Brady sits out Pats’ exhibition loss
Chad Henne hit Keelan Cole on a 97-yard touchdown pass, Corey Grant scored on a 79yard run and the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars feasted on a New England Patriots lineup without quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski — or much defense at all — to beat the defending NFL champions 31-24 on Thursday night in the teams’ exhibition opener.
With Brady, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, sitting out, Jimmy Garoppolo completed a Brady-like 22 of 28 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns. He completed 13 straight passes at one point, finding Austin Carr on a 3-yard touchdown pass at the end of the first half and then K.J. Maye from 5 yards out to start the second.
Commissioner Roger Goodell attended the game — his first visit to Gillette Stadium since suspending Brady in the “Deflategate” scandal. Goodell was spotted in Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s luxury box. Packers 24, Eagles 9: Quarterback Carson Wentz led visiting Philadelphia to its only touchdown. Wentz was 4-for-4 for 56 yards and a score on the Eagles’ opening series, Wentz’s only drive of the night. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a healthy scratch. Another Cal alum — speedy second-year receiver Trevor Davis — ran a punt back 68 yards for a touchdown and had a 26-yard punt return. Broncos 24, Bears 17: Mitch Trubisky threw for 166 yards and led three scoring drives after Mike Glennon struggled for Chicago, before Denver scored two long touchdowns in the closing minutes to beat the host Bears. Dolphins 23, Falcons 20: Now the NFL’s highest-paid running back, Atlanta’s Devonta Freeman looked the part in a brief appearance, scoring on a 15-yard reception from Matt Ryan in the loss to host Miami. Freeman, who agreed to terms Wednesday on a $41.25 million, five-year extension, scored to cap the Falcons’ first preseason possession under new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. Vikings 17, Bills 10: Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater might feel less pressure to hurry back from injury after Case Keenum showed glimpses of being a capable backup in visiting Minnesota’s win. After replacing starter Sam Bradford, Keenum went 11-for-16 for 121 yards. Browns 20, Saints 14: Defensive end Myles Garrett, the top overall draft pick, showed flashes of dominance in his exhibition debut for host Cleveland, making a tackle for loss and blazing off the edge to pressure New Orleans backup quarterback Garrett Grayson in the first half. RavensMallett struggled23, Washingtonin place of 3: injuredRyan quarterback Joe Flacco, throwing for 58 yards while playing the entire first half, but host Baltimore won the sloppy game. Flacco has yet to take a snap because of a back problem.