49ers at Philadelphia Eagles

Donovan McNabb threw five touchdown passes and the Philadelphia Eagles crushed the 49ers 42-3 at Lincoln Financial Field. McNabb finished 23-of-29 for 342 yards. Brian Westbrook ran for 89. Tim Rattay threw three interceptions. Kevan Barlow ran for 34. The 49ers' offense produced one Joe Nedney field goal. The Eagles scored 28 first-half points. The 49ers fell to 1-1 in the cross-conference road blowout.[1][2][3]

Donovan McNabb went 23-of-29 for 342 yards and five touchdowns Sunday morning at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles crushed the 49ers 42-3 in the kind of cross-conference road blowout where, after Mike Nolan's debut home win over the Rams, the team's identity tape ran straight into the defending NFC champion.

Tim Rattay threw three interceptions in his second start. The 49ers produced one Joe Nedney field goal. Kevan Barlow ran for 34. Brandon Lloyd caught one for 23. Vernon Davis was not yet on the roster (drafted in 2006). Eric Johnson at tight end. The defense surrendered five touchdown passes to McNabb.

1-1. The kind of road blowout that, against the defending NFC champion, was the kind of cross-conference result the line predicted. The Dallas Cowboys at home next Sunday in another NFC East matchup. The kind of week where the 49ers' identity tape, two weeks in, has produced both the year's signature upset and the year's worst result.

Eagles 42, 49ers 3. Margin: -39. Two-game record: 1-1, -36 differential.

* Donovan McNabb: 23-of-29 for 342, 5 TDs, 0 INTs.
* Brian Westbrook: 15 carries for 89.
* Terrell Owens: receiving production with TD.
* Tim Rattay: 13-of-26 for 107, 0 TDs, 3 INTs.
* Kevan Barlow: 10 carries for 34.
* Arnaz Battle: 4 catches for 44.
* Joe Nedney: 1 FG.
* 49ers 1-1; Eagles 2-0.

A 42-3 cross-conference road blowout at Lincoln Financial Field. The 49ers fall to 1-1.

How it unfolded

Philadelphia scored on its opening drive with a McNabb touchdown to make it 7-0. The Eagles added a second touchdown to push the lead to 14-0. The 49ers managed a Joe Nedney field goal to make it 14-3. McNabb threw a third touchdown to make it 21-3. The Eagles added another touchdown before halftime to make it 28-3. The second half was two more McNabb touchdowns to make it 42-3. The 49ers' offense produced no second-half points.

The turning point

The Eagles' opening two touchdowns. With Mike Nolan's defensive identity, fresh off the opening upset of the Rams, on the field for the kind of cross-conference road test the schedule produces, the Eagles' two early scoring drives turned the day into a blowout before the first quarter ended.

By the numbers

Rattay 107 passing on 26 attempts with three INTs. Kevan Barlow 34 rushing on 10 carries. Arnaz Battle 44 receiving on 4 catches. Brandon Lloyd 23 receiving. McNabb 342 on 29 attempts with five TDs. Westbrook 89 rushing. T.O. with the receiving TD.

Personnel watch

Tim Rattay's three-INT game, the kind of road performance that exposed the year's core offensive concerns. Donovan McNabb's five-TD game, the kind of opposing-quarterback day the 49ers' defense had not been built to contain. Brandon Lloyd quiet. Kevan Barlow's productive but limited touches.

What it means

1-1 with the Cowboys at home next Sunday. The kind of cross-conference road blowout where the year's competitive identity, two weeks in, has both ends of the bell curve. The Mike Nolan era's first road game produced the kind of result the line predicted; the offseason talk about the roster's competitive ceiling now has Sunday's tape to point at.