Fast-paced Philadelphia hurries to win
LANDOVER, Md. — Just try to keep up with Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and the Philadelphia Eagles this season. Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins sure couldn’t.
Playing at a frenetic pace that left the Redskins bumbling and stumbling, the Eagles unleashed coach Chip Kelly’s offense on the NFL and crammed 77 plays into 60 minutes of football. They had their share of miscues, of course, but they held on for a 33-27 upset of the defending NFC East champs.
Vick, running the don’ttake-a-breath attack that won 87 percent of the time during Kelly’s four years at the University of Oregon, completed 15 of 25 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran nine times for 56 yards and a score.
McCoy had 31carries for184 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown. DeSean Jackson piled up 104 yards on seven catches.
Vick hit Jackson for a 25yard touchdown and Brent Celek for a 28-yard score, then found the end zone himself on a 3-yard run — and that was just the first half. It would have been a bigger rout if Vick hadn’t missed three open receivers in the first quarter, or if his sideways lateral on firstand-goal at the 4 hadn’t been tipped by linebacker Ryan Kerrigan and returned 75 yards for a Redskins touchdown.
Perhaps the most remarkable accomplishment by Vick, McCoy, Kelly and the Eagles: They managed to upstage Griffin.
The game was played eight months to the day since the Redskins quarterback had major knee surgery, and his return Monday was the culmination of a dedicated, high-profile rehab that included a public clash with Washington coach Mike Shanahan that barely put a dent in the fans’ fervent adoration for their franchise player.
As it turned out, they didn’t have much of a chance to chant “R-G-3!” — because the Redskins offense couldn’t stay on the field.
The Redskins were trailing 33-7 late in the third quarter before three consecutive touchdowns — the last coming with 1:14 to play — made the score more respectable. Texans 31, Chargers 28:
— Randy Bullock kicked a 41-yard field goal as time expired, and the Houston Texans rallied from a 21-point deficit in the second half.
Brian Cushing returned an interception18 yards for the tying touchdown with 9:30 to play for the Texans, who roared back from a 28-7 deficit late in the third quarter to spoil the debut of San Diego coach Mike McCoy.
Matt Schaub threw a tipped interception on Houston’s first play of the season but recovered to pass for 346 yards and three touchdowns. He engineered the final 36-yard drive to set up Bullock, who coolly nailed his first NFL field goal.
Philip Rivers threw four touchdown passes as the Chargers gave their fans a tantalizing start under McCoy — and an agonizing reminder of last season, when they blew five halftime leads.