American Football: Recap: Eagles vs Ravens

Terrell Owens caught Donovan McNabb's long pass in stride, raced into the end zone, put his hands on his hips, stared at the crowd and nodded his head.

Take that, Ray Lewis.

Terrell Owens gave Eagles fans a San Francisco treat: an 81-yard TD catch on Philly's first offensive play from scrimmage.

McNabb and Owens connected on an 81-yard TD pass on Philadelphia's first play, and rookie J.R. Reed returned a kickoff 88 yards for a score, leading the Eagles over the Baltimore Ravens 26-17 in a preseason game Friday night.

But the victory was costly for Philadelphia, which lost running back Correll Buckhalter after he tore the patella tendon in his right knee in the first quarter.

Will Demps returned a lateral for a TD, and quarterback Kordell Stewart ran for a score for Baltimore.

While preseason games usually attract little interest, most eyes focused on Owens and Lewis, who exchanged verbal jabs after the four-time Pro Bowl receiver spurned the Ravens, forcing a trade to the Eagles after the San Francisco 49ers initially dealt him to Baltimore.

Upset by Owens' rejection, Lewis warned the outspoken receiver not to go across the middle. Owens responded by saying Lewis isn't the hardest hitter to play in the league.

But the feud didn't live up to its hype as the players hardly crossed paths in just a half of work.

In their first game at Lincoln Financial Field since losing their third straight NFC championship game, the Eagles gave fans what they've been wanting to see for years -- a big play from a receiver.

After the Ravens went three-and-out on their first possession, the Eagles took over at their own 19. Owens blew past cornerback Gary Baxter, caught McNabb's perfect toss and outran three defenders to the end zone, briefly slowing down near the 10 to mockingly hold the ball out before tucking it away.

Owens, perhaps hearing footsteps, later dropped a pass on third-and-3 from Baltimore's 9, setting up a 27-yard field goal by Tim Duncan that gave the Eagles a 10-0 lead. A 62-yard catch-and-run pass from McNabb to Freddie Mitchell helped set up the score.

McNabb finished 7-of-14 for 158 yards, one TD and one interception. Owens had just the one catch.

The Ravens tied it at 10 when Ed Reed stepped in front of a pass intended for Owens, returned it 27 yards and lateraled to Demps, who ran the final 15 yards for the score.

J.R. Reed, a fourth-round pick competing for kick-returning duties, took the ensuing kickoff 88 yards. He deked kicker Wade Richey at midfield and ran untouched the rest of the way.

Stewart's 9-yard TD run on the first play of the fourth quarter cut Philadelphia's lead to 20-17.

Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller was 10-of-20 for 97 yards and one interception. Jamal Lewis ran for 39 yards on eight carries.

Matt Stover kicked a 36-yard field goal early in the second quarter. He missed a 48-yarder right before the first half ended.

The Eagles' other high-profile offseason acquisition, defensive end Jevon Kearse, didn't have quite the same home debut as Owens, finishing with two tackles.