As on-target finishes go, it doesn't get much better for Donovan McNabb. Only twice all year — in fact, only nine times in a nine-year career that now spans 131 games — has he ever been more accurate than he was in Sunday's season-ending victory over the Bills.

And then he was even better afterward.

"I think this is going to be an important offseason for us," McNabb said. "No matter how you look at it, it's got to be an important offseason. We have to focus on a lot of different things, obviously bring pieces in to help us out next year and the years to come. And for the guys that are here, to elevate our games to be ready to go."

Based on the last three weeks, McNabb will be ready. He was no small factor in the Birds' season-ending three-game win streak, hitting 64.9 percent of his passes (76-of-117) during that stretch, for five touchdowns against one interception.

He also continued to progress mobility-wise in his comeback from a November 2006 ACL tear, rushing 15 times for 90 yards in road wins over Dallas and the Saints that preceded Sunday's final curtain call. And despite the rampant speculation — not to mention some wishful thinking among his critics — it seems clear that he will remain at the wheel of Andy Reid's offense in 2008.

Based on his postgame comments, McNabb is as confident of his return as anyone. He spoke of how important it will be for the Eagles to learn from this year's mistakes. He took the blame for a season total of 44 sacks that was just one shy of a career-worst. And he was probably more candid about his repaired knee than ever before.

"It's not really ever going to be at 100 percent, I don't think," he said. "I guess, playing the percentage game again, you just want to get it back in the 90s, or whenever it feels like it never happened. But when you have injuries, it's not ever going to be at 100 percent again."

That said, McNabb made it clear that he didn't feel he came back too soon. That, of course, was among the many theories served up in the wake of a 3-5 first half that proved too much for this team to overcome.

"No, I don't (think so)," he said. "I rehabbed hard and felt that I could get out there and be the player I know I can be. I think for anyone, when you get to that point, you just get so excited to get back out there. Once you get out there and start moving around and getting with the guys, you get your mind off the injury and just focus on what you need to do. I don't look back and say I rushed to get back."

Despite the physical challenges and standard ration of negative feedback, McNabb, 31, showed there is plenty of gas left in the tank. His 61.5 completion percentage was the second highest of his career, and his seven interceptions matched his second-best season total. His 3,324 passing yards were his third best total, his 19 TDs fourth.

And though he did miss two games — both losses, to New England and Seattle — with ankle and thumb injuries, he did not finish the season on injured reserve for the first time in three years.

"I think he has taken positive steps all the way through the season," Reid said. "He had the one setback with the ankle. We stepped back a little bit and gave him a couple of weeks to get himself back and ready to go. It's all been positive since then. He's done nothing but get better as the season has gone on."

Actually, McNabb has done a few other things, like deal with brush fires that in some cases may have been his own doing. He had to answer questions he didn't want to hear after a FOX sideline report that indicated he felt the Eagles were distancing themselves from him. At first, McNabb denied it altogether, then implied he thought the exchange was off the record.

Sunday, he didn't sidestep the question of whether he still wanted to be here.

"Absolutely," he said. "I love being here. I love the passion of the fans. I love playing for the fans. I just try to provide excitement and make big plays for them, and hear the crowd roar. I've always loved being here, and look forward to being here more."

Just as he does on the field, guard Shawn Andrews was one teammate who had McNabb's back.

"It's tough, being that Donovan has done so much for this team, the organization, the city and the fans, and it's almost like Hollywood and the, 'what have you done for me lately' mentality," Andrews said. "He has done some great things. We all make mistakes. … We just have to go out and correct it, and hope people stay behind him."

As for what he meant by the phrase, "important offseason," McNabb refused to be any more specific than "just kind of bringing more weapons on both sides of the ball, and special teams." And that came in response to a direct question about the wide receiver position.

He did offer a "nice try" to one questioner, though.

"You know what I mean," he said.

Nothing like the benefits of experience.

E-mail: jyoung@lnpnews.com