Ponder spurs 49ers past Broncos; Bills top NYG

DENVER — Christian Ponder ran for a score and threw for another in the fourth quarter and San Francisco pulled away to beat the Denver Broncos 31-24 in an exhibition Saturday night.

Ponder was signed earlier in the week to bolster the team’s depth at quarterback.

QB Trevor Siemian led a nifty game-opening touchdown drive for Denver that C.J. Anderson finished with a 19-yard run, but Siemian also was picked off by Eric Reid, who returned the interception 42 yards for a score.

BILLS 21, GIANTS 0: Buffalo QB Tyrod Taylor zipped a 13-yard TD pass over the middle to LeSean McCoy to cap his fourth and final series and backup quarterback EJ

Manuel led two more touchdown drives in a victory over New York.

The day began for Buffalo when it cut backup RB back Karlos Williams and announcing defensive tackle Marcell Dareus was entering a rehabilitation clinic.

BUCS 27, JAGUARS 21: In Jacksonville, Fla., Blake Bortles threw two touchdowns passes in three drives to give Jacksonville an early lead against Tampa Bay, which rallied to win.

Bortles connected with T.J. Yeldon for a 14-yard score in the first quarter and then lofted a 24-yarder to Allen Hurns in the back of the end zone in the second.

TEXANS 16, SAINTS 9: In Houston, Brock Osweiler threw a touchdown pass and led the starting offense to three first-half scores in a victory over New Orleans.

RAVENS 19, COLTS 18: In Indianapolis, QB Andrew Luck looked fit and flawless for the Colts, completing all eight of his passes on two long drives and didn’t take any hits in a loss to Baltimore. PANTHERS 26, TITANS 16: In Nashville, Tenn., Cam Newton threw for 162 yards and led scoring drives on two of his four series as Carolina defeated Tennessee.

The game was delayed 30 minutes because of lightning late in the third quarter.

RAM 21, CHIEFS 20: In Los Angeles, Todd Gurley rushed for a touchdown in his preseason debut as Los Angeles defeated Kansas City.