McNabb impressive in Redskins debut
LANDOVER, Md. » Donovan McNabb threw a touchdown pass in his Washington Redskins debut, Albert Haynesworth looked suitably motivated in his debut as a $100 million backup, and the new-look Buffalo Bills looked like the same old Buffalo Bills.
McNabb went 5-for-8 for 58 yards in two series last night and hit first-year player Anthony Armstrong for a 4-yard touchdown in the Redskins’ 42-17 win over the mistake-ridden Bills. It was a first-glimpse preseason game that shows Washington’s new coach Mike Shanahan is quite a bit further along than Buffalo’s new coach Chan Gailey.
It’s been a little more than four months since the Easter Sunday trade that brought McNabb to the Redskins, and it’s still a jarring sight to see No. 5 in something other than a Philadelphia Eagles uniform. After a couple of wayward throws on his first series, he went 4-for-5 for 47 yards on his second drive and showed he still has some speed in his 33-year-old legs by scrambling to convert a third and 1.
"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. Then good things happen. There are a lot of things we have to work on, but I thought offensively we were able to progress."
Eagles 28, Jaguars 27
Starter Kevin Kolb was impressive and backup Michael Vick displayed flashes of his old self before rookie Mike Kafka rallied the Eagles to victory 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 Donovan McNabb was traded to Washington in April.
Kolb was 6-for-11 for 95 yards. Vick was 11-for-17 for 119 yards and ran for 50 yards. He made a couple of spectacular plays, but also lost a fumble and threw an interception.
Falcons 20, Chiefs 10
Matt Ryan played two decent series in Atlanta. 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.