COWBOYS 21, TEXANS 14
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Ben Malena ran 5 yards for the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter and the Dallas Cowboys avoided their second consecutive winless exhibition season with a 21-14 victory Thursday night over Houston.
Texans third-string quarterback Tom Savage hurt his shoulder, so backup Ryan Mallett was forced into the game. He handed off twice to third-string back Kenny Hilliard. The Texans then tried to throw twice , both incomplete, and Dallas ran out the clock.
Savage threw two touchdown passes, but gave up Corey White's 3-yard interception return for a touchdown and had a fumble that led to another quick score for Dallas.
The second-year player from Pittsburgh, never really in the competition that led to Brian Hoyer getting the starting nod over Mallett, was hurt on a tackle by Davon Coleman just after he threw a pass. The incompletion led to a punt, and the Cowboys drove to Malena's touchdown.
A tying 16-yard touchdown from Savage to Keshawn Martin in the fourth quarter came after Dallas' Nick Harwell muffed a punt. It was the second punt by Houston's Shane Lechler after the first hit the huge video board over the center of the field.
White stepped in front of a pass intended for Jaelen Strong and scored easily for a 7-7 tie in the third quarter. Two plays later, Savage was hit by rookie Ryan Russell and the ball squirted forward. Officials ruled an incomplete pass that was overturned on review.
The original call wiped out Dallas linebacker Keith Smith's 21-yard return. Rookie running back Gus Johnson scored on the next play, spinning out of a tackle while barely avoiding the sideline near the pylon.
Houston linebacker Tony Washington left with a chest injury in the first half and didn't return.
CHIEFS 24, RAMS 17
ST. LOUIS -- Chase Daniel threw a touchdown pass and Kansas City beat St. Louis to finish unbeaten in the preseason.
The Chiefs were perfect in the exhibition season for the first time since 1969, when the franchise won its lone Super Bowl title. The Rams were winless for the first time since 2002 and are 2-10 the past three preseasons.
Tavon Austin had the most electrifying play of the game, reversing field on a 43-yard run after a short catch that set up St. Louis' first touchdown.
JETS 24, EAGLES 18
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Tim Tebow threw two touchdown passes and an interception in his final opportunity to make Philadelphia's roster, and the Eagles fell to New York .
Tebow, competing with Matt Barkley for the No. 3 quarterback job, finished 11 of 17 for 189 yards, and added 32 yards on 4 rushes.
Matt Flynn started for the Jets and was 10 of 14 for 136 yards with 2 touchdowns and an interception.
Both teams rested most of their regular starters, although linebacker Kiko Alonso made his debut for the Eagles and played one series.
CARDINALS 22, BRONCOS 20
DENVER -- Playing in a final preseason game for the first time since 2009, running back Chris Johnson ran 11 times for 45 yards as Arizona beat Denver.
Johnson, who saw his first action of the summer after recovering from a hamstring injury, started slowly but reeled off a 16-yard run on third and 11. That sparked a 15-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Paul Lasike's 4-yard TD catch from rookie Phillip Sims.
Brandon McManus missed a 51-yard field goal in the final minute as the Broncos (3-1) failed to complete a perfect preseason.
PACKERS 38, SAINTS 10
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Rookie quarterback Brett Hundley threw for four touchdowns, Myles White made a case for a spot on the Packers' injury-stricken receiving corps with two touchdowns, and Green Bay finished the preseason with a victory over New Orleans.
Hundley connected with Larry Pinkard on a 77-yard touchdown pass off a catch-and-run in the third quarter for the Packers. Pinkard had a highlight-reel play that the roster longshot needed to make an impression with cuts looming, though he left with an apparent left arm injury in the third quarter.
Pinkard's long touchdown came after safety Pierre Warren slipped and cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste lost a race to the end zone. Cornerback Kyle Wilson had an interception but was called for two penalties.
BENGALS 9, COLTS 6
INDIANAPOLIS -- Tom Obarski made a 28-yard field goal with 2:49 left in Cincinnati's preseason finale and the defense kept Indianapolis out of the end zone for the victory.
The Bengals took a 6-0 halftime lead on two Mike Nugent field goals. The Colts got inside the Cincinnati 10-yard line three times in the second half, but got only two field goals from Adam Vinatieri -- before Obarski won it.
FALCONS 20, RAVENS 19
ATLANTA -- Sean Renfree threw a touchdown pass and led another scoring drive to overshadow the preseason debut of Rex Grossman as Atlanta held off Baltimore in its final preseason game.
Renfree made the most of his final bid to open the season as Matt Ryan's backup. He completed 10 of 15 passes for 75 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown pass to Carlton Mitchell.
Grossman, 35, who signed with Atlanta last week, was 4 of 9 for 41 yards.
PANTHERS 23, STEELERS 6
PITTSBURGH -- Jordan Todman ran for a long touchdown and Carolina's defense shut down Pittsburgh's backups in a victory in the preseason finale for both teams.
Todman had a 49-yard sprint in the second quarter and Joe Webb found tight end Marcus Lucas for a 23-yard score just before the half as the Panthers rolled. Carolina outgained the Steelers 454-191.
BUCCANEERS 22, DOLPHINS 17
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- The fact that Jameis Winston sat out and DeVante Parker played was the biggest news in the exhibition season finale between Tampa Bay and Miami, which was won by Tampa Bay.
Some Bucs starters played briefly, but No. 1 overall draft pick Winston took the night off after warming up. Almost all of the Dolphins' starters sat out, and they didn't play either of their top two quarterbacks, Ryan Tannehill or Matt Moore.
Dolphins first-round draft pick Parker made his exhibition season debut after recovering from foot surgery. He played briefly, and caught one pass for 11 yards for Miami.
JAGUARS 17, REDSKINS 16
LANDOVER, Md. -- Jason Myers kicked a 47-yard field goal with 3:32 left and Jacksonville beat Washington.
Myers replaced Josh Scobee, who was traded to Pittsburgh on Monday. Myers -- a former Arena League player who has never kicked in an NFL game -- also missed a 56-yarder.
Redskins backup quarterback Colt McCoy threw for 208 yards and a touchdown, but the Redskins (3-1) fell short in their bid to finish the preseason unbeaten for the second time in three years.
LIONS 17, BILLS 10
DETROIT -- Rookie Zach Zenner, fighting for a roster spot, ran for a go-ahead, 3-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter and Detroit held on to beat Buffalo.
The Lions went ahead for a second time after Buffalo stopped them on a fourth down only to have the play negated by a penalty.
Buffalo's fourth-string quarterback, Matt Simms, played the entire game and had the ball at his team's 36 with just under two minutes left, but turned the ball over on downs.
GIANTS 12, PATRIOTS 9
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Chris Boswell kicked four field goals and New York finished off the preseason with a victory over New England.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was among the many starters not playing in the preseason finale.
Giants backup quarterback Ryan Nassib played all but the final few minutes for New York and was 16 for 32 for 193 yards and no interceptions.
BEARS 24, BROWNS 0
CHICAGO -- David Fales made his case to be Chicago's third-string quarterback, throwing two touchdown passes, and the Bears closed out the preseason with a victory over Cleveland.
Fales completed 14 of 18 passes for 131 yards with Jay Cutler getting the night off and backup Jimmy Clausen recovering from a concussion.
The defense had seven sacks and three takeaways, helping Chicago prevail on a night when both teams held out almost all their top players.
TITANS 24, VIKINGS 17
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Marcus Mariota threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Harry Douglas to cap his only series, and Tennessee wrapped up the preseason by beating Minnesota.
Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick out of Oregon, played only four snaps for the Titans. The rookie proved very efficient as he was 2 of 3 for 74 yards, and he concluded the preseason 21 of 30 for 326 yards with 1 interception and a 102.9 passer rating.
The Vikings lost for the first time in nine preseason games under Coach Mike Zimmer. Minnesota went with No. 3 quarterback Taylor Heinicke, giving both Teddy Bridgewater and Shaun Hill the night off along with most of their starters.
Sports on 09/04/2015