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Loss to Patriots Hurts Eagles

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From Associated Press

Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes, leading the New England Patriots to a 24-12 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles Friday night in the first football game at the new $520 million Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

The game was costly for Philadelphia (2-1), which lost starting wide receiver James Thrash to head and neck injuries, rookie defensive end Jamaal Green to a broken right fibula and backup defensive tackle Paul Grasmanis to a concussion.

X-rays on Thrash were negative, but there was no immediate word on how long he’ll be out. Green, a fourth-round pick from Miami, isn’t likely to return anytime soon.

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Thrash was injured when he landed awkwardly after being hit by defensive back Ty Law while leaping for a high pass from Donovan McNabb.

Neither team wanted to reveal much on offense or defense because they’ll play again the second week of the regular season.

Brady had touchdown passes of 21 and 12 yards to David Patten and five yards to Daniel Graham. He completed 14 of 24 for 148 yards in 2 1/2 quarters.

The Patriots (3-0) have allowed only 31 points in their three exhibition wins.

McNabb and the rest of Philadelphia’s starters played only the first half. McNabb was 12 of 19 for 111 yards.

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Doug Johnson passed for 148 yards and a touchdown filling in for Michael Vick, but three Miami quarterbacks led scoring drives and the Dolphins beat the winless Atlanta Falcons, 30-21, in an exhibition game at Miami.

Johnson completed 12 of 20 passes, including a 35-yard touchdown pass to Peerless Price, and threw one interception before departing after one series in the second half with Atlanta trailing, 10-7.

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Vick broke his right leg during last Saturday’s exhibition against Baltimore and is expected to be sidelined the first month of the season.

Jay Fiedler, Brian Griese and Sage Rosenfels each had a hand in a touchdown for Miami. Griese directed a 64-yard scoring drive in his only possession before leaving the game with a sprained left big toe. The injury wasn’t believed to be serious.

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Randy Moss had no problems with Charles Woodson in the end zone, and the rest of the Minnesota Vikings didn’t have much more trouble with the Oakland Raiders.

Moss caught two touchdown passes from Daunte Culpepper, and rookie Onterrio Smith rushed for a touchdown in the Vikings’ 21-6 exhibition victory over the Raiders at Oakland.

Moss spent the first half locked in one-on-one coverage with Woodson, the Raiders’ star cornerback. Moss finished with five catches for 36 yards, and Culpepper completed 13 of 22 for 141 yards in a big game for the Vikings’ first-team offense.

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Josh McCown’s 25-yard completion to Bryant Johnson set up Damien Anderson’s three-yard touchdown run with 9:51 remaining to help the Arizona Cardinals defeat the Chicago Bears, 27-17, at Tempe, Ariz.

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Emmitt Smith had three carries for 11 yards and scored on a four-yard run and Jeff Blake completed 12 of 21 passes for 104 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Jones, in a little more than two quarters.

Arizona’s defense, ranked 29th last year, sacked Kordell Stewart three times, intercepted him once and picked off Rex Grossman twice.

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Fullback Wes Ours, a rookie from West Virginia who caught the game-winning two-point conversion pass in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 15-14 victory Thursday night over Dallas, was among 13 players cut.

Among the other players released was quarterback Tim Levcik, who sprained a knee in training camp.

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Running back Terry Kirby, a free agent who signed with Tampa Bay on June 3, was waived by the Buccaneers. He saw limited action in three preseason games.

Among the other players waived by the Super Bowl champions was rookie fullback Earnest Graham, who reached an injury settlement.

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Cornerback Torrie Cox and running back Tony Taylor were put on injured reserve.

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