Jets Squeeze By Eagles

Talk about different perspectives.

After New York beat Philadelphia 10-9 Friday night, Jets coach Bill Parcells was unhappy, while Eagles coach Andy Reid was upbeat.

That's what happens when one team is coming off a trip to the AFC title game and the other is coming off a 3-13 season and a coaching change.

"We stink."

Reid, on the other hand, was happy with a defense that held New York to 10 points, all in the first half, when first-stringers from both teams played.

"It was a very aggressive game for both teams," Reid said. "I thought our defense was tremendous. Offensively, we moved the ball better than last week, but we have to improve in the red zone."

The Jets also added a quarterback, picking up Rick Mirer from Green Bay for a conditional draft choice. He will compete with Scott Zolak and Ray Lucas for the No. 2 spot.

Vinny Testaverde remains No. 1 and showed why, completing 11 of 14 passes for 130 yards, including a 12-yard pass to Wayne Chrebet for the game's only touchdown late in the first half. That makes him 22-for-27 for 247 yards in limited ction in the exhibition season.

Dedric Ward, who played with the starters in the first half and part of the time with backups in the second, caught six passes for 104 yards.

"I can only do my job, which is to look for open receivers," Testaverde said. "I can't be responsible for the left tackle or the right guard."

All but three points were scored in the first half, when both teams had starters on the field. But even that was sloppy as the teams slogged through a steady rain.

A typical series ame in the second quarter with the scored tied 3-3 on field goals by John Hall for the Jets (1-1) and Norm Johnson for the Eagles (0-2). Johnson was signed last week when Philadelphia cut Chris Boniol.

New York's Leon Johnson attempted to field a punt at the 5, but it slipped through his hands and was recovered by Philadelphia's Corey Walker on the 1.

But Duce Staley was stuffed for no gain on first down, then was dumped by Rick Lyle at the 5 on second down. After an incomplete pass on third down, the Eagles settled for Johnson's 22-yard field goal that put them up 6-3.

"There were a lot of considerations, like the weather," Reid said. "But there is no excuse. When you get on the 1-foot-line, you have to score. You have to get it in."

Later, Doug Pederson, who was 10-for-21 for 91 yards, moved Philadelphia from its own 29 to the Jets' 11. On the next three plays, George Hegamin of the Eagles was called for holding, Pederson was sacked by Mo Lewis, and Aaron Glenn intercepted a pass in the end zone.

That finally led to some offense an 80-yard, nine-play drive capped by Testaverde's 12-yard TD pass to Chrebet.

The only score of the second half came on Johnson's 25-yard field goal midway through the third quarter after Donovan McNabb, the second overall pick in the draft, moved the Eagles 37 yards to the Jets' 8. But two runs by Aaron Hayden gained nothing and McNabb threw the ball out of the end zone on third down.

Zolak finished 10-for-22 for 90 yards. McNabb, whom the Eagles hope to bring along slowly, was 7-for-19 for 62 yards and got sacked three times by New York's defense, which had seven overall.

©1999 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed