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.
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