NFL PRESEASON | Monday’s games

Ravens 29, Eagles 3

BALTIMORE — Steve McNair took Baltimore 93 yards to a touchdown on his only drive of the game, and the Ravens dominated the depleted offense of the Eagles. The Eagles played without quarterback Donovan McNabb, who had surgery on a torn ligament in his right knee on Nov. 28. Coach Andy Reid said McNabb would make his preseason debut Friday night in Philadelphia’s second preseason game, at home against Carolina. McNair went 6-for-8 for 73 yards, including a 6-yard TD pass to tight end Quinn Sypniewski, in Baltimore’s opening march of the preseason. Now in his second year with the Ravens, the 34-year-old McNair took a seat after the 12-play drive. McNair’s backup, Kyle Boller, went 7-for-12 for 40 yards. Troy Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner out of Ohio State, completed three of 11 passes for 34 yards and ran once for 13 yards. Smith is competing for the third-string job against Drew Olson, who threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Le’Ron McClain that made it 23-3 with 11:55 to go. Willis McGahee, obtained during the offseason in a trade with Buffalo, had a 16-yard run during the initial series. He left with McNair and the first-team offense. After finishing with 20 yards on four carries, McGahee said, “I still need to get comfortable with what the guys are doing up front. Other than that, it was good for a start.” Matt Stover made all five field goal tries for the Ravens, two from 50 yards. The 39-year-old is entering his 18th pro season.

Broncos 17, 49ers 13

SAN FRANCISCO — Alex Smith and Jay Cutler both looked ready to shoulder the big responsibilities they’ll carry this season. Smith went 4-for-5 for 58 yards passing while leading two first-quarter scoring drives for the 49ers, and Cutler was sharp in limited action for Denver in the Broncos’ victory. Neither team scored in the final 19 minutes, and the Broncos’ defense stopped the 49ers at the Denver 3 with 1:21 to play as the clubs finally played the NFL’s last exhibition opener, a full eight days after the Hall of Fame game kicked off the preseason. But Smith, the 2005 No. 1 draft pick in his third season with San Francisco, built on his promising efforts in practice with a poised, precise quarter. With his third offensive coordinator in three seasons and a new crop of receivers, Smith would have excuses for slow development. He didn’t need any in the opener. “I felt a lot more comfortable than I’ve ever played,” Smith said. “Knowing what’s happening and reading defenses, everything is really slowing down. I felt really comfortable about that.” The clubs met in their regular-season finales last New Year’s Eve, when the 49ers’ 26-23 overtime victory kept Cutler and the Broncos out of the playoffs. Both teams will head into this season with postseason expectations resting on their young franchise quarterbacks.

Associated Press