Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Steelers take advantage of miscues, top Giants
STEELERS 20, GIANTS 12
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 win 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 15-yard 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 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 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 nineplay, 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 two interceptions.
Both picks led to scores. Blake's interception and 11yard return to the Steelers 39 set up a 27-yard field goal by rookie Aldrick Rosas, who added a 52-yarder late in the second quarter for a 9-3 lead.
An interception by lineman Devon Taylor led to a 30-yard field goal by Nugent and a 6-0 lead.
A 44-yard pass from Dobbs to Hamilton set up Boswell's first field goal, a 48-yarder.
BENGALS 23, BUCCANEERS 12
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 to a 23-12 victory over the Buccaneers on Friday night. The 34-year-old quarterback signed a one-year deal for a chance to back up Jameis Winston. Fitzpatrick had mixed results after his TD, going 6 of 13 overall with an interception. He also scrambled twice for 15 yards. Fitzpatrick lost the ball while trying to throw, but recovered his fumble. Ryan Griffin — Tampa Bay’s third-string quarterback the past two seasons — left in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury and didn’t return, forcing Fitzpatrick back into the game. 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 a pair of Winston’s passes in the end zone. Jones is suspended by the NFL for the season opener because of his offseason arrest. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis was on the sideline after missing a practice last week because of a knee problem. Andy Dalton had his full complement of receivers — A.J. Green and tight end Tyler Eifert have returned from significant injuries last season — and moved the offense smoothly on Cincinnati’s opening drive before making a bad decision. Vernon Hargreaves III anticipated Dalton’s sideline throw and picked off a pass at the 1-yard line. Dalton had plenty of time to throw behind Cincinnati’s reconfigured line. “I just wish I could have that last play back,” said Dalton, who was 4 of 5 for 38 yards on his only drive. Green, who missed the last half of last season with a hamstring injury, had a pair of catches for 21 yards. Both teams have kicker competitions that were in the spotlight in their preseason opener.