ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel made his case to reclaim the starting job by going 7 of 8 for 170 yards and two touchdowns in a 43-19 preseason win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. ADVERTISING
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel made his case to reclaim the starting job by going 7 of 8 for 170 yards and two touchdowns in a 43-19 preseason win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.
Getting his turn to start in Buffalo’s offseason-long three-way quarterback competition, Manuel hit Charles Clay for a 67-yard touchdown in the first quarter. He re-entered the game for two-plus series in the third quarter, and hit Tobias Palmer for a 37-yard touchdown as Buffalo improved to 2-1.
For Pittsburgh (1-3), Michael Vick hit Martavis Bryant for a 63-yard completion on his first snap from scrimmage after taking over for starter Ben Roethlisberger in the first quarter. It was Vick’s debut with the Steelers, who signed the 35-year-old after backup Bruce Gradkowski sustained a season-ending left hand injury last week.
Vick finished 4 of 5 for 116 yards and was sacked once in two series.
REDSKINS 31, RAVENS 13
BALTIMORE — Kirk Cousins filled in capably for injured quarterback Robert Griffin III, throwing for 190 yards and a fluke touchdown.
With Griffin sidelined by a concussion, Cousins went 20 for 27 for 190 yards with an interception to help the Redskins take a 14-13 halftime lead. His second TD pass of the preseason came on a deflection plucked out of the air and carried into the end zone by Jamison Crowder.
Colt McCoy started the third quarter for Washington (3-0) and produced touchdowns on his first two drives, although both scores came against Ravens reserves and the last march covered only 20 yards following an interception.
McCoy completed 10 of 12 passes for 95 yards and two TDs, both to Rashad Ross.
Griffin’s availability for the Sept. 13 opener against Miami is uncertain.
Baltimore (1-2) lost its second straight.
SEAHAWKS 16, CHARGERS 15
SAN DIEGO — Steven Hauschka kicked a 60-yard field goal with 16 seconds left. Hauschka had missed a 58-yard attempt with 3:46 remaining. His winning kick, from midfield, barely cleared the crossbar. He also made field goals of 40 and 27 yards.
Nick Novak, competing for a job with rookie Josh Lambo, kicked a 52-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter to give San Diego a 15-13 lead.
Novak also made a 32-yarder goal in the first quarter. The Chargers (2-1) brought in Lambo because Novak struggled on kickoffs last year. Lambo kicked a winning 47-yarder as time expired at Arizona a week earlier, as well as field goals of 53 and 43 yards. Lambo had a 28-yard field goal against the Seahawks (1-2).
The Chargers had a scary moment when franchise quarterback Philip Rivers hit his throwing hand on a defender’s hand late in the second quarter. Rivers then threw an incompletion in the end zone on third down and headed into the locker room early with a trainer.
EAGLES 39, PACKERS 26
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers lost receiver Randall Cobb to a shoulder injury, while Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford threw three touchdowns passes.
Bradford was 10 of 10 for 121 yards before giving way to backup Mark Sanchez in the second quarter for Philadelphia (3-0). Acquired in the offseason from St. Louis, Bradford is coming back from tearing his left ACL twice in a 10-month span while with the Rams.
The Packers (1-2) keep losing players.
Cobb left after landing on his right arm while trying to catch a pass near the sideline on Green Bay’s first offensive series. He is the second Packers starting wideout to get hurt in the preseason. Jordy Nelson was lost for the season with a right knee injury last Sunday against Pittsburgh.
Starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t play.
BENGALS 21, BEARS 10 CINCINNATI
Andy Dalton sneaked in for a touchdown on Cincinnati’s opening drive, then came out of the game as a precaution with a sore neck.
The Bengals (2-1) were looking for a lot more out of their starting offense after a three-turnover performance during a loss at Tampa Bay. Dalton threw two interceptions in that one.
He completed all six of his passes during a 16-play, 77-yard drive that consumed 9 minutes, 11 seconds. Dalton finished it with a sneak from inside the 1-yard line, and was kept on the sideline after that because his neck hurt.
Bengals quarterbacks completed their first 13 passes against the Bears (2-1), who again failed to get a touchdown out of their starting offense. Chicago’s offense has managed five field goals and no touchdowns in the preseason.
COLTS 24, RAMS 14
ST. LOUIS — Andrew Luck threw his first touchdown pass of the preseason, helping the Colts get off to a fast start.
Nick Foles got his first TD pass in Week 3, too, hitting Chris Givens in stride on a 44-yard play in the second quarter for the Rams (0-3).
Adam Vinatieri had a big day for the Colts (1-2), hitting field goals on the first and last possessions of the half, plus his successful onside kick led to Andre Johnson’s 32-yard reception for a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Then he put it out of reach with a 55-yarder with 2:53 left.
Clayton Geathers recovered the onside kick and Luck hit Johnson five plays later, capitalizing on busted coverage in the middle.
BROWNS 31, BUCCANEERS 7
TAMPA, Fla.— Josh McCown finished two long drives with touchdown passes to outplay rookie Jameis Winston.
Back in half-filled Raymond James Stadium and facing the team that released him to clear the way to select Winston No. 1 overall in this year’s draft, McCown completed 17 of 23 passes for 117 yards. He showed why the Browns (1-2) think the 36-year-old quarterback can help them contend for a playoff berth.
Winston, meanwhile, struggled in his third preseason start. The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner was 6 of 15 for 90 yards, threw one interception and was sacked four times before leaving after one series in the third quarter.
VIKINGS 28, COWBOYS 14
ARLINGTON, Texas — Tony Romo threw two touchdown passes even as Dez Bryant again sat out for the Cowboys, and Minnesota’s Teddy Bridgewater was perfect in the Vikings’ win.
Bridgewater completed all seven of his passes for 76 yards and finally found a connection with his new receiver. Mike Wallace had three catches for 50 yards, including a 39-yard grab.
Cordarrelle Patterson had a 107-yard kickoff return for Minnesota.
Romo, who completed one pass for minus-1 yard in his only series while Dallas lost its first two preseason games, was 5 of 8 for 88 yards in his five series. Both TDs were in the second quarter, with a 60-yard catch-and-run by Terrance Williams.
Dallas led 14-10 when Romo threw his final pass, an 8-yard TD to Lucky Whitehead.
Bryant has dealt with a strained hamstring throughout camp and hasn’t played since signing his new $70 million, five-year contract in mid-July.
DOLPHINS 13, FALCONS 9
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Ryan Tannehill threw for 145 yards in less than a half despite working behind a makeshift offensive line.
Miami center Mike Pouncey left in the first half because of a knee injury, leaving the Dolphins (1-2) with only two starting offensive linemen at their regular positions. Pouncey limped to the locker room shortly before halftime and didn’t return.
Tannehill went 15 for 19 for 145 yards and a touchdown before leaving shortly before halftime with Miami leading 7-3. His scoring pass covered 2 yards to Rishard Matthews.
In three exhibition games, Tannehill is 33 for 41 for 303 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
While Tannehill wasn’t touched, counterpart Matt Ryan was sacked three times in four series.
JETS 28, GIANTS 18
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes and Antonio Cromartie scored on a 59-yard interception return in the waning seconds of the first half.
After struggling in place of the injured Geno Smith in the first two preseason games, Fitzpatrick hit 9 of 14 passes for 127 yards. He threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Eric Decker and added a 24-yarder on a screen pass to Zac Stacy as the Jets (2-1) showed balance on offense.
Rashad Jennings scored on a 1-yard run for the Giants (1-2), whose first-team offense has produced 10 points in 12 preseason possessions. Eli Manning (12 of 16 for 90 yards) was having a good half until Cromartie stepped in front of James Jones and scored with 6 seconds left in the half.
