NFC Eagles expect challenge from Fox

The former Giants coach has had plenty of success against Donovan McNabb.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- No defensive coordinator has had more success stopping Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles than John Fox.
Fox, now the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, gets another chance at McNabb and the Eagles today. When Fox was the defensive coordinator for the Giants, McNabb was 2-3 in five starts against New York.
Fox's defense held McNabb to a 49.7 completion percentage (89-for-179), 986 yards passing, seven touchdowns, five interceptions and sacked him 25 times.
Does McNabb expect similar trouble against Fox's new defense?
"Not necessarily. It's different personnel," McNabb said. "Some of the things that he does remind you a little bit of the Giants. I think he's added a little bit more wrinkles to it."
In New York, Fox's defensive ends were Michael Strahan and Cedric Jones or Kenny Holmes. He has Mike Rucker and Julius Peppers in Carolina. While no player has more sacks against McNabb than Strahan, Rucker and Peppers present a formidable challenge. Rucker has 11 sacks this season and Peppers has three.
"With Rucker and Peppers, two guys coming off the corner who everyone knows throughout the league, they're able to do a lot more things," McNabb said. "I think [Kris] Jenkins has established himself as one of the top defensive tackles in the league, as well. What we have to do is be able to run at them and be able to set them up for some play-action passes."
Rare win
McNabb's best game against Fox's defense came in December 2001, Fox's last season with the Giants. McNabb completed 21 of 39 passes for 270 yards, three TDs and one interception in an Eagles victory.
The Giants' defense under Fox blitzed McNabb often, and typically used one player to follow him around the field.
Panthers defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac doesn't blitz nearly as much, but he has built his defense around Fox's philosophy.
"There are similarities," Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress said. "I think Mike Trgovac has added a little personality as their defensive coordinator. You can see the base of the defense comes from what [Fox] did with the Giants and they are kind of offshooting from there."
The surprising Panthers opened the season with five consecutive wins, but are 3-3 in their last six games. Their defense is 15th in the NFL, seventh against the run and 25th against the pass.
Carolina's biggest strength is the front seven with Rucker and Peppers at end, Jenkins and Brentson Buckner at the tackle positions and Greg Favors, Dan Morgan and Will Witherspoon at linebacker.
"Their front seven is impactful," Childress said. "This is a different challenge."