LANDOVER, Md. (AP) – Michael Vick and the new-look Philadelphia offense produced four touchdowns, Robert Griffin III threw two interceptions for the first time in his career and the Eagles built a 33-14 lead over the Washington Redskins after three quarters Monday night.
Playing their first game under coach Chip Kelly, Philadelphia amassed 21 first downs and 322 yards before halftime.
The Eagles led 26-7 at intermission and added a 34-yard touchdown run by LeSean McCoy early in the third quarter.
Washington got its first offensive touchdown of the year with six seconds left in the period, on a 5-yard run by Alfred Morris.
In the first half, Vick threw a 25-yard TD pass to DeSean Jackson and a 28-yard scoring strike to Brent Celek before running in from the 3 with 58 seconds left in the second quarter.
Griffin returned only eight months after having two ligaments repaired in his right knee, a procedure that occurred only a few days after the Redskins’ playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
The crowd chanted “RG3!” before the game, but thousands of them began heading toward the exits midway through the third quarter after Washington’s first sustained drive ended with a sack, and incompletion and a missed field goal.
Entering the fourth quarter, Griffin was 15 for 28 for 160 yards and two interceptions. He was picked off only five times last year as a rookie.
Washington’s first touchdown came on a 75-yard fumble return by DeAngelo Hall. The Redskins’ initial three possessions ended with a Morris fumble, an interception and another fumble by Morris.
Kelly went 46-7 at Oregon before deciding to give his fast-paced offense a whirl in the NFL. As debuts go, this one was extremely impressive.
After the Eagles got the opening kickoff, Vick immediately went to work. Operating without a huddle, Vick started with four straight passes in taking Philadelphia to a first-and-goal at the Washington 4.
Vick then threw to his right, and the ball was deflected by Washington’s Ryan Kerrigan. Hall picked it up and took it the other way for a touchdown.
Following a lengthy replay review, officials ruled the pass was a lateral and confirmed the score.
Undaunted, Vick moved the Eagles 51 yards in five plays before his third down pass to tight end Zach Ertz was ruled incomplete. Kelly challenged the call, was denied, and Alex Henery followed with a 48-yard field goal.
Vick then wrapped two touchdown passes around a Philadelphia safety, and the veteran quarterback’s touchdown run capped a lopsided first half in which the Eagles ran 53 plays to 21 for the Redskins.
Washington could muster only three first downs in the opening 30 minutes.
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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org
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