PHILADELPHIA (AP) -The way Donovan McNabb is completing passes, it won’t matter if he has lost a step.
Playing his first game since tearing a knee ligament last November, McNabb did everything but scramble in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 27-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Friday night.
The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback put on an aerial display in the first quarter, finishing 6-for-9 for 138 yards, including a 58-yard strike to tight end Matt Schobel. He led the Eagles (1-1) to 10 points on four possessions, before giving way to backup A.J. Feeley.
While McNabb shined, Jake Delhomme struggled for the Panthers (1-1). Delhomme, coming off a subpar season, was 9-for-18 for 78 yards, got sacked three times and threw one interception that was returned 40 yards for a touchdown by Lito Sheppard.
McNabb came out firing, completing a 27-yard pass to Kevin Curtis on the first play from scrimmage. He connected with Jason Avant for a 16-yard gain on the next play, before his fourth attempt fell incomplete.
Philly’s first-team defense shut down the Panthers in just under one half of action. Carolina managed only 37 total yards in six possessions against the starters.
Delhomme’s backup, David Carr, scored on a 9-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Falcons 13, Bills 10
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – Bills quarterback J.P. Losman was given every opportunity to produce a scoring drive, but came up empty. Atlanta’s Joey Harrington wasn’t much better.
The Falcons (1-1) pulled out the win when backup quarterback Chris Redman – filling in for injured third-stringer D.J. Shockley – hit George Cooper for a 1-yard touchdown pass with 2:38 remaining.
The lone touchdown for Buffalo (1-1) came from third-stringer Trent Edwards, who hit Roscoe Parrish for a 10-yard pass in the third quarter.
Losman went 7-of-13 for 78 yards passing, and the Bills’ starters managed three first downs despite playing the entire first half. All they produced was Rian Lindell’s 48-yard field goal that was set up by John McCargo’s fumble recovery.
In two games, Buffalo’s first-string offense has combined for 133 yards and five first downs in eight series.
Harrington was 4-of-7 for 31 yards passing in his second preseason start and efficiently drove the Falcons 69 yards on 10 plays on their opening possession. Harrington also underthrew Roddy White with a pass that was easily intercepted by Terrence McGee.
Vikings 37, Jets 20
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Chad Pennington came out throwing this time – a little too often.
A week after not attempting a pass, the New York quarterback had two ill-advised throws returned for touchdowns in a loss to Minnesota.
Darren Sharper’s 40-yard return came on Pennington’s third pass, and Chad Greenway later brought one back 16 yards for the Vikings (1-1), who took advantage of nearly every mistake by the Jets (1-1).
Rookie defensive end Brian Robison returned a fumble for a touchdown, the Vikings’ third off a turnover. Rookie running back Adrian Peterson also had a big game for Minnesota, gaining 70 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
Pennington finished 7-of-10 for 40 yards for the Jets, who were playing without star running back Thomas Jones, sidelined by a strained right calf. Cornerback Darrelle Revis, the Jets’ first-round pick, was in uniform but didn’t play after ending his holdout Wednesday.
Ryan Longwell kicked a 54-yard field goal as time expired in the opening half to give Minnesota a 24-13 lead. The veteran kicker also had field goals of 22 and 27 yards.
Titans 27, Patriots 24
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – Vince Young might have been better off staying home again.
After being benched for Tennessee’s exhibition opener for spending the previous night at his house instead of the team hotel, Young was sacked four times. He also was tackled just short of the goal line on his final play in the Titans’ win over New England.
Young completed five of 17 passes for 102 yards and ran four times for 9 yards. Last season’s offensive Rookie of the Year played the entire first half before Kerry Collins started the third quarter.
Collins led Tennessee (1-1) back from a 17-7 halftime deficit on a 15-yard pass to Roydell Williams, John Vaughn’s 31-yard field goal and Dontrell Moore’s 4-yard run.
Vaughn’s 22-yard field goal provided the winning points with 1:49 left after New England quarterback Matt Gutierrez scrambled for a 2-yard touchdown.
Tom Brady went 10-for-19 for 145 yards, a 28-yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker and two interceptions for the Patriots (0-2). He played seven series before Matt Cassel took over late in the first half.
Brady was knocked hard to the ground on two passes that turned into interceptions and was slow getting up both times.
New England played its second straight game without two key offensive starters – wide receiver Randy Moss (upper leg injury) and running back Laurence Maroney (offseason shoulder surgery).
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