Don’t Tell Parcells’ Jets It’s Only Exhibition Season

NFL

Leon Johnson turned two short third-down passes from Neil O’Don nell into touchdowns Friday night, and the New York Jets held on to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 39-29 at East Rutherford, N.J.

The Jets won their second straight preseason game for first-year coach Bill Parcells after only two victories in 24 previous games, including exhibitions. They were 1-15 in the regular season last year.

Johnson, a rookie from North Carolina, made a strong bid to become the Jets’ third-down running back, catching a third-and-6 pass on the third play of the game and going 65 yards for a TD after safety Ralph Staten missed the tackle.

Johnson finished the half by catching a flare pass on third-and-10 for a 16-yard touchdown with just 12 seconds left. The play capped a big first half by O’Donnell, who completed 15 of 25 passes for 218 yards.

Packers 37, Raiders 24

At Oakland, Calif., Brett Favre, playing less than one quarter, went 11 of 17 for 158 yards - including an acrobatic 5-yard scoring pass to Derrick Mayes - as Green Bay overwhelmed sloppy Oakland.

Mayes caught 12 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns as the Super Bowl champions improved to 3-0 this preseason.

Patriots 16, Cowboys 10

At Foxboro, Mass., Drew Bledsoe and Adam Vinatieri combined to lead New England’s victory.

Bledsoe, shaky in a 7-3 loss to Green Bay, played most of the first half and completed 9 of 17 passes for 103 yards and a 5-yard touchdown to Ben Coates. Vinatieri made all three of his field-goal attempts.

Dallas’ points came in the fourth quarter with Kevin Mathis’ 32-yard return after Omar Stoutmire blocked Tom Tupa’s punt and Danny Kight’s 34-yard field goal.

Rams 12, Cardinals 0

Tony Banks passed for 166 yards in the first half and St. Louis held Arizona’s starters without a first down.

The Cardinals’ first game in St. Louis since owner Bill Bidwill took the team to the desert in 1988 probably looked familiar to fans who have since embraced the Rams, who arrived in 1995. The Cardinals, who have been outscored 43-6 in two exhibitions, never played a home playoff game in 28 seasons in St. Louis.

Jeff Wilkins provided all the points with a perfect kicking night, hitting field goals of 43, 33, 43 and 52 yards.

Bengals 27, Lions 23

Erik Wilhelm, who appears destined to be the No. 3 quarterback for Cincinnati, threw two second-half touchdown passes to lead the Bengals’ victory at Pontiac, Mich.

Wilhelm, who started the third quarter, completed 5 of 7 passes for 82 yards before giving way to rookie Eric Kresser midway through the fourth quarter.

Bills 19, Vikings 3

Todd Collins showed why Buffalo had an easy decision in choosing him as the starting quarterback.

Collins completed 10 of 12 passes for 115 yards and led the Bills on a 98-yard touchdown drive as Buffalo defeated Minnesota, its opening-game opponent, at Orchard Park, N.Y.

Rams’ Harris remains free on bond

Hours before suiting up for the St. Louis Rams’ exhibition game against Arizona, James Harris stood before a federal judge in East St. Louis, Ill., to plead innocent to charges that he was the “money man” in a cocaine conspiracy.

Magistrate Judge Clifford J. Proud agreed to allow Harris, 29, to remain free on a $750,000 bond.

If convicted, Harris, from East St. Louis, could face a sentence of 10 years to life.

Dent may return, join Oilers

Veteran defensive lineman Richard Dent and the Tennessee Oilers are reportedly close to a deal that would return the 37-year-old to his home turf in Nashville.

Dent, a graduate of Tennessee State University in Nashville, retired after leading the Indianapolis Colts in sacks last season. The Tennessean reported Friday that Dent said the opportunity “to come full circle and finish up where I started” is appealing to him.

Westbrook, Lions come to terms

The Detroit Lions have reached a contract agreement with first-round draft pick Bryant Westbrook, Lions executive vice president Chuck Schmidt said.

Schmidt did not disclose contract terms.