Eagles quest for gold a success in Bay Area

By Greg Beacham
Associated Press

Mike Patterson finished his stunning 98-yard fumble return at a walk, easing his 292 pounds into the end zone.

After an outstanding effort in San Francisco, the Philadelphia Eagles deserved a little rest — especially the big guy.

Brian Westbrook rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns, also catching a scoring pass from Donovan McNabb in the Eagles’ 38-24 victory over the 49ers on Sunday.

McNabb passed for 296 yards and Reggie Brown caught five passes for 106 yards as the Eagles (2-1) shook off last week’s embarrassing collapse against the Giants, emphatically protecting a huge lead this time with 416 yards of sharp offense.

And one kooky fumble return that will live for years on highlight reels.

Patterson, Philadelphia’s genial run-stopping defensive tackle, seized an unlikely moment when Frank Gore fumbled while trying to stretch over a goal-line pile of players in the third quarter.

Patterson scooped the ball out of the pile and lumbered away, getting to midfield before most of the Niners realized it. He eventually walked over the line for the longest scoring fumble return in Eagles history, surpassing a 32-year-old record.

The Niners also lost Gore, who fumbled at the goal line last week as well, and tight end Vernon Davis to injuries on the play.

Alex Smith passed for 293 yards and rookie Michael Robinson scored two touchdowns for the 49ers (1-2), but their good vibe from last week’s victory over St. Louis evaporated in a cloud of offensive mistakes and missed tackles.

In the Eagles’ 42-3 pounding of the 49ers last September, McNabb passed for 342 yards and five touchdowns. He was nearly as sharp on the opposite coast this time, passing for 232 yards and two scores in the first half alone as Philadelphia went up 24-3.

McNabb completed 12 of his first 16 throws in Philadelphia’s clever game plan, hitting Westbrook and tight end L.J. Smith for short scores.

Westbrook, who missed practice last week with swelling in his knee, got his second TD on a 71-yard run in the second quarter, rudely stiff-arming Niners safety Mike Adams along the way.

San Francisco was booed at halftime, but finally got in the end zone after Patterson’s record run.

Bryan Gilmore’s 75-yard catch set up Robinson’s 1-yard dive — the former Penn State quarterback’s first NFL score.

Robinson scored again, but Smith fumbled twice on crushing hits by Eagles defenders in the fourth quarter. Tight end Eric Johnson caught a touchdown pass with 6 seconds to play.

Top receiver Donte’ Stallworth was a late scratch from the Eagles’ lineup with a hamstring injury, but Brown came through with the first 100-yard receiving game of his short career.

The Eagles adeptly used screen passes and misdirection to frustrate the 49ers’ pass-rushers, who had nine sacks in their first two games.

Brown, the 35th pick in the 2005 draft, could have been chosen by the 49ers to boost the NFL’s worst corps of receivers.

Instead, they used the 33rd pick on disappointing offensive lineman David Baas, whose uniform stayed sparkling-clean in his spot on the Niners’ sideline.

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