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AP Story: Packers Fall To Eagles 20-13 In Preseason Opener

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Ahman Green ran for 23 yards on only 5 carries in the first quarter

Green Bay's Brett Favre outplayed Donovan McNabb, but Philadelphia's Tim Hasselbeck was the best of the backups.

Hasselbeck was 4-for-5 for 57 yards and one touchdown, leading the Eagles to a 20-13 victory over the Packers on Saturday night in the preseason opener for both teams.

Dorsey Levens had an impressive debut for the Eagles against his former team, Rod Smart -- who wore "He Hate Me" on the back of his jersey in the defunct XFL -- caught a 31-yard TD pass and Pro Bowl kicker David Akers picked up where he left off, converting both of his field-goal attempts.

Favre, a three-time NFL MVP, and McNabb, a two-time Pro Bowler, each played three series.

Favre led the Packers on one touchdown drive, finishing 6-for-10 for 52 yards and one interception. He was back to his old form after throwing six interceptions -- three returned for TDs -- in a 45-17 playoff loss to St. Louis seven months ago.

McNabb, who was 52 yards away from leading the Eagles to victory over the Rams in the NFC championship game before throwing an interception, was 5-for-5 for only 15 yards. His only touchdown drive was against Green Bay's second-team defense.

Levens, cut by the Packers in the offseason after helping them win a Super Bowl during his eight seasons in Green Bay, had 64 yards on eight carries in his only series. His 7-yard TD run tied it at 7 midway through the second quarter.

After field goals of 23 and 37 yards by Akers gave the Eagles a 13-10 lead, Hasselbeck connected with Smart on a 31-yard catch-and-run TD to make it 20-10 early in the fourth.

Hasselbeck, trying to make the team as the fourth-string quarterback, drove the Eagles 76 yards on 10 plays. On a third-and-12, he dropped back, eluded a rush, rolled to his right and found Smart wide open inside the 20.

Smart made the catch, escaped one tackle and ran into the end zone.

A 23-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell cut it to 20-13 midway through the fourth. After Smart fumbled to give the Packers the ball at Philadelphia's 47, Craig Nall drove Green Bay down to the 11 before throwing an incomplete pass on fourth-and-6.

The Packers took a 7-0 lead on Rondell Mealey's 1-yard TD run 1:28 into the second quarter. Three offsides penalties against Eagles defensive linemen aided the Packers' 60-yard drive.

McNabb and the rest of the offense held the ball just 3:36 in the first quarter, going three-and-out on both possessions.

But after the Packers scored, Eagles coach Andy Reid sent his first-teamers back on the field, even though he said they wouldn't play more than one quarter in the opener.

McNabb drove the offense 68 yards on 11 plays to tie it, but Levens accounted for almost the entire offense with 64 yards rushing.

Longwell gave Green Bay a 10-7 lead on a 41-yard field goal with 2:00 left in the first half.

Koy Detmer, McNabb's backup the last two years, played just one series, leading the Eagles to one field goal.

A.J. Feeley, a fifth-round pick last season, was 2-for-3 for 17 yards. He also led the Eagles to a field goal.

Packers backup Doug Pederson, a former starter in Philadelphia, was 4-for-7 for 32 yards. Nall was 5-for-16 for 62 yards.

The Eagles, playing without starting defensive tackle Hollis Thomas, had some success stopping Ahman Green, holding the Pro Bowl running back to 23 yards on five carries, including gains of just 1, 2, and 3 yards.

Thomas, who went down with a broken foot in Week 15 last year, could sit out this season after breaking the same foot in practice Aug. 2.

Former Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry Glenn, acquired by Green Bay in the offseason after a turbulent career with New England, didn't play because of a knee injury.

  • -- Associated Press*
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