Pre Season 2017 - Week Two

Thursday 17th August
Baltimore Ravens 31 Miami Dolphins 7
Buffalo Bills 16 Philadelphia Eagles 20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12 Jacksonville Jaguars 8
What we learned from Thursday's preseason games
By Marc Sessler
Around the NFL Writer
Swaddled in aqua and white, Jay Cutler on Thursday evening saw his first action as quarterback for the Miami Dolphins.
The sample size was thin, but the veteran passer looked comfortable enough after failing to log a pro start since last November.
Cutler's numbers -- a modest 3-of-6 passing for 24 yards -- are mildly deceiving considering a pretty 31-yard strike to DeVante Parker was wiped out by a holding call. Along the way, Cutler was kept upright save for a wallop that saw him land on his throwing shoulder.
Early concerns on the Cutler front were two-fold: (1) Would he hit the field in football shape after a trifling foray into broadcasting and (2) show any semblance of chemistry with his newfound gaggle of pass-catchers? No major concerns emerged on either front, with Cutler fitting in as well as anything we've seen from the sidelined Ryan Tannehill. Evidence of this came on Cutler's second drive, which failed to deliver points but showcased the quarterback running a no-huddle version of the offense on his first night on the job.
Teams typically reveal sub-zero data during these on-field August rituals, but this appears to be the same Cutler from autumns past. With that comes a rash of positives -- command of the playbook and unusual arm strength -- and a Cutler-esque ceiling bound to haunt the Dolphins in critical moments.
Love him or hate him, this is the Cutler we've known all along -- and, for now, Miami's most important puzzle piece in 2017.
Here's what else we learned during Thursday's preseason action:
1. Starting opposite Cutler, Ryan Mallett (13 of 22 for 113 yards) continued to operate as a mixed bag for the Ravens. Filling in for the back-addled Joe Flacco, Baltimore's backup passer generated 35 yards over his first three drives, with the final of those marches ending with a hazardous deep ball to Quincy Adeboyejo that wound up in the hands of Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard. Mallett bounced back against Miami's backups, putting the team in position for a pair of Justin Tucker field goals before tossing a 1-yard scoring strike to Larry Donnell following a Dolphins blocked punt. It wasn't a complete car crash, with Mallett hitting targets for gains of 8, 9, 11, 11 and 19 yards. Still, he was guilty of missing receivers, throwing short of the sticks, unfurling tipped balls and failing to squelch an aura of discomfort over one of the NFL's most concerning backup quarterback scenarios.
2. The Ravens clearly view Terrance West as their lead back. The fourth-year runner handled six of Baltimore's first eight carries, generating a troubling minus-2 yards off the workload. Buck Allen hit the scene in the second quarter and ran hard for 40 yards off 10 totes, while adding another 16 yards through the air. The loss of Kenneth Dixon will sting this team all season.
3. Tyrod Taylor's evening ended under a cloud. Buffalo's starting quarterback led six drives, generating three punts, a field goal and a pair of ugly picks. The first came off a deflection at his own 10-yard line, but the second was enough to cause Bills fans to toss furniture through living-room windows (if the preseason can elicit such a reaction), with Taylor lobbing an underthrown pass downfield for Anquan Boldin, only to have the ball snatched away by Ronald Darby, the ex-Buffalo cover man traded to the Eagles a week ago. Amid whispers of a down camp for Taylor, Buffalo's starter put up a grisly line that saw him peg 8 of 18 throws at just 2.9 yards per attempt -- good enough for a ghastly passer rating of 12.0.
4. After decisively (and mercifully) parting ways with naif-booter Roberto Aguayo, the Bucs have found rock-solid stability in the kicking game -- right? Wrong. After Tampa drew first blood against Jacksonville with Doug Martin's 2-yard scoring burst, veteran Nick Folk pranced onto the field to cap off the march, only to have the extra point swatted down by tall-as-an-oak Jaguars lineman Calais Campbell. The kicker went on to hit a pair of field goals before botching a 47-yarder, forcing coach Dirk Koetter to shake his head over the dark-arts chaos attached to Tampa's special teams. Folk is a proven leg, but this still feels like one of the most hexed positional groups league-wide.
5. Speaking of Martin, the Bucs back looked sensational for the second straight game, pounding his way for 30 yards off six carries over Tampa's first two drives. The 28-year-old runner galloped with saucy explosion and speed, leading the way for a Bucs attack that outgained the Jaguars 240 yards to 59 over the first two quarters.
6. It was encouraging to see Jameis Winston (21 of 29 for 196 yards) calmly guide Tampa downfield on back-to-back scoring drives to start the night. Still, the promising field-general made an awful decision on his third series, launching the ball into space while being tugged to the turf at the Jacksonville 11. Winston's duck of a pass looped into the end zone, where it was picked off by Barry Church. Officials nullified the turnover, ruling that Winston's progress was stopped, but it's just the type of decision Koetter will fry his quarterback for on next week's Hard Knocks. Winston nearly threw another pick on the following drive and fumbled a pass attempt before the half that was picked up by teammate Adam Humphries. The box score looks hot, but Thursday was a reminder that one of the league's most promising young quarterbacks still has work to do after generating 41 turnovers over his first two NFL seasons.
7. Is Blake Bortles running out of rope in Jacksonville? Another frustrating outing saw the devolving fourth-year quarterback utterly misfire on a deep ball to wideout Allen Robinson, who got open between a pair of cover men 30 yards downfield. It's worth noting that a steamed Doug Marrone forced his Jaguars starters to play into the second half with Chad Henne -- not Bortles -- at the helm. Henne doesn't exactly get the blood humming, but how long until management decides it's time for Bortles to be hidden away like the Ark of the Covenant?
8. The Bills don't have Sammy Watkins anymore, but they do have rookie Zay Jones, who piled up 42 yards off three catches led by this brilliant, high-concentration sideline grab from first-year passer Nathan Peterman:
9. In Philadelphia, Carson Wentz was sluggish out of the gate, sailing a pair of passes over the head of Alshon Jeffery, with the second of those coming in the end zone on third-and-goal. Wentz looked his best guiding the Eagles on a 65-yard, first-quarter march that went swimmingly until LeGarrette Blount fumbled the ball away at Buffalo's 27. For the second straight week, Philly's overmatched line struggled to open holes on the ground.
10. On the opposite side of the ball, Eagles lineman Brandon Graham flashed moments of dominance, surging into Buffalo's backfield to bury LeSean McCoy for a 3-yard loss. Piling up six sacks, 13 hits on the quarterback and eight tackles for negative yardage, Jim Schwartz's front seven caused issues all night for the work-in-progress Bills.

Friday 18th August
Minnesota Viking 13 Seattle Seahawks 20
What we learned from Seahawks' win over Vikings
By Jeremy Bergman NFL.com
The absence of Thomas Rawls, due to a minor ankle sprain suffered in camp, presented new acquisition Eddie Lacy with a golden opportunity to prove to coaches he could split snaps with the starting incumbent.
Instead, it was rookie back Chris Carson who earned more time with the starters on Friday night. Carson alternated first-team snaps with Lacy on Seattle's opening three drives and showed better speed and hole-hitting ability on his six carries for 27 yards. The rookie also was effective out of the backfield, taking one Russell Wilson pass for 17 yards.
Carson also showed up on film when the ball wasn't in his hands. His pickup of Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen sprung a first-quarter deep ball, and as a special teamer, he forced a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half.
Lacy, meanwhile, struggled to pick up gains in short-yardage situations, tallying just two yards on three down-and-one situations, a problem that carried over from Seattle's preseason opener. The former Packers star ran for 20 yards on six carries, barreling through tacklers for nine yards on his opening rush, but otherwise making little impact on the ground.
Pete Carroll's backfield is the most crowded it has been since Beast Mode's exodus, with Rawls, Lacy, Carson, C.J. Prosise, Mike Davis and Alex Collins all worthy of targets and capable of catching out of the backfield. So just because Seattle brought in the former Pro Bowler Lacy this offseason, paid him a starter's salary and made him publicly monitor his fluctuating weight in front of a sneering internet doesn't mean he is guaranteed starting snaps in the regular season.
In other words, the RB depth chart in SEA is TBD.
Here's what else we learned from Seattle's 20-13 victory over Minnesota in the CLASH AT THE CLINK:
1. Dalvin Cook is one slippery beast. The Vikings rookie tailback impressed once again with the first-teamers, bursting into the second level on nearly every one of his seven gallops Friday evening. Minnesota trusts Cook to carry the load, as the Vikings opened their second drive of the game with four straight handoffs to their first-year runner, who gained 40 yards on the night. The rookie was subbed out after just two drives, but had done more than enough to secure his status in this offense. If Latavius Murray wants starting carries in Minnesota, he better rehab as quickly as possible. If not, he'll get Wally Pipped before even taking the field.
2. Seattle suffered a serious blow to its offensive line when starting left tackle George Fant had his right leg rolled up in the second quarter and was carted off the field with his leg in an air cast. The second-year undrafted tackle was immediately replaced by guard Rees Odhiambo, who played there for the remainder of the game. Carroll said after the game Fant would need knee surgery -- a major setback for the converted basketball player, who gained nearly 20 pounds and has impressed coaches this offseason. With Fant out for the season, Seattle could keep 2016 third-round pick Odhiambo at left tackle or swap him inside with former Jaguars left tackle and current starting left guard Luke Joeckel.
3. Meet Kasen Williams, Seattle's newest big-play receiving threat. The third-year receiver has only one career reception to his name, but through two preseason games, has exploded onto the scene in Seattle with Paul Richardson and Tyler Lockett sidelined. After a four-catch, 119-yard showing against the Chargers in Week 1, the receiver made two stellar catches on Seattle's opening drive, including a one-handed snag surely to get some traffic on the dark web. If he can continue to earn his coach's praises and keep up the acrobatics in the coming weeks, Williams won't just secure a roster spot behind the likes of Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse; he'll be playing alongside them by Week 1.
4. Remember when Blair Walsh, then a member of the Vikings, missed a would-be game-winning 27-yard field goal in a 2015 wild-card loss to the Seahawks and subsequently lost his job? Well, now the exorcised kicker is Seattle's starting booter, and Friday night was his revenge game. Walsh went 2 for 3 on field-goal attempts, knocking in two 52-yard field goals in the third quarter. The kicker celebrated by mean-mugging the Minnesota sideline in what will go down as the best -- and only -- preseason kicker taunt in NFL history. Whatever helps you heal.
5. Football-as-prop celebrations are back, baby. They're back! Somewhere Chad Ochocinco weeps.

Saturday 19th August
Carolina Panthers 27 Tennessee Titans 34
-- Conor Orr
1. Marcus Mariota warmed the hearts of Titans fans with a seamlessly executed bootleg, sprinting behind tight end Delanie Walker for nine yards on the second play of their opening drive. The leg he broke last season looks just fine. From a mechanical standpoint, there's something about Mariota's delivery that looks far sturdier than it did a year ago. Not that his passes didn't have touch in the past, but he looks to have taken strides as a passer this offseason as well. "That was a blueprint for how we can be successful this year," Mariota said about the win.
2. I enjoyed the Titans using this preseason game as a proving ground for Derrick Henry. The 2016 second-round pick was used in extremely specific situations last year but could be on deck to absorb a larger responsibility in 2017. Coach Mike Mularkey kept feeding him at the goal line, essentially daring him to take ownership over the role. "Derrick ran the ball effectively," Mularkey said after the game. "I thought he did well. He did well in protection -- better than last week -- and that's important." Henry, who played an entire half and rushed 36 yards and two touchdowns, is looking a little bit more comfortable in that hammerhead role. His patience and ability to read are unique for his size.
3. An interesting stat via Pro Football Focus: The Panthers' defense line put almost no pressure on Mariota throughout his two drives. While vanilla defenses are standard and Carolina isn't going to chuck out its exotic stuff for a game with not much at stake, it does give a sense of how they'll fare man to man against one of the better lines in football. If Carolina cannot create organic pressure with their front four this year, it'll need to depend on an offense to outscore opponents.
4. Christian McCaffrey did some Christian McCaffrey things. Looking like a bigger bodied Darren Sproles, McCaffrey surfed through a beautifully blocked front seven on a 17-yard touchdown run. He also turned up field on a 38-yard screen pass, providing a glimpse of exactly what the Panthers are hoping he can do. Carolina played its starting offensive line for a half, so outside of Cam Newton it got a fine glimpse of how everything will work in theory. While the relentless hype and fawning can crush a prospect before he hits the field, it's time to think about the possibility of the first-round pick putting up 2,000 yards of offense by himself this year.
Kansas City Chiefs 30 Cincinnati Bengals 12
-- Marc Sessler
1. After watching Carolina's Christian McCaffrey scorch Tennessee as a pass-catching demigod out of the backfield, I wanted to see if Joe Mixon could match his feats in Cincinnati. The Bengals rookie back started behind Jeremy Hill for the second straight week and made his presence felt on his third touch of the game. Lining out wide as a receiver, Mixon hauled in a screen pass from Andy Dalton and plowed his way through a pile of defenders for a 15-yard gain. Shifting directions, surging to-and-fro and showing natural vision, Mixon was touched four times before the Chiefs pulled him to the ground. The rookie struggled to shine against Kansas City's formidable front seven, picking up just 16 yards off six totes, but his rare athleticism is genuine.
2. It was a terrible afternoon for Bengals starting safety Shawn Williams, who was carted off the field after tumbling gruesomely on his right elbow during a tackle of Chiefs rookie back Kareem Hunt. We're still waiting for official word on the defender's status. Speaking of Hunt, the rookie is set to play a major role for Kansas City and looked sensational blazing through flanks of Bengals defenders for a 25-yard blast.
3. After Alex Smith put together another crisp performance -- going 8 of 9 for 83 yards with a touchdown -- rookie Patrick Mahomes hit the scene with Kansas City's reserves. The first-round passer was nearly picked by Bengals linebacker Nick Vigil on a telegraphed floater to Anthony Sherman along the sideline, but took off from there. Mahomes moved the chains with an array of dump offs and bubble screens, used Tyreek Hill on a reverse and set up his 1-yard touchdown pass to Demetrius Harris with a surging 16-yard scramble through Cincy's defense.
Hitting 10 of 14 throws for 88 yards and two touchdowns on the night, Mahomes looked comfortable in his second pro game. Amid moments of raw play-processing, the rookie effectively cycled away from would-be tacklers, looked off his first option, spotted targets downfield, threw well on the run, displayed accuracy on the move and refused to shy away from the big play. There's no reason to rush him into the lineup, but Chiefs fans have reason for hope under center.
Indianapolis Colts 19 Dallas Cowboys 24
-- Conor Orr
As is tradition, the Dallas Cowboys owned the night with star power in their 24-19 preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. Dak Prescott made his preseason debut, Jaylon Smith made his emotional return to the field and Dez Bryant continued to amaze by simply being Dez Bryant.
1. Dallas' first drive with Prescott this preseason was almost a showcase -- a see, he's not just a one-year wonder series of plays that displayed everything analysts said Prescott needed to work on. A timing slant to Bryant, an intermediate route to Jason Witten and a back shoulder fade to Bryant for the touchdown. The back shoulder fade is the epitome of quarterback-receiver synchronicity and, while it was against a punchless Colts defense, it still kicked off Prescott's 2017 in a favorable way.
2. Smith logged one tackle on his first two series, but his debut wasn't about statistics. His linebackers coach will probably note that Smith looked like a frantic high school freshman, thrust into varsity action unexpectedly. The real takeaway? This was a beautiful moment. Some thought Smith was never going to play football again. Ever. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones took him with a second-round pick because, unlike any other general manager in football, he can take risks and not be accountable to anyone. The payoff on Saturday was watching Smith erupt after making his first NFL tackle -- a third-down stop of Jack Doyle. Before that, watching Smith just bob his head, soak in the atmosphere before every play was pure joy.
3. Andrew Luck told reporters a few weeks ago not to freak out about his absence, that he's just one of 11 players on the field at once. It didn't look that simple Saturday against the Cowboys -- the team's second dismal offensive performance in a row to start the preseason. This is an understandable predicament; no one is going to blame coach Chuck Pagano for his current lineup, especially with two offensive linemen injured. However, if Luck's rehab time stretches into the season, they should go cut down day diving for a potential upgrade at No. 2.
New York Jets 6 Detroit Lions 16
-- Jeremy Bergman
1. The Jets' first-half offense looked as anemic as it gets in Motown on Saturday. With Josh McCown in a baseball cap, Christian Hackenberg started Gang Green's second preseason game against the Lions and failed to lead a drive that didn't end in a punt. Hackenberg struggled out of the gate, fumbling on his first pass attempt, taking two sacks and losing control of the ball on a third-down pass. The only skill players to earn touches in the first half were Bilal Powell, who just returned from injury to record nine rushes and two catches, and backup Elijah McGuire (one carry).
Despite rolling up negative-3 passing yards in five drives, it wasn't all Hackenberg's fault. Two of his passes were dropped and he was playing behind a discombobulated makeshift offensive line on his first three drives before New York's starting left tackle, center and right tackle entered in the second frame. Still, it's looking more likely by the dropback that McCown starts the Jets' opener, Hackenberg is relegated to QB purgatory and tri-state fanatics bunker down for a sad, endless autumn.
2. Detroit's offense is a powder keg when Matthew Stafford is upright. The Lions had no problems splicing and dicing New York's green secondary when their signal-caller had a clean pocket -- Stafford's timing with Golden Tate and Marvin Jones was in midseason form -- but Detroit's pass protection also allowed two drive-killing sacks. New left tackle Greg Robinson was the culprit on a strip sack of Jake Rudock. With potential questions are tackle and T.J. Lang finally back in the fold following a hip ailment, the Lions' O-line cohesion will be something to monitor as the season nears.
Green Bay Packers 21 Washington Redskins 17
-- Marc Sessler
1. After flopping wildly against the Ravens last week, Washington's starting offense generated waves of fresh suspicion. Quarterback Kirk Cousins -- celebrating his 29th birthday -- spent most of the first half floating on a different wavelength than his pass-catchers. Opening the game with an ugly three and out, the Redskins were handed new life after recovering a botched Packers punt return at the Green Bay 16. Cousins proceeded to lob the ball short of Rob Kelley, miss on a defensed pass to Vernon Davis in the end zone and whiff on a quick strike aimed at Terrelle Pryor. Washington's next three drives triggered two more punts and a squelched march on downs before Cousins finally patched together a 10-play, 78-yard touchdown drive against a rash of green-and-yellow-clad deep reserves. Coach Jay Gruden spent much of the first half sporting a beguiled, thousand-yard stare into the ugly night.
2. It was a different story for Green Bay's offense, which looked like a unit flushed through a time-travel portal from mid-November. Aaron Rodgers methodically sliced up Washington's defense on a 15-play, 75-yard jaunt that chewed nearly eight minutes off the clock. Green Bay leaned on rookie runner Jamaal Williams on the ground, while Rodgers spread the ball to four different targets before capping the series with a three-yard scoring strike to newly added tight end Martellus Bennett. It won't be the last time those two waltz together. One more Packers note: After dazzling fans last preseason, backup passer Brett Hundley was an efficient force once again for Green Bay.
New England Patriots 23 Houston Texans 27
-- Conor Orr
1. Give credit where credit is due: Tom Savage is never going to be the sexy choice to lead the Texans, but staring down numerous coverage sacks against New England, he moved the football. On multiple occasions, especially on Houston's second drive, Savage exhausted all of his primary reads only to come back, scramble and fire a completion to a receiver not named DeAndre Hopkins. Their second drive of the night, a touchdown, would be impressive even by regular-season standards. Savage threw a dart to Jaelen Strong, who was working off Malcolm Butler, in the back of the end zone. Quarterback depth can't be a bad thing, right?
2. The Patriots trotted out nearly their entire armada against the Texans. Tom Brady started. Rob Gronkowski, according to ESPN, played his first preseason game since 2012 and lasted 10 snaps (no targets). They looked like the New England Patriots. Outside of one errant Brady throw that resulted in a called-back interception, their offense is still a dizzying assault of receivers and running backs wheeling into the secondary, preying on mismatches. Rex Burkhead might end up being the most practical offseason addition for this offense -- a useful tool in just about every formation.
3. As for rookie Deshaun Watson, it looked like there was a more concentrated effort to throw from the pocket. The result? Like last week, a few missed throws that, at least to me, look like pent up energy. Watson had Dres Anderson open in the end zone though it was a difficult completion even for a seasoned veteran. I don't think Watson is used to being a pinch hitter. Savage faced a tougher defense but also had a more traditionally scripted first drive. Watson also is doing some of the little things, like throwing balls into contested coverage in a place where only an embattled receiver can catch it. Unlike a prospect in the Blake Bortles mold, whose mechanics needed to be stripped down and remade, this feels like an experiment very close to paying off.
Denver Broncos 33 San Francisco 49ers 14
-- Marc Sessler
1. The first sign of trouble from Paxton Lynch came on Denver's opening march. On third-and-6, the second-year Broncos quarterback failed to see a wide-open Demaryius Thomas underneath, choosing instead to fling the ball downfield for Virgil Green. Lynch's off-kilter lob was nearly picked off to end the drive. After whispers over Lynch's promising practice play, I wanted to see more touch on his throws and better field vision, too. He's a tantalizing scrambler, but Lynch has miles to go after throwing for just 39 yards at a godless 3.0 yards per attempt over nearly two full quarters.
2. Hitting the scene with 3:18 left in the first half, Trevor Siemian authored a marvelous two-plus-minute drive capped by his 19-yard touchdown strike to Jordan Taylor. Exuding confidence, Siemian likely won the job tonight with a solid showing that saw him generate 10 points and a gaudy 130.0 passer rating over two drives. Forget the stats: He was simply the better quarterback, the more comfortable field general and the only choice for Denver when it comes to Week 1.
3. We saw a glimpse of what Brian Hoyer can -- and can't -- do in this Kyle Shanahan-led 49ers offense. The physically limited passer made a flurry of workmanlike completions downfield before disaster struck on his second drive in the form of a fumbled pass attempt that fluttered into the hands of Broncos lineman Shelby Harris. On the following march, Hoyer's pass to Marquise Goodwin was wrestled away by Chris Lewis-Harris for a spirit-crushing pick. Equally concerning was a ground game that generated a measly 10 yards over the first 25 minutes of play.
Los Angeles Rams 24 Oakland Raiders 21
-- Jeremy Bergman
1. Sammy Watkins' impact on the Los Angeles Rams' offense was apparent on the first drive of the game. The former Bills wide receiver, who was acquired in a trade prior to L.A.'s preseason opener, didn't see a target on the Rams' opening drive in Oakland, but his presence opened up opportunities for Robert Woods at the sticks and then Todd Gurley behind the line. For the first time in what feels like forever, Jared Goff successfully set up the run with Gurley, and then executed a gut-punch play-action touchdown pass to a wide-open Cooper Kupp -- who, after his six-catch, 70-yard outing -- is without a doubt Goff's preferred receiver. Maybe we're lending too much credit to Watkins and his two catches for eight yards; many variables, including the strength of the suspect Raiders secondary, factored into the Rams' strong start. Regardless, there's reason for optimism in Rams Land. With Watkins in the lineup, their offense looks and moves like a professional operation -- finally.
2. It was a night for comebacks in Oakland. Derek Carr took the field for the first time since breaking his fibula in Week 16 last season, and he didn't miss a beat in his command of the first-team offense. Save for an interception on a deep crossing route, Carr (7 for 9, 100 yds, 2 TDs) looked the part, even trusting top wideout Amari Cooper to haul in a 23-yard heave in between three Rams defenders during a scoring drive.
Marshawn Lynch's Raiders debut was short and sweet. Playing in front of his hometown crowd for the first time since joining Oakland in the offseason, Lynch played just one series, toting the rock for 10 yards on two carries. His first run was serenaded with cheers and a standing ovation from the Alameda faithful for what we imagine won't be the last time this season.
Chicago Bears 24 Arizona Cardinals 23
-- Marc Sessler
1. Tyrann Mathieu is back. The versatile Cardinals safety buzzed to the ball on a catch by Kevin White, snuffing out the Bears wideout to help short-circuit Chicago's opening series. Two drives later, Mathieu generated the play of the game, jumping the route to pick off Bears starter Mike Glennon at the Arizona 5 before dancing it 47 yards in the opposite direction. It's the second game in a row we've seen Honey Badger flash speed and unrivaled instincts after a down campaign in 2016.
2. Speaking of Glennon, it's impossible to see him keeping the job for long. He vaguely surpassed last week's utter implosion, but Saturday won't quiet the doubters. Going 7-of-9 passing at a mere 4.4 yards per lob, Glennon was propped up by a juicy ground game before killing the team with his pick to Mathieu. One drive later, he lobbed an underthrown pass downfield that was nearly stolen away. Glennon ultimately generated a six-play, 44-yard scoring march before the half, but that fleeting success came against a flock of ham-and-eggers.
3. After dazzling the football cognoscenti a week ago, rookie passer Mitchell Trubisky materialized in the third quarter and promptly ran into a buzzsaw, nearly having his helmet ripped off by Olsen Pierre on his first pass attempt. Playing with a pack of reserves, Trubisky strung together a handful of completions and took another vicious sack before his first drive ended with radioactive kicking acquisition Roberto Aguayo missing a 49-yard field-goal attempt. One series later, Trubisky threw a dangerous pass to the sideline that was deflected and nearly picked by Brandon Williams. The rookie passer made good on his final possession, though, gracefully rolling to his right for a 6-yard touchdown lob to Benny Cunningham.
4. Tarik Cohen burned bright as an intriguing asset for the Bears. With Jordan Howard resting, the fourth-round running back wiggled and juked his way for 77 yards off 11 carries with blasts of 25, 16, 16 and 9 yards. He was an early bright spot for the Bears, but we also noticed preseason all-star Robert Nkemdiche providing another highlight-reel play with a diving tackle of the rookie near the line of scrimmage.

Sunday 20th August
By Kevin Patra
Around the NFL writer
Sunday's doubleheader was a day for rookie running backs. Pittsburgh Steelers' James Conner helped the home team drive back for a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Later New Orleans tailback Alvin Kamara burst out for a 50-yard touchdown to propel the Saints to a 13-7 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Here is what we learned from the games:
Atlanta Falcons 13 Pittsburgh Steelers 17
1. Replacing Kyle Shanahan with Steve Sarkisian appeared to be the biggest question mark for the Falcons offense entering 2017. Through two preseason games, Sarkisian is soaring. Sunday, Matt Ryan marched the first-team offense down the field for a 10-play, 91-yard touchdown drive. Sark continued the play-action heavy-pass offense that diced up the Steelers secondary. Ryan, Matt Schaub, and Matt Simms combined to go 16-of-26 passing for 211 yards in the first half.
Without Julio Jones, the Falcons spread the ball around with 10 players catching at least one pass in the half. Atlanta converted five of its first six third downs and earned 16 first downs in the first two quarters. The first three drives went 10 plays, 14 plays and 13 plays, all producing points. While the Steelers defense was missing a few starters, it's a positive sign that Atlanta's high-flying offense doesn't appear to have had its wings clipped by the coordinator change.
2. The Steelers welcomed back Martavis Bryant to the football field for the first time in 19 months. The rust needed to be knocked off. The Steelers made an effort to get Bryant the ball. Playing without Ben Roethlisberger, Josh Dobbs hit Bryant on the first play from scrimmage on a wide receiver screen. He lost three yards. Two drives later Pittsburgh called an end around for the wideout, which he fumbled out of bounds for a one-yard loss. It was a 24-yard snatch a few plays later that displayed the type of difference-maker Bryant can be when he's on the field. The Steelers missed his field-stretching presence last season.
3. Steelers rookie running back James Conner played for the first time this season. Conner owns the power and athleticism to become the full-time backup to Le'Veon Bell this season. The rookie displayed good cutting ability and burst. He did have a propensity early to bounce the ball to the outside instead of sticking his head into the line of scrimmage. Conner also dropped a would-be first down pass. The drop was a concentration issue, not an indication of his skills in the pass game. It was a good first step for the rookie to show he can be a reliable insurance for Bell this season. Conner flashed in the second half, busting out some big runs, including dashes of 17 and 19 yards. He finished with 98 yards on 20 carries.
4. Falcons first-round pick Takk McKinley also made his preseason debut. The rookie pass rusher saw limited snaps in the first half. McKinley's speed off the edge was evident from his first snap, when he just got pushed by the QB. Later he similarly darted off the edge for a QB hit. McKinley clearly owns the speed to beat offensive tackles. The question will now be whether he can build up the rest of his repertoire to be a difference-maker this season.
5. T.J. Watt found out what it's like going up against a legit left tackle. After his big outing last week, Watt was stonewalled early by Jake Matthews. Watt struggled to get by Matthews or put pressure on the quarterback, but the rookie remains relentless in pursuit of the ball. Watt compiled four tackles, including one for loss in limited snaps.
6. While Watt came back to earth a little bit this week, third-year linebacker Anthony Chickillo was all over the field. Chickillo compiled two sacks and five tackles Sunday. The 24-year-old Steeler could push for playing time in the rotation as a pass-rushing outside linebacker.
7. Falcons DT Grady Jarrett continues to look beastly. He's going to have a big season.
New Orleans Saints 13 Los Angeles Chargers 7
1. Alvin Kamara makes big plays. The rookie running back exploded on the Saints' first play from scrimmage for a 50-yard touchdown run. He added a 20-yard reception later. In less than one quarter of work, Kamara compiled 81 scrimmage yards on six touches. In a backfield with Adrian Peterson and Mark Ingram (neither of whom played Sunday), Kamara is the home-run hitter. Sunday, he showed the speed, shiftiness, and balance when getting hit to be that lightning strike weapon for Drew Brees.
2. Saints rookie left tackle Ryan Ramczyk had an up-and-down day. He threw a good block on Kamara's TD. He also got clowned by Chargers Melvin Ingram on a spin move later, in which the tackle had to hold to avoid giving up a sack. Like most rookies going up against a player of Ingram's caliber, Ramczyk struggled at times, but he should be better for the experience. It wasn't the stonewalling performance Sean Payton likely wanted to see from his potential starting left tackle, but it wasn't a complete disaster either. The backups behind Ramczyk were exceptionally worse.
3. The Chargers' offensive line, meanwhile, was a catastrophe. The injuries continue. With starting offensive tackles Russell Okung and Joe Barksdale sitting out to nurse injuries, L.A. saw backup tackle Tyreek Burwell break his hand, NFL Network's Alex Flanagan reported. The players on the field weren't good. Running back Melvin Gordon was hit in the backfield on the first play from scrimmage. He lost nine yards. It didn't get much better from there. The Chargers first and second groups averaged a measly 2.2 yards per carry in the first half -- quarterback Kellen Clemens led the way with 26 yards on three scrambles. The Chargers have the weapons on offense, but the offensive line looks like it could cripple the operation. The Los Angeles offensive line played so poorly Sunday it made a limp Saints pass rush (sans its best pass rusher) look lively.
4. The Saints linebackers are clearly upgraded from last season. You didn't wake up Sunday thinking it was a Manti Te'o REVENGE GAME, but that's what you received. The ex-Chargers linebacker compiled a sack, eight tackles, three for loss, in the first half; he added a fumble recovery in the third quarter. Te'o filled gaps well against the run and pressed the line of scrimmage. Fellow free-agent addition A.J. Klein was all over the field early (six tackles, 0.5 sacks). Third-round rookie Alex Anzalone displayed good read-and-reaction skills with three tackles and a sack in limited time. The trio doesn't have tremendous athletic upside, but there is no question it's an exotically better group than last year.
5. The attitude the Saints played with on defense was evident all night. Dennis Allen's group was aggressive from the get go, especially attacking the quarterback. We can't take too much from one preseason game, but if the group can keep that swagger when the real games begin, perhaps the Saints won't have the worst defense in the NFL for the 35th straight season.
6. Chargers rookie defensive back Desmond King jumps off the screen. The fifth-round pick displayed great instincts and a nose for the ball. The versatile DB earned a sack, a pass break up, and two tackles -- one for loss -- Sunday night. Keep an eye on him moving forward in what should be a lockdown Chargers defense.
7. Cardale Jones remains an enticing enigma. The big-armed quarterback owns more physical tools than Kellen Clemens in the battle to be Philip Rivers' backup. Yet Jones struggles to read defenses at times and his footwork is wonky for stretches. An ideal world for coach Anthony Lynn would be Jones swiping the backup job from Clemens. While Clemens didn't move the offense Sunday (10-of-17 for 99 yards; 5.8 yards per attempt, 0 points), Jones couldn't do anything either (7-of-15 for 61 yards 4.1 YPA, 0 points). The second-year pro moved the ball against a group of Saints starters to open the third quarter. He also should have thrown a pick-six to start the 4th quarter and ended the game with this sequence: sack, sack, Hail Mary interception. This is a battle that will go down to final cuts when the team must decide whether to keep three QBs. With Jones not looking like he can win the backup gig, it's likely Lynn will need to keep three quarterbacks to keep him on the roster.
8. New Orleans snapped their 10-game preseason losing streak. PARTY ON BOURBON STREET!

Monday 21st August
New York Giants 6 Cleveland Browns 10
By Conor Orr
Around The NFL Writer
An aggressive Browns defense headlined the on-field action Monday night in a 10-6 win over the visiting New York Giants, though the rest of the league was watching one player on the opposite sideline.
Here's what we learned on Monday night...
1a. Odell Beckham Jr. was drilled by Browns corner Briean Boddy-Calhoun early in the second quarter (NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport confirmed Monday night that the hit was legal). What followed was an unusual -- and frightening -- series of events. Beckham spun his helmet in frustration and eyed up the Browns' defensive players but made his way to the sidelines. An ESPN camera followed his solo journey to the locker room for tests when Beckham flopped to his knees in the hallway and started rocking back and forth in pain. According to the Giants, Beckham was tested for both an ankle injury and a concussion. The concussion test was negative as were X-rays on his ankle -- but there are more tests to come. Giants fans can breathe easy for now, but there's still a flight home to New Jersey and follow-ups Tuesday.
1b. Brandon Marshall was popped by Browns rookie safety Jabrill Peppers in the first quarter. Marshall beat corner Joe Haden at the line and was open, though he wisely short-armed the pass in the name of safety with Peppers bearing down. The hit could have been a lot worse. That being said, Marshall is getting X-rays on his shoulder, according to the Giants. Could you imagine losing your top two receivers within five preseason minutes?
2. Giants left tackle Ereck Flowers remains in the white-hot spotlight. The results from Monday night were mixed. Matched up against No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett, Flowers eventually let up a sack though it came with Geno Smith at quarterback. Flowers held Garrett for nearly three seconds and Garrett was sort of pushed into Smith. So while I won't completely blame Flowers for the sack there, it doesn't absolve him all the way. He contained Garrett in the most generous of terms, though there were times when Flowers was essentially holding on to the rookie's neck to keep him from getting to Eli Manning.
3. Speaking of Garrett, the hype is real. It will be thrilling to watch him compile a rolodex of left tackles in the league and develop some combat moves. The bull rush showcases his strength and speed, but there seems to be much more to come.
4. Before the game, Rapoport reported that Brock Osweiler could lock the Week 1 starting gig down with a solid performance. Did a 6-of-8 outing for 25 yards and an INT do it? Osweiler's interception came on a tipped pass, something a 6-8 quarterback could theoretically avoid more frequently than other players of a shorter stature. That being said, he was off and on Monday. I thought there was one completion to Corey Coleman near the sideline that was thrown perfectly. Another, to Kenny Britt on the first drive, was not as stellar.
5. DeShone Kizer went 8-of-13 for 74 yards and missed an opportunity to hit fellow rookie David Njoku, who was wide open and headed for a touchdown. Kizer has not been the only rookie to miss this throw a few times this preseason (just ask Deshaun Watson) but boy does Kizer look the part. If the wow factor came into play, Kizer would have been pegged the Week 1 starter the day after the NFL Draft. After Monday night, though, it seems he'll have another few weeks of work to do.
6. A play that won't be talked about tomorrow thanks to the Odell Beckham hysteria: In the second quarter, Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon tracks Njoku -- a stellar athlete -- for 25 yards downfield and breaks up a Kizer pass. This is a ridiculous display of talent from a defensive end.
7. As I alluded to in the introduction, this Browns defense under Gregg Williams is aggressive. After getting somewhat captivated by the Robert Griffin III/Terrelle Pryor Fun N' Gun offense from last year's preseason, I hesitate to buy into team identities forged when the games don't count. That being said, Williams blitzed twice on Cleveland's first three plays and one hit home. Williams was dialing up blitzes all night, including one they checked out of in the fourth quarter, resulting in a Geno Smith interception by the scrappy Boddy-Calhoun.

Pre Season 2017 - Week One

Wednesday 9th August
Houston Texans 17 Carolina Panthers 27

Thursday 10th August
Atlanta Falcons 20 Miami Dolphins 23
Minnesota Vikings 17 Buffalo Bills 10
Jacksonville Jaguars 31 New England Patriots 24
Washington Redskins 3 Baltimore Ravens 23
New Orlean Saints 14 Cleveland Browns 20
Denver Broncos 24 Chicago Bears 17
Philadelphia Eagles 9 Green Bay Packers 24
What we learned from Thursday's preseason games
By Gregg Rosenthal
Around The NFL Editor
Trevor Siemian took another step toward winning the starting job in Denver. Mitchell Trubisky did his best to ignite a quarterback battle in Chicago. In Cleveland, confusion remains on top of the depth chart.
On the first heavy night of action this preseason with seven games, there was thankfully a scarcity of major injuries and plenty of opportunity for overreaction. Here are the stories that should stick, starting with all the quarterback intrigue:
1. Siemian looked like a competent, unspectacular starter as usual for his three drives Thursday night, completing 6-of-7 passes for 51 yards. The Broncos quarterback's only incompletion came on a nice deep throw that Emmanuel Sanders couldn't come down with. While Siemian hardly lit up the scoreboard, he made quick, smart decisions with the ball.
Paxton Lynch, on the other hand, repeatedly held on to the ball too long and misfired on a few open throws. He was lucky to avoid a fumble on one scramble. His final stats didn't look that much different than Siemian, but he only led the Broncos to three first downs in four drives.
This uninspiring "Siemian wins by default" storyline mirrors the reports coming out of training camp. It was a dark enough night that reporters asked coach Vance Joseph if little-known third-stringer Kyle Sloter is a legitimate option to start. Lynch will need a big performance when he starts next week or Siemian figures to start getting all the starting reps in practice.
2. Mitchell Trubisky was Thursday night's biggest winner. Sure, he was facing third-string Broncos defenders who were only playing man coverage. But a few of his pinpoint throws on the run and one third-and-17 conversion from the pocket with pressure in his face were impressive no matter the scenario.
The Bears didn't score a point, gaining only four first downs in six drives with Mike Glennon and Mark Sanchez running the show. Glennon threw an ugly pick-six on his first drive, his lack of pocket presence notable when he threw a pass while getting hit. Trubisky, meanwhile, led the Bears on a two-minute touchdown drive in his first NFL action. He led the Bears to 17 points and 14 first downs on his first three drives before stalling some in the fourth quarter.
If nothing else, this result should inspire coach John Fox to eventually stop wasting second-team snaps on Sanchez. Glennon remains a strong bet to start Week 1, but every positive Trubisky performance will increase public pressure and eat into Glennon's regular season job security.
"Our depth chart is not going to change after one game, particularly a preseason game," John Fox said after the game in the most John Fox way possible.
3. Thursday night started with Brock Osweiler getting his chance to grab the Browns' starting quarterback job. It ended with rookie DeShone Kizer completing a pair of Roethlisbergeriffic vertical throws to lead the Browns to a victory. Kizer showed great pocket movement and raw skills that Osweiler and Cody Kessler simply can't match. They were the type of "AFC North" plays Hue Jackson has spoken of wanting from his quarterback.
Osweiler finished with only 42 yards on 14 attempts after starting the game with three straight three and outs, chastising himself after the game for his lack of accuracy.
"I'm pretty sure that no ball has ever been completed that is thrown out of bounds," Osweiler said.
It would be shocking if Kizer doesn't get more time with the starters next week.
4. Browns No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett looked the part early for the Browns, creating havoc in the running game.
5. All that hype about Browns running back Duke Johnson becoming the team's slot receiver is being borne out. He might very well be listed as a wideout on the official team roster before this season is up.
6. Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor sent a message early by throwing his first three passes to Sammy Watkins. They all went for completions. Watkins, finally looking healthy, caught four passes for 39 yards.
7. The Vikings sent a similar declaration of intent by giving running back Dalvin Cook eight touches on the team's first 13 plays. Cook finished with 43 yards from scrimmage in limited work, showing some power and looking comfortable in the passing game as a receiver and pass protector.
8. LeSean McCoy's primary backup Jonathan Williams showed great burst before leaving with a hamstring injury. It's a concerning setback for a Bills team already thin at running back.
9. The Colin Kaepernick buzz in Baltimore isn't going to slow down after Ryan Mallett's night. He completed only 9-of-18 passes for 58 yards in one half of work.
10. Vikings starting cornerback Trae Waynes left Thursday's game early with a shoulder injury, although coach Mike Zimmer didn't show much concern about it after the game.
11. Dion Lewis ran strong for the Patriots on Thursday night, showing some of the quickness and tackle-breaking ability that defined his 2015 season. He is too talented for the team to cut, even at a deep position, if he continues to play like this.
12. Foxborough training camp hero Austin Carr made good on all his rookie buzz with the catch of the night against Jacksonville. The Northwestern rookie is making it hard for the Patriots to cut him, even at their deep receiver position.
13. Second-year Bears pass rusher Leonard Floyd, who has enjoyed a standout training camp, made Broncos free agent pickup Menelik Watson look bad on an early sack. The Broncos' offensive line has a long way to go to put last year behind them.
14. Packers running back Ty Montgomery lost a fumble against the Eagles, continuing a trend from training camp. That could help rookie Jamaal Williams cut into his playing time.
15. Saints rookie running back Alvin Kamara built on his camp buzz by lining up all over the field and showing great balance on the way to 35 yards on four carries. He's absolutely going to earn major playing time in a backfield that includes Adrian Peterson and Mark Ingram.
16. Dolphins rookie second-round linebacker Raekwon McMillan suffered a knee injury which appeared to be serious. He left the stadium on crutches. Packers cornerback Damarious Randall (concussion) and Broncos defensive lineman Billy Winn (knee) were also among the notable injuries.

Friday 11th August
Pittsburgh Steelers 20 New York Giants 12
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12 Cincinnati Bengals 23
San Francisco 49ers 27 Kansas City Chiefs 17
What we learned from Friday's preseason games
By Nick Shook
For the second night, a rookie quarterback buried on the depth chart made the most noise.
It was Patrick Mahomes' turn on Friday, entering just before halftime and airing it out on his first throw.
Unfortunately, this 41-yard completion to Demarcus Robinson was called back due to a holding penalty. But the hype train had already left the station and was full speed ahead.
Mahomes displayed the rifle arm that shot him up the draft board in the spring, squeezing a few passes in tight windows (some were dropped) and finding open receivers elsewhere. It's also the preseason, meaning there was plenty of subpar play in the second half, though most was not Mahomes' fault. The quarterback finished with 7-of-9 passing for 49 yards and a touchdown, which came as a result of a risky throw across his body into traffic. But hey, it worked.
As for the starters, Kansas City's offense might be a little more vertical this year. It'll definitely be just as efficient, if Friday night proved anything. Alex Smith swiftly moved the Chiefs down field on KC's first drive, culminating in a Spencer Ware rushing touchdown, and the unit looked about as good with Tyler Bray calling the shots until he threw an interception.
Bray mostly showed why he's still above Mahomes on the depth chart, looking comfortable in the offense and making throws of varying distances before stalling out.
Kansas City is in the enviable position of being a playoff contender with a talented prospect on the bench behind a better-than-adequate starter. There should be absolutely no reason to rush Mahomes onto the field.
What else we learned from Friday night in preseason Week 1:
1. T.J. Watt recorded two sacks in his Steelers debut, but only one was contested. The second came because the tackle across from him ran into the flats, as if he were an eligble receiver, though it looked like he thought he was leading a screen that never happened. I don't want to look like the sole Debbie Downer here, so I'll allow Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to take the mic.
"I don't want him to get disillusioned," Tomlin told KDKA-TV at halftime, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "But I do like the things that I've seen so far."
It was a nice start, indeed. Perhaps his opponent will attempt to block him next week.
2. The preseason's hottest kicker battle shot the mercury skyward after Roberto Aguayo drilled his first field-goal attempt, then doinked a PAT off the right upright, then was replaced by Nick Folk, who nailed a 42-yarder, and then returned to miss another kick! Position battles are always fun. When they involve men who are paid to do a total of two things, they get even better.
3. Joe Mixon didn't get a ton of carries, but he made his touches worthwhile. Mixon's catch in the flat set him up against a bevy of defenders, but he made three of them miss while adding at least five more yards to his gain. That was how Mixon ran the ball, too, showing patience through the hole and finishing with six carries for 31 yards. Quarterback Jeff Driskel ended up leading the team in rushing. Don't ask.
4. Preseason quarterbacking is such a crap shoot. As soon as I wanted to board tiny, shopping mall-sized hype trains for Geno Smith and Bray, I was thrown off by their interceptions. Smith looked enticingly effective within the offense for New York, executing play-action rollouts and avoiding rushers with his feet while keeping his eyes downfield, but the interception was reminiscent of Smith in green and white.
The worst of the young passers was Pittsburgh's Joshua Dobbs, who looked overmatched in his first few possessions against the Giants. The good news there is he ended up making a handful of nice throws, one of which resulted in a touchdown to Cobi Hamilton.
5. San Francisco's quarterback situation is setting the bar pretty low. We know what we'll get out of Brian Hoyer, Matt Barkley was surprisingly effective behind him and C.J. Beathard looked like a rookie, though he had extended time to make a few more plays. That's the beauty and pain of preseason: Many grains of salt are needed when judging third-string quarterbacks against fellow third-stringers.
6. It became clear pretty quickly that San Francisco has invested more in its defense than offense. Starting with Aaron Lynch, the unit played with tenacity and brought a punch to a team that was largely punchless in the last two seasons. That's something to be excited about in the Bay Area.
7. Tampa Bay took a loss in a meaningless finish, but started strong. Jameis Winston looked sharp, the group of weapons the Bucs can deploy at once is tantalizing, and the offense moved quickly. The highlight of the night, though, was probably Vernon Hargreaves' interception deep inside Tampa territory. The Bucs could use a big season out of the second-year corner, and the closing speed and body control he displayed on the pick were encouraging.

Saturday 12th August
Tennessee Titans 3 New York Jets 7
Dallas Cowboys 10 Los Angeles Rams 13
Oakland Raiders 10 Arizona Cardinals 20
What we learned from Saturday's preseason games
By Marc Sessler
Around the NFL Writer
First-year coach Sean McVay was pulled west by the Rams to save an offense that fumbled and bumbled for years under ex-lead man Jeff Fisher.
The new-look attack -- unveiled on Saturday night in sun-swept Los Angeles -- operated as a mixed bag in a 13-10 preseason win over the visiting Cowboys.
Second-year starting quarterback Jared Goff drew first blood with a crisply thrown pass to wideout Robert Woods, who lost the ball at the Dallas 4-yard line following a crushing blow by Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens. The pigskin fluttered into the end zone, where third-round Rams receiver Cooper Kupp wisely fell on it for his first NFL touchdown.
The score came after Los Angeles opened the game with a three-and-out, only to recover a botched punt return by Cowboys rookie Lance Lenoir to keep the drive alive.
Exiting after the score, Goff barely put enough film on tape to draw any conclusions, but he threw the ball decisively and looked comfortable under center. More concerning was an offensive line that failed to open holes for Todd Gurley.
On his first attempt, the third-year Rams runner was blown up for a three-yard loss by Cowboys rookie tackle Lewis Neal, who blew past guard Jamon Brown for the stuff.
Gurley's four rushes went for a whopping two yards before the starters were yanked off the field. You don't need a hot-blooded Nancy Drew to tell you that Saturday's on-field bag of delights was hardly enough evidence to draw conclusions about McVay's impact on this attack.
If the offensive line doesn't rapidly rise, though, it might not matter.
Here's what else we learned from Saturday night's preseason action:
1. We struggle to imagine the Jets wheeling out anyone but Josh McCown come Week 1 in Buffalo. The wily veteran calmly marched New York's offense down the field for a touchdown on the game's opening drive. The scoring march was set up by a beautiful 53-yard rope to lead wideout Robby Anderson before McCown pegged Charone Peake over the middle for a four-yard score.
2. Unveiled on New York's second drive, the enigmatic Christian Hackenberg played deep into the third quarter. The ruddy-cheeked second-year passer opened 5-for-5 and looked competent hitting wideout Chris Harper on a 14-yard strike across the middle of the field before whipping a well-aimed pass up the sideline to Jalin Marshall, who couldn't hold on. It wasn't Hackenberg's fault that Chandler Catanzaro botched a 55-yard field goal attempt to end the quarterback's second series. The young signal-caller's lowest moments came on (a) a tipped pass that was nearly picked before halftime and (b) a third-quarter botched snap that spun into the arms of Tennessee's Justin Staples.
Hackenberg (18-of-25 for 127 yards) played under control despite generating zero points and throwing for a concerning 5.1 yards per attempt inside New York's low-wattage attack. It was a bland, uninspiring -- but inoffensive -- debut to his second campaign.
3. Waves of fatalistic offseason press about the Jets can't change the brutal nature of Leonard Williams. On Tennessee's first series, Gang Green's monstrous third-year lineman sprung off Titans guard Quinton Spain, charged into the pocket and body-rocked quarterback Marcus Mariota to the godless turf. Two downs later, on third-and-22, New York's pass rush flushed the Titans signal-caller out of the pocket and toward the sideline short of the sticks to end the march.
Mariota's subsequent and final series nearly ended with a pick by Jets cornerback Buster Skrine, who tipped a pass intended for tight end Delanie Walker. Tennessee showed nothing on offense, unfurling a hyper-vanilla attack that saw Mariota finish just 2-for-3 for 15 yards.
4. Gang Green's pass rush wasn't finished as linebacker Julian Stanford surged through a Red Sea-sized opening to obliterate Titans trick-shot backup Alex Tanney, who was quickly removed from the contest in favor of deep-roster-human Tyler Ferguson. Tanney later returned to action to face a Jets defensive front that piled up an outrageous eight sacks and 10 tackles for loss while making mincemeat of Tennessee's highly touted offensive line. If the Jets plan to tank, we suggest a different strategy than this.
5. Tennessee's play of the night came from third-round wideout Taywan Taylor, who played deep into the second half with first-rounder Corey Davis out of the mix and dusted New York's Darryl Roberts for a leaping 42-yard grab.
6. In La La Land, the Cowboys kept Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Dez Bryant, Tyron Smith and Jaylon Smith coddled in bubble wrap, drenching Saturday's Cowboys-Rams tilt in an aura of desperate meaningless. In their absence, first-round pass rusher Taco Charlton stole the show with a productive three-tackle night capped by a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit and a deep-backfield sack of Rams backup Sean Mannion.
7. Darren McFadden (six carries for 28 yards) ran well in place of Elliott, but color me concerned about the prospects of Kellen Moore as the stopgap behind Prescott. The Cowboys reserve passer threw for just 4.1 yards per attempt before Cooper Rush took over.
8. Against the Raiders, Cardinals passer Carson Palmer looked sharp, throwing with good velocity behind a line that kept him safe. He just missed Jaron Brown on a deep shot that would have triggered an easy score and later missed Brown on a quick-strike lob, but Palmer capably overcame those errors to lead Arizona to pay dirt with a blazing 12-yard laser to Brittan Golden.
9. Cardinals running back David Johnson is a candidate to lead the league in rushing attempts, but barely saw the field Saturday with just three rushes for 16 yards before Chris Johnson took over. Another missing figure: Arizona wideout and bounce-back candidate John Brown.
10. The Raiders treated the night like an invisible exhibition, refusing to let quarterback Derek Carr or running back Marshawn Lynch sniff the field. It's worth noting that EJ Manuel opened the game ahead of Connor Cook under center, while DeAndre Washington took all the early snaps ahead of Jalen Richard.
11. It was just one play, but Cardinals fans had to enjoy seeing versatile defensive back Tyrann Mathieu zero in on Seth Roberts on a third-down toss from Manuel caught short of the sticks. Arizona's fate on defense rests with Honey Badger playing 16 healthy games. Coming off a down campaign, he looked spry on Saturday night.
12. For the second game in a row, Arizona's Robert Nkemdiche was a force to be reckoned with. Last year's first-round defensive end shrugged off a blocker to bury Richard in his tracks on a third-and-1 run in the second quarter before penetrating the backfield again on a failed fourth-down attempt that saw Richard gang-tackled in his own backfield. Nkemdiche returned to wreak havoc on the following series against a Raiders offense that looked lost at sea without Carr. The preseason operates as a mega-tease, but this Cardinals defense has looked spicy in two straight affairs.

Sunday 13th August
Detroit Lions 24 Indianapolis Colts 10
Seattle Seahawks 48 Los Angeles Chargers 17
What we learned from Sunday's preseason games
By Conor Orr
Around The NFL Writer
The Detroit Lions rolled over the injury-ravaged Colts, 24-10 in each team's respective preseason opener Sunday in Indianapolis.
In a largely defenseless, high-scoring affair, the Seattle Seahawks throttled the Los Angeles Chargers, 48-17, on Sunday night. The game was Los Angeles' first in StubHub Arena, the 27,000-seat stadium in Carson, Calif., that will serve as the club's temporary home (21,054 showed up for opening night).
Here's what else we learned from Sunday's preseason action:
1. The most newsworthy moment of Sunday's preseason game came when Colts general manager Chris Ballard entered the broadcast booth. After telling NFL Network's Tom Pelissero earlier this week that quarterback Andrew Luck would likely be off the physically unable to perform list by the beginning of the regular season, he raved about Luck's budding arm strength to the team's play-by-play crew. Ballard said Sunday that Luck's "strength levels" were likely better now than they were "at any point last season."
While this could be the type of vague, fill-in-the-blank statement Ballard uses to get himself away from another Luck interview unscathed, it also could be an indication as to how close Luck actually is. As Pelissero noted, Luck has been ramping up his throwing program of late. Coming back stronger than ever would truly be something. Owner Jim Irsay doubled down on those comments in a conversation with reporters after the game, though he could not guarantee Luck would be ready for the season opener, just somewhere around that time. When asked by the Indianapolis Star about the team's strategy regarding a more suitable backup, Irsay brought up a steep price tag.
2. Even if the Colts get Luck back, one of their most significant problems is still glaring. The banged-up offensive line is struggling, perhaps more so now than ever before. Ballard did not seem worried, saying that he was confident he would find eight trustworthy bodies by the season opener -- a task that will be made much easier when center Ryan Kelly (foot) returns in a few weeks. Luck's understudy, Scott Tolzien, attempted just five passes and, in at least one, had one of his starting offensive linemen shoved back in his face almost instantaneously. This is a team still patching in backups, so a complete evaluation is not fair right now. That doesn't mean it's not worth keeping an eye on.
3. Every preseason seems to give way to a hidden skill position star. On Sunday, that was Detroit receiver Kenny Golladay, a third-round pick out of Northern Illinois. Two of Golladay's three catches were for touchdowns, including a beautiful adjustment grab in the end zone between first-round pick Malik Hooker and second-round pick Quincy Wilson. According to Pro Football Focus' snap counts, Golladay did get reps with a majority of the first string Sunday, though Matthew Stafford was out after just three passes and an interception.
4. Ballard professed a desire to improve in the rush lanes, as evidenced by the acquisition of players like Jabaal Sheard and Margus Hunt. He singled out 2017 third-round pick Tarell Basham for logging a pressure against Detroit on Sunday. While Chuck Pagano's state secrets were not on display, there is a crystal clear difference in physicality. Hooker delivered one punishing hit and was frequently around the ball. Sheard was also in the backfield frequently during his brief stint in the game.
5. The Lions left former Rams first-round pick and prospective left tackle Greg Robinson on the field for quite a while Sunday in hopes that he would get on track. In the reps I saw, Robinson was largely the same player we saw in St. Louis and Los Angeles. What does this mean? Moments of undeniable power combined with moments of clumsiness. Robinson was solid during Stafford's brief time under center and was tested early with a deep drop back. This is going to be a coach-heavy, technical turnaround for Robinson so don't be surprised to see him on the field quite a bit over the next few weeks.
6. Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said defensive end Kerry Hyder "has a significant Achilles injury." It does not look good for the former undrafted free agent, who blossomed with the Lions a year ago, logging eight sacks, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery in a supporting role. Something was clearly wrong from the get-go with Hyder, who fell to the turf during a second-series rush. He was carted off the field shortly after.
7. It was a fun and breezy first look at the Anthony Lynn/Ken Whisenhunt hybrid offense. While Seattle was playing a shell of their typical defense, the multiple tight end bunch formations utilized out of the gate foreshadow a scheme that could be incredible to watch. There were some gaping mismatches created on Philip Rivers' opening drive, as well as Kellen Clemens' linebacker-on-speed wideout 74-yard touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin. Rivers went 5-of-6 for 56 yards and a touchdown to -- who else? -- Antonio Gates. It is far too early to wonder if this offense will take a Falcons pre- and post-Kyle Shanahan type leap after one possession against milquetoast coverage but this is not the first time we've felt the hype brewing for Los Angeles' offense. A nice variation of receiving backs, including Branden Oliver who took a one-man screen 14 yards, could finally unlock some of their potential.
7b. Of course, nothing matters in L.A. if their offensive line doesn't perform. I watched the team's best lineman, Matt Slauson, get beat off the ball on the first snap by Michael Bennett but then recover quite nicely during the rest of the series. Rivers was getting rid of the ball so quickly that it may be able to negate some of the obvious deficiencies up front.
8. Boy does Shaquill Griffin look the part. Seattle started their third-round pick Sunday and while he did get beat early on a deep route to Tyrell Williams (Earl Thomas swooped in and blasted the ball out of Williams' arms), he displayed some closing speed. Griffin could very well be John Schneider's latest mid-round gem at the cornerback position. I profiled the UCF product back during the predraft process and even then, he was determined to change peoples' minds. Griffin had no official visits lined up at the combine but after posting freakish numbers in Indianapolis, his dance card was full nearly until the draft. He was coveted not only by Schneider but by Bill Belichick in New England.
9. Kicker news! Blair Walsh was perfect on field goal attempts (long of 42) and 5/5 on extra points. Seattle is hoping to rehabilitate the maligned Vikings kicker, who was released by Minnesota in November of last season. Walsh had yet to fully recover from the stunning wide left miss against Seattle back in 2016.
10. Seattle went pretty much as expected at running back: Thomas Rawls to Eddie Lacy to C. J. Prosise, though Prosise is always going to be in a RB/WR category of his own. Rawls carried the ball twice for five yards while Lacy took four carries for 10 yards. One troubling moment: Lacy was stonewalled at the goal line, though he had no help from his offensive line. Both Ryan Carrethers and Caraun Reid were in the backfield before Lacy could get much momentum going. From afar, he seems to have the same powerful, smooth gait and quick feet. Seattle would love him to also regain that ability to become a second hammer next to Rawls.
11. I kept a close eye on prospective Seahawks tackle Luke Joeckel who, according to Pro Football Focus, logged 19 snaps. What is amazing to me is how technically perfect he can look on certain plays and then appear flummoxed on the next. In a way, it's a microcosm of the highs and lows of the position, but I'll take the positive route on this one -- with that baseline technique alongside the great Seahawks O-line coach Tom Cable, I'll bet on Joeckel this season. He had some nice moments, especially on a stretch run out in front of Eddie Lacy. A sign of things to come?
12. CHARGERS BACKUP QUARTERBACK BATTLE: Kellen Clemens (4/10, 100 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT). Cardale Jones (2/9, 50 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT). While the broadcast crew was high on Jones and the idea of a younger, developmental backup, Jones looked a solid step or two behind Clemens. Nearly all of his 50 passing yards came on a 38-yard 50/50 ball he chucked up to tight end Matt Weiser. The argument could very well end up being that Jones can win you games athletically that Clemens could not, but Jones has certainly not separated himself from the field.
13. Injury roundup: Joey Bosa exited after just a handful of plays nursing his elbow but appeared fine on the sidelines. NFL Network's Alex Flanagan talked in depth about a dislocated finger that Bosa is still playing with from last season - something to watch in future appearances. On a more serious note, linebacker Denzel Perryman (ankle) ended up in a walking boot after injuring his ankle. Max Meyer with more here. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said wide receiver Paul Richardson has an AC sprain and will be out a bit, the team announced. Defensive back Jordan Simone has a significant knee injury, could be ACL, Carroll added.