American football: Eagles soar to Super Bowl

NEW YORK - Donovan McNabb threw for a pair of touchdowns as the Philadelphia Eagles returned to the Super Bowl for the first time in 25 years on Sunday with a 27-10 win over Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC title game.

After stumbling at the last hurdle in the previous three seasons, the Eagles finally cleared it with ease by taking a 14-3 lead in the second quarter and never trailing to send the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field into wild celebration.

The Eagles, whose tenacious defence were a key factor in the win, now meet the Pittsburgh Steelers or New England Patriots, who clash in the AFC championship game later on Sunday, in Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Florida on February 6.

"We've got one more game to play," McNabb told a screaming crowd as he lifted the NFC championship trophy. "That's what we set out to do -- win a Super Bowl."

The last three years Philadelphia supporters slumped home disappointed but this time the outcome was rarely in doubt as the Eagles defence shut down Vick, the Falcons' All Pro quarterback and their biggest weapon.

The game was the first featuring two African American quarterbacks going head-to-head in an NFL conference championship and it was McNabb who emerged the clear winner, completing 17 of 26 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns.

Vick finished with 11 completions for 136 yards and no touchdowns but, more importantly, the bruising quarterback was not allowed to break free, limited to just 26 yards rushing.

The Eagles drew first blood, Dorsey Levens bulling over from the four to bring a shivering capacity crowd to their feet.

Atlanta came right back, Vick marching his team down the field to the Philadelphia two, but would settle for a 23-yard Jay Feely field goal after the Eagles defence mounted an inspiring goal line stand.

Working into a ferocious wind, McNabb put the Eagles in front 14-3, floating a three-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Chad Lewis who still had to make an acrobatic catch to come down in bounds with the ball.

The Falcons stayed close when Warrick Dunn powered his way into the end zone with two minutes remaining in the half to cut the deficit to 14-10.

But the Falcons would get no closer, David Akers adding two third quarter field goals and McNabb combining with Lewis for another two-yard touchdown strike with just over three minutes to play to seal the win.

- REUTERS