The highly anticipated return of Donovan McNabb was spoiled by a sloppy Sunday for the Philadelphia Eagles.  A series of miscues gave the reigning NFC East champs their first lost of the season.

Green Bay Packers 16, Philadelphia Flock of Eagulls 13

Things were ugly for the Eagles right from the beginning.  Their opening drive sputtered after an ill-conceived Flea Flicker resulted in a 10-yard penalty for intentional grounding.

Then after the Eagles defense forced a Green Bay punt, things got even uglier.  Newly appointed punt returner Greg Lewis failed to signal for a fair catch, even though he was swarmed by defenders.  A timely hit forced a fumble that tumbled all the way to the end zone, which was recovered by Green Bay for the first touchdown of the game.  Actually, it was the Packers' ONLY touchdown of the game.

Following the slow start, Philadelphia responded to tie up the game before half-time.  They used a balanced offensive attack, something Philly fans aren't accustomed to seeing.

But the effort was all for not, as things got even worse on special teams.  After a few more bonehead plays, Greg Lewis was replaced as the punt returner.  This move did not pay off, as J.R. Reed committed another fatal mistake late in the 4th quarter.  With the game tied, and only a couple of minutes left...Reed attempted to field a punt amidst a sea of Green Bay defenders.  The sad thing was...he had already called for a fair catch, and his effort could only have gained the Eagles a few meaningless yards of field position.

The play resulted in a fumble, which of course, Green Bay recovered.  Instead of a potential game-winning drive, McNabb and the offense remained on the sideline to watch the game end with a 42-yard field goal.

Don't Panic

Even though the Eagles didn't play well in many areas, this was a game they should have won easily.  This theme has been all too common over the past couple of seasons - they win the yardage battle, but costly mistakes keep opponents within striking distance.

All but 3 of Green Bay's 16 points were scored off of turnovers (2 muffed punt returns, and 1 interception).  It isn't exactly how Andy Reid wanted the season to start, but it isn't time to hit the panic button either.

Positive Thinking

Donovan McNabb is healthy - As expected, McNabb looked a little bit rusty after minimal pre-season action.  Though he clearly isn't at 100% physically, McNabb displayed the elusiveness that makes him an effective playmaker for Philly.  Expect him to improve as the season continues.

Finally, some balance on offense - Things changed for the better last year when Andy Reid turned over the offensive play-calling duties.  If and when the Eagles find rhythm in the passing game, the solid running attack we saw today should carry them a long way towards another division championship.

This young defensive unit may be better than we thought - OK, maybe Green Bay isn't the ultimate test for a defense...but still, the Eagles were impressive.  They gave up some yards, but no major mistakes were made in pass coverage.  Philly also did a good job of stopping the run, something they haven't been particularly good at in recent times.  Not too bad, considering how many personnel changes they have made on defense.  A new linebacking crew of Omar Gaither, Takeo Spikes, and Chris Gocong could be just what the doctor ordered.

The Eagles look to bounce back next week against the Washington Redskins.  If they can fix their problems on special teams (perhaps lining up without a punt returner)...they should have the edge.

Now on to the rest of Sunday's action... 

That's Just Gross

Perhaps it's overkill to bash Rex Grossman, but that never stopped me before.  The Chicago Bears have a top-notch defense, a solid offensive line, an underrated receiving corps, and a talented running back.  The erratic and unpredictable Grossman fits with this above-average team about as well as a piece of broccoli on John Madden's dinner plate.  Forget about today's lackluster numbers (52% completion, 145 yards, 1 INT), Rex continues to make dangerous passes and bad decisions.  Can this team make the Super Bowl again if they constantly have to make up for Grossman's poor play?   

Raider-Aid

The Raider Nation sure let me have it when I picked them to finish last in the AFC West.  I'm not usually one to say "I told you so", but someone please tell me...does their schedule get any easier than at home against Detroit?  I'll concede that the Raiders showed some signs of life on offense today, but they were playing against a team that won 3 games last year.

The Raiders are 0-1, and the race for the first overall draft pick continues.

Trading Places

Things are changing in Minnesota, as it took less than 1 quarter for Adrian Peterson to earn the starting running back job.  Chester Taylor was injured early, and Peterson stepped in to deliver an incredible performance.  He rushed for just over 100 yards, but his most impressive play came when he broke free for a touchdown on 60 yard pass play.  It isn't official yet, but with a performance like that...it looks like Chester Taylor will be spending more time in the back seat than Paris Hilton.

Not the Only Game in Town

Just about the same time that Oakland fans were starting to turn on their Raiders, Roger Federer was finishing off his 4th consecutive U.S. Open title.  His 12th Grand Slam victory puts him just 2 shy of Pete Sampras' record, which seemed unbreakable just a few years ago.

Congratulations to Federer, who continues to impress even those who dub him "The Greatest of All-Time".  The Great One fought off Novak Djokovic, a talented youngster from Serbia who beat Federer just a short time ago in Montreal.  Despite winning in straight sets, the match was extremely close...evident by tie-breakers in each of the first two sets. 

The difference in this battle was poise and patience.  Djokovic was visibly (and audibly) frustrated after failing to finish off the world's number one player in the 1st set.  With his back against the wall on more than one occasion, Federer responded with brilliant returns and an unstoppable service game.

Throughout the tournament, Federer didn't the play the best tennis of his career...but he still controlled each and every match.  By now I should expect it, but Federer's greatness never ceases to amaze me.

Sunday, Sunday...