"This is not a repeat of last year, Donovan McNabb insists. Don't make too much of a difficult opening game.

After throwing for only 39 yards in an opening-week loss, McNabb was quick to dispel any notion his perceived struggles from last season in Washington had carried over into this year.

"This is a new season,'' the Vikings quarterback said Wednesday. "I passed for over 3,000 yards [last year], that's pretty decent. It's not one of my best, but from the start of it there can be a lot of assumptions. It's a long season; when this next game ends they will probably be saying this is the guy we expected to see."

McNabb disputed the notion the Vikings' offense was too predictable in Week 1, but also hinted there may be new wrinkles in the game plan this week for Tampa Bay. As for his difficult day coming on a week when the league set a passing yards record?

"It doesn't matter if I pass for 400 or 500 yards and we lose, it's still the same feeling," he said. "That is the way you have to approach it as a quarterback in this league. You have to have short-term memory, you have to be patient and you have to understand it's all about winning in this league. If I pass for 37 yards or 400 and we lost the game it's no different.""