RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Kyler Murray led a drive that ended in a field goal in his first game action since being named Minnesota’s starting quarterback , New York’s Jaxson Dart threw for a touchdown after passing a concussion test and the Vikings beat the Giants 13-10 in each team’s preseason opener on Saturday.
Murray completed two of his three passes for 10 yards as coach Kevin O’Connell played his first-team offense — minus top receiver Justin Jefferson — for just one series. J.J. McCarthy, the 10th pick in the 2024 draft who has been relegated to backup duty, struggled in his first possession before settling in to finish 4 of 7 for 34 yards.
In John Harbaugh’s first time on the sideline as Giants coach , Dart was sacked twice on six drop-backs, the second time getting crushed by Vikings safety Jay Ward. Dart was escorted to the blue medical tent to be evaluated for a concussion, then returned two snaps later to complete a 15-yard TD pass to rookie Malachi Fields on the second-year QB’s final play of the game.
Dart was 3 of 4 for 26 yards.
BILLS 29, PANTHERS 14
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — New Buffalo Bills stadium. Same Josh Allen .
Allen displayed his familiar strong arm and elusive scrambling abilities on a 9-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman in the Bills’ win over Carolina.
The outing was the Bills’ first competitive game in their new $2.1 billion stadium built across the street from the team’s former home.
It was also their first outing under new coach Joe Brady, who replaced Sean McDermott in January, and elected to play his starters to get accustomed to their new digs and coaching staff.
It didn’t take long for Allen to get comfortable in overseeing scoring drives on each of his two series. On the first offensive snap, he faked a handoff to James Cook before hitting Khalil Shakir on a crossing route for a 21-yard gain on a drive ending with Tyler Bass’ 33-yard field goal.
Allen was 6 for 8 for 111 yards. On the touchdown to Coleman, Allen rolled to his right, evaded linebacker Trevis Gipson by stepping back toward the middle and throwing across his body to hit the open receiver.
The Bills appear to have avoided a scare when receiver DJ Moore, the team’s prized offseason trade acquisition , came up limping after an 18-yard catch along the left sideline, a play before Coleman scored.
BEARS 34, BROWNS 10
CHICAGO (AP) — Deshaun Watson led Cleveland on two early scoring drives in the first half of Saturday’s loss to Chicago, and Shedeur Sanders tossed an ugly interception in the fourth quarter of the preseason opener for each team.
Watson and Sanders are competing for the starting quarterback job in coach Todd Monken’s first training camp since taking over in January. Watson was 11 for 15 for 126 yards in his first game in almost two years, and Sanders was 6 for 11 for 79 yards while playing the third quarter and first part of the fourth.
KC Concepcion had a 14-yard touchdown run for Cleveland on an end around on the first play of the second quarter. The wide receiver, who also had three receptions for 27 yards, was a first-round pick in this year’s draft.
Caleb Williams got the day off as Chicago coach Ben Johnson rested most of his starters. Williams passed for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns in Johnson’s first season in charge, helping the Bears win the NFC North for the first time since 2018.
Tyson Bagent played the first half for the Bears, going 13 for 22 for 169 yards and a touchdown. He also threw an interception. Case Keenum was 9 for 10 for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
JAGUARS 24, SAINTS 20
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — J’Mari Taylor rushed for 78 yards and a 2-yard, go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Jacksonville scored 18 unanswered points in the second half to defeat New Orleans.
Taylor’s score, which gave the Jaguars their first lead, was set up by undrafted rookie quarterback Joey Aguilar’s 43-yard completion deep down the left sideline to fellow rookie Trebor Pena.
New Orleans had two more possessions before the game ended with fourth-string QB Hunter Dekkers under center. The first ended with a punt, the second with an incomplete pass as time expired on second and goal from the 2.
Carter Bradley passed for 105 yards and short TD to tight end Hunter Long for the Jaguars. He also was intercepted by Jayden Price near midfield late in the first half, setting up a Saints touchdown.
Both teams sat out most of their projected starters, seeking to preserve their health while focusing on evaluations of players trying to fill reserve roles or simply stick on the roster.
Zach Wilson, acquired as a free agent by New Orleans this offseason, began making his case to become the backup to Tyler Shough. Wilson relieved Spencer Rattler in the second quarter and completed 11 of 16 passes for 145 yards and short touchdown to rookie tight end Oscar Delp.
Wilson completed three deep passes, hitting Bub Means for gains of 37 and 27 yards, and rookie Barion Brown for 28 yards.
Rattler, who entered training camp as the projected backup, completed 8 of 11 passes for 42 yards. He lost a fumble on a sack by Yasir Abdullah at the New Orleans 10, setting up one of Cam Little’s three field goals for Jacksonville.
RAMS 20, CHIEFS 12
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Justin Fields completed all four of his passes in his first quarter as the backup to Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, then watched as rookie Ty Simpson led Los Angeles Rams to a comeback preseason win.
The Chiefs signed Fields, a former first-round pick of the Bears, to serve as their veteran backup in part because they were unsure whether Mahomes would be ready for Week 1 after reconstructive knee surgery. But the two-time MVP has been ahead of schedule throughout his rehab and the Chiefs are optimistic Mahomes will be on the field to face Denver in a few weeks.
The only time Mahomes got on the field Saturday was the coin toss. He was one of the captains, even though he was never playing .
Rams backu...
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