The Philadelphia Eagles looked like a team ready challenge for a third straight National Football Conference East title Monday, beating the New Orleans Saints 27-17 in the preseason opener for both teams.
The Saints looked much like the same team that missed last year's playoffs after losing their final three games and five of their last seven.
Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb spent just over 3 minutes on the field, taking the Eagles 75 yards to score on the game's opening series. McNabb was 5-for-5 passing for 58 yards. He hit Freddie Mitchell with a 29-yard touchdown pass, putting Philadelphia up 7-0 with 11:28 remaining in the first quarter.
Koy Detmer replaced McNabb and was 6-of-9 for 51 yards with an interception and A.J. Feeley was 11-of-18 for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Philadelphia was without running back Duce Staley, who has been a training camp holdout.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday that Staley would be fined an additional US$5,000 for missing the Eagles' preseason opener. As of Sunday, Staley's fine total was US$70,000 for missing 14 days of training camp. He's scheduled to make US$2.2 million this year.
The Eagles got field goals of 29 and 49 yards from David Akers and Lito Sheppard had an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown as they took a 20-3 halftime lead.
Feeley hit Kori Dickerson for a 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter to make it 27-3.
Defensive end Jerome McDougle, Philadelphia's No. 1 draft pick, had four unassisted tackles and a sack.
New Orleans quarterback Aaron Brooks, who had offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder, played less than a quarter and was 3-of-6. Todd Bouman, who played the rest of the first half, was 3-of-6 for 38 yards.
New Orleans gained only 106 yards in the first half and was 0-for-7 on third-down conversions.
Curtis Keaton, acquired by New Orleans from Cincinnati last year to back up Deuce McAllister, had 45 yards on 16 carries in three quarters. He also caught four passes for 33 yards. McAllister did not play.
The Saints' defense, which allowed 24.3 points a game last season, showed little improvement, giving up 333 yards.
The Saints added two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Tory Woodbury connected with Zach Hilton for a 26-yard touchdown and J.T. O'Sullivan threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Terrill Shaw.
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