After the agonizing loss to the New York Giants last Sunday, quarterback Donovan McNabb reused a familiar mantra at his press conference on Wednesday.

"Tuesday is when everyone begins to focus in on San Francisco and kind of put everything else behind us," said McNabb. "We've all watched the film, we've all kind of analyzed ourselves and been able to evaluate the situations that happened throughout the course of the game and have moved on. Now it's time to erase that by going to San Francisco and playing well."

QB Donovan McNabb

Playing well will be a necessity this Sunday as the Eagles head to the Golden Gate City for their game against a much improved 49ers team under second-year head coach Mike Nolan.

Letting one game slip away from you is one thing. You can rebound from that. But if you lose two or three in a row, it turns into a major problem. McNabb knows that being a veteran on the team; he has to keep the attitude in the locker room positive and focused on the right things.

"The message that we can send as veterans on this team, is to make sure the young guys know it's a 16-game season," said McNabb. "You don't win the Super Bowl or lose the Super Bowl on one particular game early on in the season and for them to understand, we are a good team, we're a team that offensively and defensively can do what we want to do if we go out and execute and be consistent."

McNabb also recognized that the 49ers defense has done many things right this season and has some playmakers that may make things difficult for the Eagles offense.

"They have a lot of young guys on the team, but they also have a lot of veterans who've been there through the dog days and through some great times," said McNabb.

"Bryant Young has been there for Super Bowls and down years, but he just continues to establish himself as one of the best defensive tackles in the game. They have two linebackers (Derek Smith and Brandon Moore) in the league and played with different teams and they've been leading the troops in a positive direction.

"Also, they have (safety) Tony Parrish who's been with the Bears and San Francisco for a couple years. A lot of things they do, present challenges to you, it's going to be a tough task for us."

Young, as McNabb mentioned, is an outstanding defensive tackle and has been for many years. Young registered a team-high eight sacks and already has two in his 13th season. A quick recovery from the overtime loss to the Giants - where the Eagles lost a 17-point led in the fourth quarter - against the 49ers will be essential for the Eagles and their efforts to get things going in the right direction this season.

The play of Donovan McNabb and the rest of the offense will be integral in doing so, and that is what they are solely focused on, and nothing from the past.