SAN DIEGO — Even though it was an exhibition opener, the Seattle Seahawks looked like a team worthy of big expectations. SAN DIEGO — Even though it was an exhibition opener, the Seattle Seahawks looked like a team worthy of
SAN DIEGO — Even though it was an exhibition opener, the Seattle Seahawks looked like a team worthy of big expectations.
And the San Diego Chargers? Well, they looked like the same old Chargers.
Tarvaris Jackson threw two touchdown passes and Brady Quinn, also battling to be Russell Wilson’s backup, threw for another score as the Seahawks beat San Diego 31-10 Thursday night in Mike McCoy’s debut as Chargers coach.
Wilson, who led the Seahawks to the playoffs last year as a rookie, played the first three series. He passed for 23 yards and ran for 9.
Wilson had some nice scrambles, including one on second-and-7 from the 17 when he gained just 1 yard, but evaded numerous Chargers, including Dwight Freeney.
Quinn threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse late in the first half.
Jackson threw a 42-yard scoring pass to Stephen Williams on the first play of the fourth quarter and hit Derrick Coleman on a 6-yarder in the final minutes. Jackson also completed a 41-yarder to Williams to set up Spencer Ware’s 6-yard scoring run late in the third quarter.
Philip Rivers played only the opening series, which the Chargers capped with Nick Novak’s 28-yard field goal.
Manti Te’o had a quiet debut at inside linebacker for the Chargers, with no tackles during the first two series.
McCoy replaced Norv Turner, who was fired along with general manager A.J. Smith after the Chargers missed the playoffs for the third straight year. Tom Telesco, who replaced Smith, made sweeping changes to begin rebuilding the roster.
BRONCOS 10, 49ERS 6
SAN FRANCISCO — Super Bowl runner-up San Francisco committed three first-half turnovers, four in all, and missed a field goal in a sloppy loss to Denver.
Shaun Phillips scooped up D.J. Harper’s second-quarter fumble and returned it 9 yards for the game’s lone touchdown.
Mike Adams added a timely interception as the Broncos began anew following that stunning double-overtime loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in the AFC divisional playoffs.
With the star quarterbacks on either side — Broncos veteran Peyton Manning and third-year pro Colin Kaepernick — playing all of one series each, it was impossible to gauge how good their given offenses will be.
Everybody realizes if these teams were to play a meaningful matchup it could really be something, though.
BENGALS 34, FALCONS 10
ATLANTA — Giovani Bernard ran for a touchdown, Josh Johnson directed two second-quarter touchdown drives and Cincinnati cruised.
Bernard, a second-round pick from North Carolina competing for a significant share of the Bengals’ carries, played behind returning starter Benjarvus Green-Ellis and had 10 carries for 28 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run. He added three catches for 16 yards.
Johnson, up against John Skelton for the backup job behind Andy Dalton, made big plays with his arm and legs. Johnson passed for 100 yards, including a 21-yard score to Brandon Tate, and ran for 64 yards.
Dane Sanzenbacher had a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 36-yard scoring catch from Skelton.
New Falcons running back Steven Jackson found little blocking as he had five carries for only 8 yards.
REDSKINS 22, TITANS 21
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kirk Cousins picked up where he left off last season filling in at quarterback, throwing for a touchdown as Washington edged Tennessee.
The Redskins sat eight starters, including Robert Griffin III, who warmed up and was on the field. Cousins looked sharp in Griffin’s place, completing six of seven passes for 52 yards and a TD for a 137.2 passer rating in two series for the defending NFC East champs.
The Titans showed off their revamped run game as Chris Johnson scored on a 58-yard burst.
Tennessee had 92 yards rushing and a 14-7 lead after the first quarter; Shonn Greene added a 19-yard TD run.
Pat White scored on a 9-yard TD run with 2:23 left and found Emmanuel Ogbuehi for the 2-point conversion to avoid overtime.
BROWNS 27, RAMS 19
CLEVELAND — Brandon Weeden threw a touchdown pass and led Cleveland on two scoring drives, and Travis Benjamin returned a punt 91 yards for a TD as the Browns won coach Rob Chudzinski’s exhibition debut.
Weeden finished 10 of 13 for 112 yards, which should help end any talk of a quarterback competition in Cleveland.
Chudzinski has not yet chosen Weeden his starter, but the second-year QB did everything he needed to secure the job.
Weeden hooked up with running back Dion Lewis, starting for Trent Richardson, for a 2-yard TD on the first play of the second quarter.
St. Louis’ Sam Bradford threw a 3-yard TD pass to Chris Givens as Rams coach Jeff Fisher left his starting offense in after Benjamin’s runback made it 17-0.
