Since this was the last Monday Night Football game in Veterans Stadium, no one should have been surprised that two of its principals were tuned up and looking to rumble by the time they hit the parking lot last evening.

Like the preferred pregame beverage of Philadelphia and New York tailgaters, the plotlines in these Eagles-Giants games rarely vary. And one of them always involves the potentially malicious matchup between Michael Strahan and Jon Runyan.

The mano-a-mano between the two towering, talkative antagonists on the outskirts of their teams' lines is typically a barometer of how these Eagles-Giants games play out.

If Runyan makes sure that Donovan McNabb does not recline too often on the turf, as he did last night, Philadelphia's chances are greatly enhanced. But Strahan has 81/2 career sacks against the Eagles' quarterback, which helps explain why, until last season, New York had Philadelphia's number in this ancient series.

Last night, perhaps because of an Eagles game plan designed to pass quickly and run away from the Giants' defensive end, or perhaps because of Strahan's recurring back spasms, this twice-annual gunfight lacked swagger and spark.

"He's always going to go all out," Runyan said when asked if Strahan appeared to be hobbled at all in the Eagles' 17-3 victory. "He was coming off the ball. He got me a couple of times, but Donovan got rid of the ball quick enough."

Strahan had half a sack and four tackles as the Giants got to McNabb only twice. But McNabb was unfettered by the New York defense, collecting 111 yards and a touchdown on seven rushes.

"We've seen him seven or eight times in his career now," Strahan said. "He shouldn't be a surprise."

Runyan, with frequent assistance from tight end Chad Lewis, kept his rival corraled for the most part. The big Eagles tackle had his usual share of late dives and dramatic feints, but none of the unsportsmanlike penalties that Strahan has provoked in the past.

He and his offensive-line mates were even better run- blocking as the suddenly revived Eagles ground game picked up a remarkable 299 yards.

"It was just like last week," Runyan said. "We got the opportunity to run the ball. And every time the backs got a touch, we gave them a hole to hit. . . .

"The backs made awesome reads. They made plays on both sides. Everything was working."

Both Runyan and Strahan had tried to water down their answers to the inevitable questions this week about their heavyweight rivalry. But at the same time, it was clear they understood its importance.

"It's always a challenge to go against him," Runyan said. "Donovan knows [Strahan] is going to get a push every once in a while, so he can't just sit back there and hold onto the ball. Everything just happened right tonight."

Strahan's back flared up early in the second quarter, and that might have turned down the voltage in this duel. He made the tackles when the Eagles ran at him, but he appeared distracted and frustrated at times and just a step slow on his pass rushes.

"My back is fine. No problem," he said.

While Strahan and Runyan engaged in their two-ton tango at one end, the Eagles looked determined to neutralize Strahan's havoc-inducing rushes by moving quickly and in the opposite direction.

"That was our game plan," Runyan said. "Get everybody off. Get the quick passes going."

And when it quickly became obvious that passing wouldn't be easy in the swirling winds, they went to their running game. That seemed to delight Philadelphia's improving offensive line, especially on the 99-yard drive that culminated with McNabb's 40-yard TD scamper.

"What you want to do in those situations is get one first down so you can punt if you have to," said Runyan. "Then get two and all of a sudden you've got a drive going."

Most of the Eagles' 195 rushing yards in the first half came on plays either up the middle or to their left. The Giants are considerably easier to run against without injured veteran Keith Hamilton.

"We really miss Hammer," said Strahan, "against both the pass and the rush."

Left guard John Welbourn sealed off New York's Kenny Holmes on one first-period play and Duce Staley scampered 14 yards.

And just when it looked as if Strahan and the Giants got penetration on Philadelphia's offensive line, McNabb took off on a quarterback draw for 38 yards.

On a 32-yard completion to James Tharsh in the fourth quarter, Runyan and Strahan locked up and the Eagle made a point of throwing off the Giant's arms from his pads.

Two plays later, with Strahan visibly giving up the chase, McNabb scampered past him en route to the spectacular 40-yard touchdown that killed New York.

But, hobbbled or not, Strahan had his moments.

He combined with linebacker Mike Barrow on a first-half sack of McNabb. And, with the Eagles threatening late in the first period, he pressured the Eagles' quarterback into a hurried end-zone incompletion that forced Philadelphia to go for a field goal.

In the end, however, most of the game's ill will seemed to have been usurped by the Giants' Jeremy Shockey and his aggrieved rivals in the Eagles' secondary.

"It doesn't matter about me and Jon," said Strahan. "What matters is that we aren't playing well and that has to change."

Contact Frank Fitzpatrick at 215-854-5068 or ffitzpatrick@phillynews.com.