Final tune-up
Baker Mayfield got the start at quarterback in Cleveland’s final preseason game Thursday night as the Browns rolled over the Detroit Lions.
PHILADELPHIA — Christian Hackenberg had a rough audition for an NFL roster spot, tossing two interceptions but the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles rallied to beat the New York Jets 10-9 on Thursday night to avoid a winless preseason.
Joe Callahan threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Matt Jones with 18 seconds left to lift Philadelphia (1-3).
Jason Myers kicked field goals of 58 and 43 yards for the Jets (1-3). New York’s defense didn’t allow a touchdown in August until the final drive.
Eagles quarterbacks Carson Wentz, Nick Foles and Nate Sudfeld watched from the sideline, while Jets rookie Sam Darnold also was a spectator. Darnold is expected to be New York’s starting quarterback in Week 1. Wentz is still recovering from knee surgery last December and is waiting for medical clearance to play. Foles, the Super Bowl MVP, would start the opener if Wentz can’t go.
Hackenberg didn’t take a snap in two seasons with the Jets after he was selected in the second round of the 2016 draft. He signed with the Eagles earlier in the month as the fifth quarterback and has no chance to make the roster so he was playing for his next job.
After replacing Callahan in the first half, Hackenberg threw two picks on his first three drives. He drove the Eagles from the 1 to the Jets 20 in the final 90 seconds of the first half, but ran out of time after a 19-yard scramble.
The former Penn State star also lost a fumble and finished 7 of 16 for 69. He ran for 66 yards.
Callahan returned to play the fourth quarter and threw an interception in the end zone with 4:02 left. But he completed his last seven passes, including the TD to Jones.
Jake Elliott nailed a 55-yarder for Philadelphia’s only points in the last two games.
Veteran Josh McCown started for New York and John Wolford played the final 2.5 quarters. McCown was 3 of 8 for 26 yards.
Wolford was about to accept an internship at an equity firm in WinstonSalem, North Carolina before the Jets offered him a job on Sunday. He participated in rookie minicamp in May and practiced with the team for three days this week before seeing his first action. Wolford finished 8 of 20 for 89 yards and one interception.
PATRIOTS 17, GIANTS 12
Third-stringer Danny Etling tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Ralph Webb early in the second half and iced the game with an 86-yard run late as the New England Patriots beat the New York Giants 17-12 in a preseason finale Thursday night. Both teams rested their starters.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning chatted with receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the first half, while Tom Brady sat next to the New England water coolers and relaxed. There wasn’t much action on the field, with the biggest play coming late after an Alex Tanney-led drive from the New York 1 stalled at the Patriots 14 with New England ahead 10-6.
Etling faked a handoff and ran an option around right end and scored untouched to give the Patriots a 3-1 preseason record. The Giants finished their first preseason under new coach Pat Shurmur at 2-2.
DOLPHINS 34, FALCONS 7
Brock Osweiler made a strong final bid for Miami’s backup quarterback job, leading three first-quarter touchdown drives in the Dolphins’ 34-7 preseason win over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.
Osweiler is competing with David Fales to be Ryan Tannehill’s backup. Osweiler completed each of his first six passes for 65 yards, including a 1-yard scoring pass to Buddy Howell, on Miami’s opening drive.
He added a 14-yard scoring pass to Francis Owusu on the final play of the third quarter. Osweiler completed 16 of 25 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns for the Dolphins (1-3).
Fales completed 13 of 20 passes for 94 yards and one interception. Each team rested its starters in the final preseason game.
The Falcons (0-4) had little offense with its starts, including quarterback Matt Ryan, running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman and wide receiver Julio Jones, watching on the sideline. Atlanta was held to nine first downs and 185 yards.