(Sportsbooks) - Lincoln Financial Field will host its first-ever football game Friday night, when the Philadelphia Eagles have their preseason home opener versus the New England Patriots. Philadelphia is moving into the Linc after playing 32 seasons at Veterans Stadium. The Eagles are unbeaten in a pair of preseason road tilts, including Saturday's 21-16 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. For the second straight game Donovan McNabb looked good, completing 9-of-15 passes for 77 yards. Backup A.J. Feeley performed well also with a pair of touchdown passes in the win. With RB Duce Staley's holdout continuing and Brian Westbrook sidelined with a bone bruise on his right knee, the Eagles ran the ball just 22 times for 42 yards. Chris Downs led the squad in rushing for the second straight contest with 18 yards on nine carries, while Reno Mahe chipped in 15 yards on four carries. Starter Correll Buckhalter received just three carries and tallied only three yards and a touchdown. There is a chance that Westbrook will be available for this week's game. Top WR James Thrash hauled in four balls for 34 yards in the contest. The Eagles' defense could be a bit shorthanded for this game, as starting end Derrick Burgess may sit out with a re-aggravated foot injury. The Patriots enter this contest unblemished in the preseason after defeating Washington, 20-13, at FedEx Field last Saturday. Tom Brady threw for 145 yards and a touchdown in the winning effort. Brady completed 9-of-18 attempts in the contest. David Patten had an 85-yard touchdown reception and Bethel Johnson returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score in the victory. Starting RB Antowain Smith had 33 yards and a TD on seven carries, while reserve back Patrick Pass posted a team-high 46 yards on the ground. Head coach Bill Belichick made a somewhat surprising move on Monday, releasing veteran cornerback Otis Smith. The 37-year-old has started 95 of 164 games during his 13-year NFL career. In hopes of bolstering the defensive line, the Patriots acquired veteran Ted Washington from the Chicago Bears on Tuesday night. Washington will likely start at nose tackle in the Patriots' 3-4 defensive scheme. |
