With all the new faces in Washington, a ragged start to the preseason could have been expected. Instead, the Redskins routed Buffalo, getting a solid debut from Donovan McNabb and a contribution from Albert Haynesworth.
McNabb went 5 for 8 for 58 yards in two series Friday night and hit first-year player Anthony Armstrong for a 4-yard touchdown in the Redskins’ 42-17 romp past the Bills. Mike Shanahan’s debut as Redskins coach was a success, while Chan Gailey’s first game in charge of the Bills was a bust.
“When you play your first game, obviously, with a new ballclub, it takes you back to the first game you played,” McNabb said. “Your adrenaline is high, and you have to settle down a little bit. The second time we went out, after our first drive, it led to us putting up some points.”
Shanahan, fired in Denver after the 2008 season and hired earlier this year by the Redskins, liked what he saw.
“It was a good first game,” Shanahan said, “and hopefully we can build from here.”
ir already lengthy injury list. Fred Jackson will miss the rest of the preseason with a hand injury, and Marshawn Lynch has an ankle problem that Gailey hopes is “more short-term than it is long-term.”
“Thank goodness it’s preseason,” Gailey said.
Also Friday night, it was Philadelphia 28, Jacksonville 27, and Atlanta 20, Kansas City 10.
McNabb’s favorite target was tight end Chris Cooley, who caught three passes for 33 yards – a surefire harbinger of the regular season, especially with the Redskins still trying to figure out their receiver corps. McNabb’s last throw was the TD to Armstrong, who has made a surprisingly strong case for a roster spot.
Brandon Banks, an undrafted rookie receiver from Kansas State listed at 5-foot-7, made some look-at-me noise with a dynamic 77-yard punt return down the right sideline for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Haynesworth, who ended up on the short end of a monthslong showdown with Shanahan, skipped offseason workouts because he wanted a trade to keep from playing in a 3-4 defense. He wasn’t allowed to practice at camp until passing a conditioning test. When he finally passed the test on the 10th day of camp, he was told he’ll have to play with the reserves until he earns a spot back in the starting lineup.
line committed two false starts while he was in the game, and he did exactly what a nose tackle is supposed to do – occupy multiple bodies – while rookie Perry Riley blitzed unencumbered and forced Trent Edwards to rush a throw.
After the game, Haynesworth took questions from reporters for the first time since last season. He said he grown to like the Redskins’ version of the 3-4 and is confident he can be a playmaker in the defense.
“It’s different, but I like it. It’s something I’ve got to get used to, but other than that, it’s going to be a good defense,” Haynesworth said. “They allow me to pass rush and everything like that, which is really important to me.”
Eagles 28, Jacksonville 27
At Philadelphia, Kevin Kolb was impressive in Philadelphia and backup Michael Vick displayed flashes of his old self before rookie Mike Kafka rallied the Eagles in their preseason opener.
Pro Bowl kicker David Akers made all five of his field goals, including a 36-yarder that gave the Eagles a one-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Jaguars backup Luke McCown picked apart Philadelphia’s junior-varsity secondary, throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns.
But the focus was on Kolb, anointed the starter and given a contract extension after McNabb was traded.
ion.
Falcons 20, Chiefs 10
At Atlanta, Matt Ryan played two decent series. Matt Cassel played four average ones. Both quarterbacks lacked solid protection in the preseason opener, but Ryan’s Falcons got better play from their rookie reserves.
Dexter McCluster, a second-round pick, made a few dazzling moves as a tailback and a slot receiver for Kansas City. But Dimitri Nance and Shann Schillinger helped put the Falcons ahead to stay early in the third quarter.
Nance, an undrafted rookie free agent from Arizona State, ran for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 10-3. Schillinger, a sixth-round cornerback, set up the score by picking off Brodie Croyle’s throw and returning it 29 yards.
Add A Comment