Miller, Sutton shine in Broncos’ win over Rams
DENVER — A trio of Broncos returning from injuries celebrated their 2021 debuts in Denver’s 17-12 win over the Los Angeles Rams’ reserves in the preseason finale Saturday night.
Courtland Sutton caught an 8-yard touchdown pass, Von Miller made three tackles and Albert Okwuegbunam had three receptions.
All three were hurt last year, with Miller missing the entire season with an ankle injury and Sutton and Okwuegbunam tearing their right ACLs, limiting them to one and four games, respectively.
All three were game captains and headed out for the coin flip before kickoff.
“Yeah, that was something I thought about doing the other day — didn’t tell them until today,” coach Vic Fangio said at halftime. “I was wondering if anybody would notice that. You guys are heads up.”
RAVENS 37, WASHINGTON 3
In Landover, Md., J.K. Dobbins left with a knee injury, Lamar Jackson made his 2021 preseason debut and the Tyler Huntley-led Baltimore Ravens routed Washington to win their NFL-best 20th consecutive exhibition game.
Dobbins going down early with a left knee injury is the biggest lingering effect for Baltimore with the regular season on the horizon. After catching a screen pass from Jackson, the second-year running back went down awkwardly midway through the first quarter on his third touch of the game.
BILLS 19, PACKERS 0
In Orchard Park, N.Y., Josh Allen completed his first nine attempts and finished 20 of 26 for 194 yards and two touchdowns in leading Buffalo over Green Bay in both teams’ preseason finales.
Allen capped Buffalo’s opening drive with a perfect throw in hitting Gabriel Davis in stride — a step ahead of cornerback Isaac Yiadom — on a post route for a 31-yard touchdown on thirdand-20.
BEARS 27, TITANS 24
In Nashville, Tenn., Nick Foles threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Jesper Horsted with 6:51 left. Horsted, a tight end who played at Princeton, finished with three TDs and 104 yards receiving, catching all five passes thrown to him.
His first TD came from rookie Justin Fields in his first start, with the other two from Foles in the second half.
The 11th overall draft pick, Fields had veteran Jason Peters at left tackle with the other starters on the offensive line in front of him. With help from back-to-back defensive penalties, he hit Horsted in the end zone for a 20-yard TD pass in the final minute for a 14-10 halftime lead for the Bears.
BUCCANEERS 23, TEXANS 16
In Houston, Tom Brady threw for 154 yards and a touchdown in just more than a quarter and Tampa Bay got a win over the Titans.
It was by far his most extensive work this preseason after the seven-time Super Bowl champion played just six snaps in a loss to Cincinnati two weeks ago and sat out last week against in a loss to Tennessee.
Brady got off to a slow start, throwing two incompletions on his first drive before a punt by Tampa Bay.
He got going on the next possession when he completed seven consecutive passes, capped by a 24-yard touchdown throw to Chris Godwin.
SEAHAWKS 27, CHARGERS 0
In Seattle, Marquise Blair returned a fumble 17 yards for a touchdown, Alex Collins made a strong bid to be included in Seattle’s running back rotation, and the Seahawks throttled the Los Angeles Chargers.
Both teams played primarily their backups, but it was Seattle’s groups of reserves that made the stronger statement after getting blown out in its first two preseason games.
Blair snatched the fumble out of midair after Cody Barton sacked Chargers quarterback Chase Daniel and walked into the end zone on the opening possession for Seattle’s first touchdown of the preseason.