Former Hog shines in Steelers’ victory
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Rookie quarterback Josh Dobbs threw a 28-yard touchdown pass and Chris Boswell kicked a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter to give Pittsburgh the lead for good in a 20-12 preseason victory over the New York Giants on Friday night.
The Steelers capitalized on two major Giants’ turnovers in the preseason opener for both teams.
Terrell Watson added a 15yard touchdown run in a game that had little offense with Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers and Eli Manning of the Giants being given the night off.
Pittsburgh also was without injured backup Landry Jones, but that didn’t matter because the Giants didn’t get much from either Josh Johnson or Geno Smith, and New York was generous with the football.
Dobbs, a fourth-round draft pick out of Tennessee, hit Cobi Hamilton (Arkansas Razorbacks) on his touchdown pass on the first play after Donte Deayon fumbled a punt inside his own 30 and Mike Hilton recovered.
Seven seconds later, Hamilton beat Valentino Blake for a 28-yard touchdown and a 10-9 lead with 33 seconds left in the half.
A 45-yard field goal by Mike Nugent on the opening series of the second half put New York ahead 12-10, but Arthur Moats intercepted Smith later in the quarter and returned the ball to the New York 14, setting up Boswell’s go-ahead kick.
Watson capped a nine-play, 53-yard drive that Bart Houston guided in his first series after taking over for Dobbs, who was 8 of 15 for 100 yards and 2 interceptions.
A 44-yard pass from Dobbs to Hamilton set up Boswell’s first field goal, a 48-yarder.
Hamilton finished the game with the two catches for 72 yards. He also returned one kickoff for 19 yards.
BENGALS 23, BUCCANEERS 12
CINCINNATI — Ryan Fitzpatrick made a good initial impression with Tampa Bay, completing his first series with a 6-yard touchdown run, before the Cincinnati Bengals pulled away for a victory over the Buccaneers on Friday night.
Fitzpatrick, 34, signed a one-year deal for a chance to back up Jameis Winston. Fitzpatrick had mixed results after his touchdown, going 6 of 13 overall with an interception.
Tampa Bay opened the game with a 14play, 92-yard drive, but had to settle for a field goal after Adam “Pacman” Jones broke up two of Winston’s passes in the end zone. Jones is suspended by the NFL for the season opener because of an offseason arrest.
49ERS 27, CHIEFS 17
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Alex Smith led the Chiefs to a quick touchdown and firstround pick Patrick Mahomes II had an impressive debut, before the San Francisco backups led the 49ers past Kansas City in their preseason opener Friday night.
Smith hit speedster Tyreek Hill for a 32yard gain on the first play of the game, and Spencer Ware capped a 75-yard march with a short TD run to give the Chiefs a 7-0 lead.
Mahomes entered late in the second quarter, drawing perhaps the biggest roar of the night. The 10th overall draft pick had a long completion wiped out by a penalty on his first play, but later capitalized on a blocked punt with a short touchdown throw to fellow rookie Marcus Kemp.
Mahomes was 7 of 9 for 49 yards as he duels with Tyler Bray for the No. 2 job.