Stafford throws for two TDs in preseason win

Matthew Stafford threw touchdown passes on his two drives and the Lions went on to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 34-3 Friday night in Detroit.

Lions backup quarterback Shaun Hill ran for a score and Jason Hanson kicked a field goal to give Detroit a 24-3 lead at halftime.

Bengals QB Andy Dalton was hit by Ndamukong Sung after taking his first NFL snap and Chris Houston intercepted the underthrown pass. The second-round pick finished 11 of 15 for 69 yards. He put Cincinnati in a position to attempt two field goals and Mike Nugent made one to make it 14-3.

Stafford was 6 of 7 for 71 yards. He threw a 26-yard TD pass to Calvin Johnson, who didn’t return to the field, and a 7-yard score to Nate Burleson on an overturned play.

Cincinnati plans to lean on Dalton to play right away because Carson Palmer has backed up his threat to retire, with four years left on his contract, if he wasn’t traded after the franchise floundered to a 4-12 record last season.

Saints 24, 49ers 3

Mark Ingram had a spinning, tackle-breaking touchdown run in his NFL debut, and the Saints defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason opener for both teams in New Orleans.

Ingram’s 14-yard scoring run highlighted a performance in which the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama carried six times for 23 yards.

David Akers hit a 59-yard field goal for San Francisco, a kick set up by rookie quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s 28-yard scramble late in the first half.

Dolphins 28, Falcons 23

Phillip Livas scored on a 75-yard punt return in the third quarter to help Miami overcome a difficult start by quarterback Chad Henne in the Dolphins’ preseason victory at Atlanta.

Atlanta rookie receiver Julio Jones, quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner contributed on first-quarter scoring drives that gave the Falcons an early 17-0 lead.

Henne threw interceptions on two of Miami’s first three possessions before connecting with Brian Hartline for a 44-yard touchdown pass that made it 17-7 early in the second quarter.

Redskins 16, Steelers 7

Rex Grossman’s opening statement in his case to become Washington’s starting quarterback was an 89-yard drive that didn’t produce a point. He made up for it, sort of, with an 82-yard drive for a touchdown against a second-string defense.

Hoping for an early edge over an injured John Beck, Grossman completed 19 of 26 passes for 207 yards as the Redskins beat Pittsburgh in Landover, Md.

Washington coach Mike Shanahan had his starters play the entire first half.

Buccaneers 25, Chiefs 0

Josh Freeman was smooth and efficient while leading Tampa Bay to points on three of the four series he played, and the third-year quarterback helped the Buccaneers take advantage of every bobble and blunder that Kansas City made in a preseason victory.

Freeman was 9 of 13 for 73 yards while playing for the first time at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. He also ran 5 yards for a score.

Chiefs’ starting quarterback Matt Cassel was only on the field for four plays and didn’t throw a pass.