Terrell Owens had seven catches for 112 yards on Monday night. Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
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I think Terrell Owens short-armed the ball on a crucial pass play at the end of the Eagles' 14-10 loss to the Falcons last Monday night. Which means he gave up on the catch, either through loss of concentration or fatigue. I wouldn't go so far as to accuse him of chickening out, which usually goes with the short-reach approach.

Others might not agree, certainly not John Madden or Al Michaels, who were into their end-of-game wrap-up stuff, such as which quarterback would get Madden's Horse Trailer award, and hardly described the play. I think it was big.

It came with less than a minute to go when Philly was on its own 49, second-and-10. A touchdown at this point would have been a long shot, especially the way the Falcons' defense was playing, but not impossible. Donovan McNabb was having a miserable night. His ball was diving and sailing on him, and he wasn't getting much help from his receivers, who were making routine catches but not tough ones.

Actually he had only two receivers, T.O. and Brian Westbrook, the running back. The other guys were non-factors. Westbrook had been effective in the first half, scoring the Eagles' only touchdown when a linebacker missed him. But at halftime the Falcons adjusted their coverage and took the LBs off him -- he was too quick for them -- and handed him over to free safety Bryan Scott.

Normally you wouldn't want to use up a safetyman on a running back, preferring to have him help out on the deep stuff, but nothing was happening downfield anyway, so why not? It was effective for the Falcons.

And how about T.O., the most serious threat in the game? That job went to DeAngelo Hall, a second year man who had him all over the field. It would be a test of courage for the 5-10, 197-pound Hall. Normally T.O. handles guys that size arrogantly, kind of slapping them off him when he makes a catch. It earned him All-Pro honors last year and got the Eagles into the Super Bowl.

Not Monday night. Hall didn't back off. He's a tough guy, tougher than anyone gave him credit for. Oh, he got a little help from LB Demorrio Williams a couple of times, but generally it was just he against Owens. T.O. caught seven passes, but McNabb threw 18 to him ... not a bad percentage for the defense ... and Hall kept him out of the end zone and intercepted one pass.