Eagles - Weather flashier than the starters

At 9:13 p.m., long-snapper Jon Dorenbos led the kickers and punters back on the field for a little practice. Four minutes later, the referees came out and announced "the game will resume at 9:30," and both teams returned to their benches.

"I didn't," McNabb said, when asked if he thought the game would resume when the teams left the field. "I wouldn't have been upset if they had called it. It's dangerous out here with lightning."

Following the weather delay, the Birds drove to the Panthers' 16, where David Akers lined up for a 33-yard field-goal attempt. It was a fake, holder Sav Rocca shoveling the ball forward. Carolina corner Richard Marshall blasted through the line and neatly picked off the pass, intended for Brent Celek. Rocca more or less handed it right to him, and Marshall took off for the easiest 78-yard touchdown he will ever score.

Maybe in Australian Rules football, where Rocca starred before coming to Philadelphia last year, that throw would have somehow made sense. Reid called the play "a very poor coaching job on my part."

When the Eagles got the ball back, they almost benefited from the fact that no official saw McNabb dance well past the line before throwing a 27-yard completion to Booker on third-and-2 from the Birds' 28, but the Panthers challenged successfully.

The Panthers then had a 10-yard touchdown reception by Muhammad overturned by a Reid challenge, when replays showed Muhammad lost the ball after a Brian Dawkins hit. They settled for a 28-yard John Kasay field goal and a 10-0 lead.

Akers, 1-for-6 last season from 40 yards or farther, was wide right and wobbly with a 45-yarder late in the second quarter, following Jackson's 27-yard punt return.

In the fourth quarter, Greg Lewis caught a 33-yard TD pass with 6:41 left to get the Eagles on the board, and Richmond McGee got them within 13-10 on a 40-yard field goal with 6:11 left, following a fumble recovery by rookie free-agent linebacker Justin Roland.

The Eagles took the lead on a 51-yard cutback gallop by Tony Hunt, who found a huge seam, with 2:15 left in the game.

The Panthers were driving in the final minute when rookie safety Quintin Demps deflected a Matt Moore pass to Roland, who rambled 74 yards for the final touchdown.

Birdseed