NFL exhibition
Ryan Nall (above) of the Chicago Bears is brought down by New York Giants defenders during the Giants’ 32-13 victory in an NFL exhibition game Friday.
GIANTS 32, BEARS 13
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Eli Manning and heir apparent Daniel Jones threw first-half touchdown passes against Chicago backups and the New York Giants had an easy night in posting a 32-13 preseason victory over the Bears on Friday night.
Free agent rookie Jon Hilliman scored on a 10-yard run, Kyle Lauletta threw a 10-yard TD to Garrett Dickerson, Aldrick Rosas kicked a 47-yard field goal and New York (2-0) got a safety on a botched shotgun snap.
Chicago Coach Matt Nagy rested many key starters in falling to 0-2.
Rookie Kerrith Whyte Jr., who had a 103-yard kickoff return in the second quarter nullified by a late holding penalty, scored on a 1-yard run. Eddy Pineiro kicked field goals of 41 and 27 yards for the undermanned Bears.
Much like the preseason opener against the Jets, the focus for Giants fans was on Jones, the sixth pick overall in the draft and a young man many think will lead the team back to respectability.
Jones looked good throwing the ball, hitting 11 of 14 for 161 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown to TJ Jones. The kid from Duke also showed some flaws, turning the ball over twice on fumbles. He failed to handle a snap at the Bears 19 and coughed up the ball when sacked by James Vaughters.
Manning was very solid, leading the Giants on a 10-play, 79-yard drive that was capped with an 8-yard toss to Bennie Fowler III. He was 4 of 4 for 42 yards.
Giants Coach Pat Shurmur held out running back Saquon Barkley and tight end Evan Engram for the second consecutive week. Neither is hurt.
BILLS 27, PANTHERS 14
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Josh Allen completed 9 of 11 passes for 102 yards and led two scoring drives, Kevin Johnson returned an interception 71 yards for a touchdown and the Buffalo Bills defeated the Carolina Panthers.
Allen, who had A 5-6 record as a rookie starter last season, led a 13-play, 63-yard drive that culminated in a field goal, and a touchdown drive capped by
a 1-yard run by LeSean McCoy to put Buffalo (2-0) up 10-0 early before exiting the game.
Matt Barkley also looked solid, completing 8 of 10 passes for 110 yards, including a 9-yard TD pass to Duke Williams.
The Panthers (1-1) struggled mightily on offense without Cam Newton, who didn’t play for the second consecutive week.
BUCCANEERS 16, DOLPHINS 14
TAMPA, Fla. — Second-year quarterback Josh Rosen was a surprise starter and went 10 for 18 for 102 yards during the first half in the Miami Dolphins’ loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Rosen, battling with 15-year veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick for the Dolphins’ starting job, helped Miami to a pair of field goals and a 6-3 halftime lead.
Fitzpatrick, who spent the previous two seasons with Tampa Bay, entered to start the second half and completed 3 of 9 passes for 20 yards before being replaced by Jake Rudock five minutes into the fourth quarter.
Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston played one series for the second consecutive week, completing 2 of 4 passes for 24 yards. He is in the final year of his rookie contract at a salary of nearly $21 million.