Compare that statline with the numbers posted by Peyton Manning over the same three seasons: 1,092 for 1,709 (63.9%), 12,744 passing yards, 86 TDs, 57 INTs, 7.5 YPA, 89.3 passer rating.

Garcia was preceded by two Hall of Famers in San Francisco (Joe Montana and Steve Young), but he’s the only quarterback in franchise history to complete 300 or more passes in three straight seasons. He also set a franchise record with 4,278 passing yards in the 2000 season.

Despite his production, Garcia was vilified by serial malefactor Terrell Owens in San Francisco, who went so far as to question the quarterback’s sexual orientation (Garcia, for the record, is engaged to 2004 Playboy Playmate of the Year Carmella DeCesare). He spent the 2004 season with Cleveland and the 2005 campaign in Detroit – two cities where careers normally go to die. Injuries, coupled with franchise ineptitude, cut into Garcia’s production.

But if Garcia can show some of the magic he displayed in San Francisco, the Eagles will be in very good shape over the final six weeks of the season.

Indy’s Tony Dungy and Philly’s Andy Reid are elite NFL coaches
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Few coaches have posted better regular-season records than Dungy (111-59) and Reid (75-47). But, for better or worse, football history pays scant attention to regular-season accomplishments. Instead, it rewards those who have performed in the postseason. And it’s in the postseason that Dungy and Reid have been anything but elite.

Dungy’s postseason failures have become legendary. No active coach has a better regular-season winning percentage (.653). But in the playoffs, his teams (Tampa and Indy) have won just 5 of 13 games. He’s reached a conference championship game just twice, with Tampa in 1999 and with Indy in 2003. His Colts last year flirted with an undefeated campaign, winning their first 13 games of the season. They didn't win a playoff game.

Reid has won .614 percent of his regular-season games and does have a winning mark in the postseason (7-5). But he has the ignominious distinction of losing three straight NFC championship games from 2001 to 2003, two of them at home. His Eagles finally won the NFC title in 2004, only to fall by 3 points to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

Reid’s Eagles won 12 or more games each year from 2002 to 2004. Dungy’s Colts won 12 or more games each year from 2003 to 2005 (and will likely match that mark again in 2006).

They are the only coaches in NFL history to win 12 or more games in three straight seasons and not win at least one championship.

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