MAHOMES SHARP EARLY BUT BEARS WIN OUT

Bears 19, Chiefs 14

Patrick Mahomes threw for 60 yards and a touchdown on Kansas City’s first possession, then watched as the Chiefs lost to the Chicago Bears 19-14 in the preseason opener Saturday.

The game was the first for Chicago’s Matt Eberflus as a head coach. It also marked the return to Soldier Field for predecessor Matt Nagy, now the Chiefs’ quarterbacks coach. He was fired in January after leading the Bears to a 34-31 record in four seasons, then reunited with Andy Reid after previously working for him in Philadelphia and Kansas City.

Chiefs safety Justin Reid showed he could be an emergency kicker, nailing an extra point after Justin Watson caught a 22-yard touchdown from Shane Buechele in the closing seconds of the first half. Reid, who made a 65yard field goal in a training camp practice, sent the kick right down the middle to make it 14-0.

Mahomes was 6 of 7 passing on a 72-yard drive after Chicago went three-and-out on the game’s first possession. The four-time Pro Bowl selection dumped the ball off to Blake Bell for a 5yard TD, capping an 11-play possession — then called it a day.

Chicago’s Justin Fields, trying to build on a shaky rookie season, was 4 of 7 for 48 yards. He played three possessions before veteran Trevor Siemian replaced him.

Panthers 23, Commanders 21: Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass and Baker Mayfield was solid aside from a fumbled snap in the latest stage of Carolina’s quarterback competition, a preseason-opening victory at Washington.

Mayfield started and completed four of seven passes for 45 yards. Darnold took over with Carolina in the red zone after a fumble by Washington’s Antonio Gibson and completed a play-action fade pass under pressure to Rashard Higgins for an 8-yard TD.

Bills 27, Colts 24: Tyler Bass made a 46-yard field goal as time expired as Buffalo scored on three consecutive possessions in the final 8:10 to rally from a 14point deficit. Matt Barkley oversaw the comeback in finishing 18 of 24 for 224 yards, with Raheem Blackshear rushing for touchdowns of 1 and 3 yards over a span of 4:19 to tie the game.

Steelers 32, Seahawks 25: Kenny Pickett threw a 24yard touchdown pass to Tyler Vaughns with 3 seconds to play and Pittsburgh beat visiting Seattle. Pickett, Pittsburgh’s first-round pick in 2022, is competing with Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph to replace Ben Roethlisberger as starting quarterback.

Dolphins 26, Bucs 24: Jason Sanders’ 53-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter held up for Miami as Tampa Bay’s Jose Borregales missed a 49-yard attempt as time ran out, bouncing the ball off the right upright.

Texans 17, Saints 13:

Andy Dalton threw a touchdown pass on his only possession in his debut with New Orleans, but the Saints fell to Houston. Jeff Driskel threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to rookie Johnny Johnson III in the final minute to lift Houston.

Broncos 17, Cowboys 7:

Quarterback Josh Johnson (USD), playing for his record 14th NFL team, was 16-for-23 for 172 yards and two touchdown passes to lead Denver to the victory over Dallas.

Rams 29, Chargers 22:

Lance Mccutcheon shook off a defender and caught an 11-yard pass from Bryce Perkins in the corner of the end zone to break a late tie for the Rams, and a Dan Isom interception sealed it. Chargers QB Chase Daniel was 11-for-17 for 117 yards and two touchdowns as he prepares to remain Justin Herbert’s backup.

Wilson out 2-4 weeks

Zach Wilson’s season is not over. There is even hope that the Jets quarterback could be back on the field for the regular-season opener.

According to a league source, MRI results revealed that Wilson suffered a bone bruise and a tear in his meniscus in his right knee during Friday’s preseason game in Philadelphia.

The initial prognosis is that Wilson will be sidelined for only two to four weeks, early enough for the opener.

Notable

Lamar Jackson does not plan on continuing contract talks into the regular season, he said, giving the Ravens quarterback and team officials four weeks to agree to a megadeal, adding: “We’re going to be good for the season.”

Browns starting center Nick Harris likely needs season-ending surgery on his right knee injured against Jacksonville.

KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI AP Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (center) looks to pass during first half Saturday against Chicago.