NFL EXHIBITION

Flacco returns as Ravens roll

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco speaks at a news conference after a preseason NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, in Baltimore.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco speaks at a news conference after a preseason NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, in Baltimore.

RAVENS 30, LIONS 9

BALTIMORE -- Joe Flacco went 11 for 16 for 94 yards in his first action since November, but the Baltimore Ravens lost tight end Benjamin Watson to a season-ending injury during a 30-9 preseason victory over the Detroit Lions on Saturday night.

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AP

Baltimore Ravens running back Kenneth Dixon (Strong) is tended to by trainers after suffering a knee sprain during the first half of Saturday’s exhibition game against the Detroit Lions in Baltimore. Dixon was trying to push forward on a goal-line carry when Lions defensive tackle and former Raven Haloti Ngata hit his lower leg. Dixon was helped off the field by trainers and did not return.

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AP

Kansas City Chiefs running back Knile Davis (34) tries to find running room against the Chicago Bears defense during the second half of Saturday’s exhibition game in Chicago. Davis, a former Arkansas Razorback, finished with 14 yards on five carries. The Chiefs won 23-7.

Coming off surgery to repair ligaments in his left knee, Flacco played in two series spanning the first quarter. He took the Ravens (3-0) to a field goal on their opening possession and ended his performance by misfiring on a fourth-down pass from the Detroit 43.

Linebacker Terrell Suggs also returned for the Ravens, participating in his first game since tearing his Achilles tendon in the season opener last year. He made two tackles.

Matthew Stafford played the first half for Detroit (1-2), completing 14 of 23 passes for 95 yards. He threw an interception and did not produce a touchdown.

Watson, 35, tore his right Achilles tendon on the game's first play. He appeared to trip while running a pattern and slumped to the turf. He was helped off the field.

The Ravens pulled away in this one with a 17-point second quarter, fueled by the efficient play of backup quarterback and former Arkansas Razorback Ryan Mallett, and aided by an interception by Anthony Levine late in the half.

After Jeremy Butler made an outstanding catch of a 25-yard touchdown pass from Mallett (10 for 15, 112 yards, 1 touchdown), Stafford threw his first interception of the preseason. Mallett also ran for a 1-yard touchdown.

Rookie running back Kenneth Dixon (Strong) rushed six times for 41 yards for Baltimore before huring his knee.

CHIEFS 23, BEARS 7

CHICAGO -- Alex Smith was sharp in leading three scoring drives in the first half and Kansas City got a preseason victory over Chicago.

Smith completed 20 of 30 passes for 181 yards before Nick Foles came in to start the third quarter. The defense strangled Chicago's offense, and the Chiefs (1-2) came away with the victory after dropping their first two exhibitions.

Kansas City has one more tuneup against Green Bay before opening against San Diego on Sept. 11. But in what is generally the final dress rehearsal for the starters, the Chiefs dominated.

They got two second-quarter field goals from Cairo Santos and a 1-yard touchdown run by Spencer Ware in the closing seconds of the half to take a 13-0 lead. But the score didn't reflect just how lopsided the game was.

The Chiefs outgained the Bears 239-20 in the half, had 16 first downs compared to Chicago's two and dominated time of possession 21:54 to 8:06.

EAGLES 33, COLTS 23

INDIANAPOLIS -- Sam Bradford continues making his pitch to be Philadelphia's starting quarterback. On Saturday night, he threw mostly strikes.

With Carson Wentz missing a second consecutive game because of fractured ribs, Bradford led the Eagles on three touchdown drives and to a third consecutive preseason victory.

Bradford was 17 of 20 for 167 yards with 2 touchdown passes and 1 interception. He played into the third quarter and led the Eagles to scores on four of their first six possessions.

Philadelphia stuffed the run and put so much pressure on Andrew Luck in the first half that Coach Chuck Pagano held out Luck for the final two quarters.

GIANTS 21, JETS 20

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a touchdown pass to Eric Decker and the New York Jets' defense stifled Eli Manning and the New York Giants' starters in a preseason loss.

Fitzpatrick connected with Decker for a 22-yard score three plays after Darrelle Revis intercepted Manning in Giants territory in the second quarter.

Fitzpatrick finished 9 of 16 for 76 yards with the score and lost a fumble before being replaced by Geno Smith just before halftime.

Manning was 10 of 15 for 65 yards and an interception while playing one series into the third quarter. The Giants' starters managed just 61 total yards against Todd Bowles' defense.

TITANS 27, RAIDERS 14

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Marcus Mariota and Derek Carr look ready for the season to start after a successful preseason dress rehearsal.

Mariota led Tennessee to scores on all four drives he played, and Carr threw two touchdown passes for Oakland as the Titans beat the Raiders.

Mariota had the Raiders scrambling all night, faking out DJ Hayden on an option run and beating Oakland's top cornerback Sean Smith on a couple of plays.

Smith nearly intercepted a pass to Tajae Sharpe on the opening drive and safety Nate Allen jumped in apparent celebration. But Sharpe caught the ball and got by the unsuspecting Allen for a 60-yard gain that set up DeMarco Murray's 1-yard run.

After settling for field goals on Tennessee's next two drives, Mariota led one more TD drive late in the half before calling it a night. He finished 9 for 16 for 170 yards and ran for 20 more.

BRONCOS 17, RAMS 9

DENVER -- Trevor Siemian threw his first touchdown pass of the preseason and tightened his grip on the Denver starting quarterback job in a victory over Los Angeles.

After showing off his strong right arm over a first half that included a 1-yard pass to Virgil Green, Siemian accepted hugs from his teammates and gave way to rookie Paxton Lynch, who was 6 of 13 for 57 yards.

Siemian completed 10 of 17 passes for 122 yards with 1 TD and 1 interception.

Siemian's most impressive throw was a 43-yarder to Demaryius Thomas, who caught it in stride over his outside shoulder as he streaked down the Rams' sideline in the final minute of the first half. That set up a 50-yard field goal by Brandon McManus that made it 10-9 at halftime.

Sports on 08/28/2016

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