ALLEN TAKES STEP IN WRONG DIRECTION

N.Y.» Bengals ORCHARD PARK, quarterback Andy Dalton celebrated a warm reception in Buffalo by completing two touchdown passes in leading Cincinnati to a 26-13 preseason win over the Bills on Sunday.

Dalton began the day by making a donation to Buffalo’s Roswell Park Cancer Institute, then received two standing ovations from Bills fans before kickoff.

Once the game began, he proceeded to complete 11 of 16 attempts for 180 yards over five series.

Linebacker Carl Lawson had 2½ of the Bengals five sacks in the first half, during which Cincinnati’s defense overwhelmed Buffalo’s starting offense and rookie quarterback Josh Allen.

The Bengals improved their preseason record to 3-0, and Buffalo dropped to 1-2.

While Dalton earned most of the cheers, Allen took a step back in his bid to win a three-way competition and become the Bills’ season-opening starter.

Buffalo’s first-round draft pick finished 6 of 12 for 34 yards passing, and was sacked five times for 39 yards in his first preseason start. Allen was also fortunate he wasn’t intercepted on an underthrown pass intended for tight end Charles Clay up the right sideline.

Allen struggled behind a porous offensive line and displayed few signs of the progress he showed during his previous two outings overseeing the Bills’ secondand third-stringers.

Cardinals 27, Cowboys 3.

TEXAS» Patrick ARLINGTON,

Peterson hasn’t faced a starting quarterback in the preseason.

The three-time All-Pro cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals is getting himself in regular-season form anyway.

Peterson returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown after Dallas decided to sit quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott in what was supposed to be the dress rehearsal, and the Cardinals rolled to a 27-3 exhibition victory over the Cowboys on Sunday night.

The Cardinals (3-0) forced eight turnovers to give them 16 takeaways in the preseason.