NFL EXHIBITION

Cowboys end preseason winless

Denver Broncos running back Kapri Bibbs (35) fights past Dallas Cowboys defenders Ahmad Dixon (36) and Ryan Smith (33) into the end zone for a touchdown in the second half of Thrusday’s exhibition game in Arlington, Texas. Denver won 27-3.
Denver Broncos running back Kapri Bibbs (35) fights past Dallas Cowboys defenders Ahmad Dixon (36) and Ryan Smith (33) into the end zone for a touchdown in the second half of Thrusday’s exhibition game in Arlington, Texas. Denver won 27-3.

BRONCOS 27, COWBOYS 3

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Brock Osweiler is ready for a third season as Peyton Manning's backup in Denver.

Dallas has to hope Brandon Weeden can be a solid insurance policy with Tony Romo coming off back surgery.

Osweiler led four scoring drives in the final tuneup for another year behind Manning, and the Broncos beat the Cowboys 27-3 Thursday night, sending Dallas to the fifth winless preseason in franchise history.

With Manning and Romo watching in uniform from the sidelines, Osweiler played three efficient quarters, completing 9 of 13 for 190 yards without an interception.

Romo's backup, Weeden, came out before halftime of his second ragged game in four preseason outings. He was 6 of 12 for 75 yards with an interception that set up Denver's first touchdown.

The Cowboys (0-4) didn't make the playoffs in three of their other four winless preseasons and are trying to avoid matching a club record with a fifth consecutive year of missing the postseason.

Kapri Bibbs, a running back on the roster bubble, rushed for two second-half scores for the Broncos (3-1).

As expected, Denver defensive end DeMarcus Ware didn't play in his first trip to Dallas since the Cowboys' franchise sacks leader was released and signed with the Broncos in March.

Ware had a long pregame talk on the field with Jason Witten, the Dallas tight end who interrupted Ware's conference call with reporters this week for some playful trash talk.

The Broncos shared most of their running plays between running backs expected to make the team in C.J. Anderson and Juwan Thompson. The Cowboys sat their top four runners and handed the ball to guys who might not be around after final cuts Saturday.

Anderson got the heaviest load with 14 carries for 33 yards and a 1-yard touchdown set up by Osweiler's longest completion, a 34-yarder to a leaping Andre Caldwell near the goal line.

One of the Dallas backs was Phillip Tanner, who wasn't re-signed by the Cowboys after spending his first three years with them. Tanner was cut by the Colts last week, so the Cowboys officially added him earlier Thursday just to get through the game. He led Dallas with 26 yards.

PACKERS 34, CHIEFS 14

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien each threw for two touchdowns in their competition to back up starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and the Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas Chiefs in a preseason finale.

Flynn threw for 102 yards and Tolzien had 139 in splitting reps by quarter in the evening's most closely watched position battle. Coach Mike McCarthy could keep both players anyway a season after Rodgers missed seven weeks with a collarbone injury.

FALCONS 24, JAGUARS 14

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- T.J. Yates made a strong case to be Atlanta's backup quarterback, throwing for 243 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in both teams' preseason finale.

Yates had shown little in the team's first three exhibitions, completing 39.4 percent of his passes with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Second-year player Sean Renfree posted better numbers and seemingly had an edge in the competition to be Matt Ryan's backup coming into Thursday night's game.

LIONS 23, BILLS 0

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Lions third-string quarterback Kellen Moore threw two touchdown passes in a victory over Buffalo in which Bills rookie receiver Sammy Watkins reinjured his ribs.

The first-round pick did not return after being struck in the left side by linebacker Ashlee Palmer on Buffalo's second drive.

BENGALS 35, COLTS 7

CINCINNATI -- Andy Dalton practiced some drop kicks in shorts before the game, the most activity he got all night. He was in the majority when it came to spending time standing around.

Rookie Jeremy Hill ran for 70 yards and was Cincinnati's top receiver as well, leading the Bengals to a victory over the Indianapolis Colts in a game devoid of starters.

EAGLES 37, JETS 7

PHILADELPHIA -- Cody Parkey made field goals of 54, 53 and 25 yards to help the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New York Jets in the preseason finale.

The Eagles (2-2) and Jets (2-2) rested most of their starters and several backups. Michael Vick made a one-play cameo in his first game back in Philadelphia. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback will start the season as Geno Smith's backup.

DOLPHINS 14, RAMS 13

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- After muffing a chance badly in the first half, Marcus Thigpen had a 32-yard punt return midway through the fourth quarter to set up Miami's go-ahead score, and the Dolphins beat the St. Louis Rams in the preseason finale for both teams.

Matt Hazel caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Seth Lobato with 6:15 left for the Dolphins, who rallied with two TDs in the final quarter. Daniel Thomas, making his preseason debut and playing with the belief his spot on the roster wasn't secure, had a 5-yard touchdown run for Miami.

GIANTS 16, PATRIOTS 13

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Josh Brown kicked a 37-yard field goal with 38 seconds to play and the New York Giants capped their first undefeated preseason since 2006 with a victory over the New England Patriots.

The victory was a gift from Patriots Coach Bill Belichick, who went for a first down with a fourth-and-1 from his 39 with less than three minutes to play and the score tied.

PANTHERS 10, STEELERS 0

PITTSBURGH -- Fozzy Whittaker ran for a 2-yard touchdown, Graham Gano added a short field goal and the Carolina Panthers beat the listless Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Panthers (2-2) held the Steelers (1-3) to just 185 total yards.

Both teams sat their star players with just 10 days to go before the regular season begins.

REDSKINS 24, BUCCANEERS 10

TAMPA, Fla. -- Washington Redskins Coach Jay Gruden rested both struggling Robert Griffin III and backup Kirk Cousins in their preseason-ending victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Third-stringer Colt McCoy played the entire game for Washington (3-1), throwing for 321 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 end-zone interceptions that stopped promising drives.

RAVENS 22, SAINTS 13

NEW ORLEANS -- Justin Tucker kicked five field goals and the Baltimore Ravens wrapped up a perfect preseason with a victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Baltimore (4-0) found the end zone only once on Tyrod Taylor's 8-yard pass to Deonte Thompson, but that was enough against the Saints (3-1), who struggled to score while quarterback Drew Brees got the night off.

VIKINGS 19, TITANS 3

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Letting the rookie quarterbacks play and keeping the starters on the sideline may have been the best decisions Vikings Coach Mike Zimmer and Titans Coach Ken Whisenhunt made all night.

Teddy Bridgewater threw a touchdown in his first NFL start, Joe Banyard ran for 111 yards and the Vikings wrapped up a perfect preseason by beating Tennessee.

BROWNS 33, BEARS 13

CLEVELAND -- Brian Hoyer drove Cleveland's starting offense to a rare preseason touchdown before turning things over to rookie Johnny Manziel in the Browns' 33-13 exhibition victory over the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.

Hoyer and Cleveland's offensive starters needed a boost after struggling in the preseason as they learn a new system. Hoyer went 6 of 8 for 69 yards on the opening drive against Chicago's backups before Ben Tate scored on a 1-yard run.

49ERS 40, TEXANS 13

HOUSTON -- Rookie linebacker Chris Borland returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown, third-string quarterback Josh Johnson threw three TD passes and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Houston Texans.

Borland, a third-round draft pick out of Wisconsin, has been trying to move into the rotation to help fill the void left by NaVorro Bowman, who's expected to miss half the season with a left knee injury.

Sports on 08/29/2014

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