LANDOVER, Md. — Donovan McNabb needed one series to shake off the newness of his surroundings. Mike Shanahan pronounced himself pleased with his Redskins debut. And Albert Haynesworth played second-string nose tackle, then actually talked about it.
McNabb went 5-for-8 for 58 yards in two series Friday night and hit first-year player Anthony Armstrong for a 4-yard touchdown in the Redskins’ 42-17 rout of the Bills. It was a first-glimpse preseason game that shows Shanahan is quite a bit further along in his rebuilding project than counterpart Chan Gailey.
“It was a good first game,” Shanahan said, “and hopefully we can build from here.”
The new-look Bills, meanwhile, looked like the same old Bills, making lots of mistakes and adding two running backs to their already lengthy injury list. Fred Jackson will miss the rest of the preseason with a hand injury, and Marshawn Lynch has an ankle problem Gailey hopes is “more short-term than it is long-term.”
“Thank goodness it’s preseason,” Gailey said.
After the game, Haynesworth took questions from reporters for the first time since last season. He said he has grown to like the Redskins’ version of the 3-4 and is confident he can be a playmaker in the defense.
“I know I’m a good player,” he said, “and eventually I’ll be with the first team.”
Eagles 28, Jaguars 27
PHILADELPHIA — Starting quarterback Kevin Kolb was impressive and backup Michael Vick displayed flashes of his old self before rookie Mike Kafka rallied Philadelphia past Jacksonville.
Pro Bowl place-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 backup secondary, throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns.
But the focus was on Kolb, anointed the starter and given a contract extension after McNabb was traded to Washington. Kolb was 6-of-11 for 95 yards. Vick was 11-of-17 for 119 yards and ran for 50 yards. But he also lost a fumble and threw an interception.
Kafka’s 57-yard pass to former Air Force Academy standout Chad Hall set up Akers’ go-ahead kick.
Falcons 20, Chiefs 10
ATLANTA — Dexter McCluster, a second-round pick from Mississippi, made a few dazzling moves as a tailback and a slot receiver for Kansas City, but Dimitri Nance and Shann Schillinger helped put Atlanta ahead to stay early in the third quarter.
Nance, an undrafted rookie from Arizona State, ran for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 10-3.
Schillinger set up the score by picking off Brodie Croyle’s throw and returning it 29 yards.
