and threw to James Thrash, who spun away from Ray Buchanan and raced all the way to the end zone for the only offensive touchdown of the night.

McNabb completed 20 of 30 for 247 yards.

Vick, who made the Pro Bowl in his first year as a starter, was sacked three times and threw two interceptions — one that was returned for Philadelphia’ first touchdown.

The 22-year-old quarterback finished 22 of 38 passing for 274 yards. He also ran for 30 yards on six carries.

The Vet will be torn down after one more season of Phillies baseball, but it’s trying to go out in style.