ASHBURN – The calendar changes, and so does Donovan McNabb’s performance. At least it did in the past. December rolls around, and McNabb perks up — his numbers rise, and his team wins.
So when he says he wants to carry the team through the final month, he’s only doing so because, well, he’s sort of done it for much of his 11-year career.
“It’s been a comfort level for me,” McNabb said. “I enjoy this time of year.”
It’s hard not to considering he’s 22-9 in regular-season games in December and January.
And his passing statistics improve after November as well. His career passer rating is 85.7; after December begins, it’s 88.9. He’s averaged 6.9 yards per pass attempt entering this season. From this point forward on the calendar, he averages 7.2 yards.
His touchdown percentage is greater (4.55 percent of his throws for his career, 4.9 percent in December/January) as well. For his career, he has thrown 50 regular-season touchdown passes in December and January to 23 interceptions. The only number that increased was his rate of interceptions: from 2.1 for his career before this season to 2.2 after November.
Players talk about taking the same approach for every game. But there’s no doubt when there are fewer games remaining and a division title is at stake, some can raise their performance.
“The great ones do,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said.
“That’s been my mentality the whole way,” McNabb said. “When you get into this situation in the later part of the season this is when you have to play your best. This is the time where guys have to challenge themselves and make those plays we haven’t been able to make in recent weeks.”
If his success continues this year with a new team, it would be more unlikely. The Redskins aren’t as talented as McNabb’s Philadelphia teams. The running game is sputtering thanks to injuries, and the Redskins’ passing game, unlike the Eagles, is predicated more on having a consistent ground attack to set up play-action passes and bootlegs.
But at least McNabb gets to face the Giants. He has won four straight over New York. For his career, he’s thrown 25 touchdown passes and only six interceptions vs. the Giants.
“He’s done very well against us,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin told reporters in a conference call. “Thank you for bringing that up. He’s a competitor. He has a tremendous arm.”
And a desire to finish strong. At this time, McNabb said quarterbacks have to attack differently.
“Little things can turn a game around,” he said. “You don’t want it to be a turnover. You have to be smart.”
And the so-called carrying of a team is not as simple as proclaiming you’re going to do so. McNabb said there’s an attitude change at this time and more communicating in practice.
“Everyone gets a chance to see that, and it’s contagious out there,” he said. “Someone has to step up and do something different, if it’s being more vocal or whatever. This is definitely the time where you really have to bring it out.”
